The Last Things

Introduction The more I think about the Last Things, the more I believe they are the most important considerations of the spiritual life. What could be more important than to consider our final end and to consider the consequences of the decisions of our life. As far as each of the Last Things we will consider we will restrict ourselves to the four most important with a fifth consideration to round out our considerations. In Chapter One, we will consider death and its effects upon our own eternal destiny and those we will leave behind. In Chapter Two, we will pick up a very sobering considering abut the final judgment on our soul and the sobering thought of what may or may not be our eternal life after God judges us. In the third chapter, we will consider our all encompassing desire and final hope, heaven. We will consider the joy and glory that will be ours when we enter heaven or the loss we will feel if we are denied that great gift. Chapter Four we will consider the state of purgatory, which is between heaven and earth, the place which a God has created for those who are not ready to see God face to face, but are sure of their eternal joy after purgatory. The Catholic Church teaches about purgatory and gives each person even in this life to obtain graces for those who are suffering the pains of purgatory. Chapter Five we will consider hell and the horror that it produces within the faithful soul that has longed all its life to live with God forever. Finally, we will draw selections from the teachings of the Church, and the Saints and Doctors of the Church on the Last Things.