What does the Catholic Church say about life after death?
Christian beliefs about life after death are based on the resurrectionChristian belief that Jesus rose from the dead after the crucifixion; the rising from the dead of believers on the Last Day; the new, or risen, life of Christians. of Jesus Christ. Christianity teaches that Jesus’ death and resurrection are part of God’s divine plan for humankind. The belief is that through his death on the cross, Jesus pays the penalty for humankind's sin and humankind's relationship with God is restored. This is called atonement. Christianity teaches that three days after the crucifixion, God raised Jesus from the dead and he once again appeared to his disciples. This is taken to mean that Jesus’ sacrifice was a victory over sin and death. Although physical death still happens, those who believe in Christ and live good lives will be given eternal life in HeavenA place, or a state of mind, associated with God and the afterlife..
The Catholic Church teaches that humanity will face two judgements:
- individual judgement
- final judgement
Individual judgement
The faith teaches that individual judgement, sometimes called particular judgement, happens at the moment of death when each individual will be judged on how they have lived their life. The belief is that the soul will then go to Heaven, Hell or Purgatory depending on whether their actions have been judged as being in accordance with God’s teachings or not.
Final judgement
The faith teaches that final judgement will come at the end of time, when all of humanity will be raised from the dead and body and soul will be reunited. The belief is that here all will be judged by Christ who will have returned in all his glory. The teaching on judgement is reflected in the Gospels in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats.
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.