I believe in everlasting life 23 BOSCH, Hieronymus Last Judgment (fragment of Paradise) Oil on panel Private collection

Compendium of the Catechism 207. What is life everlasting? Eternal life is that life which begins immediately after death. It will have no end. It will be preceded for each person by a particular judgment at the hands of Christ who is the Judge of the living and the dead. This particular judgement will be confirmed in the final judgment.

Introduction Death is the door which leads to life. Everlasting life –the last article of the Creed— is man’s goal. And we know, as revealed from God, that “life is changed, not ended”. Therefore those who believe in God can obtain an eternal dwelling place in heaven. We shall live forever! “Our aim has to be to go to heaven. Otherwise nothing is worthwhile“ (St. Josemaría Escrivá). BERMEJO, Bartolomé Christ Leading the Patriarchs to the Paradise c Tempera on wood Institute of Hispanic Art, Barcelona

Main ideas

1. Those with clean souls go to heaven “I saw that there was a huge number, impossible for anyone to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands” (Revelation 7:9) To be dressed in white robes means to be in God’s grace and free from any stain or sin. That is why they are in heaven.  As the Gospel says, “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). BOSCH, Hieronymus Paradise: Ascent of the Blessed Oil on panel, 86,5 x 39,5 cm Palazzo Ducale, Venice

2. Heaven consists in seeing and loving God and being happy forever with Him “What no eye has seen nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corint. 2:9). Thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:17). God is the supreme good; He is infinite beauty. And man, who yearns to see wonderful things, will be completely fulfilled – fulfilled, but never tired of— contemplating God. We shall see God as He is. We shall also love Him immensely and we shall be eternally loved by God. Man’s desire to love will be completely fulfilled. MIGNARD, Pierre The Heavenly Glory 1663 Fresco Val-de-Grâce, Paris

3. The final purification of Purgatory Those who die in the state of grace and in friendship with God, but imperfectly purified even though they are sure of eternal salvation, will have to undergo purification after death, so as to obtain the necessary holiness to enter the joy of heaven. The Church calls Purgatory this final purification of the elect, which is completely different from the punishment of the damned. CARRACCI, Lodovico An Angel Frees the Souls of Purgatory (detail) c Oil on canvas, 44 x 51 cm Pinacoteca, Vatican

4. We can help the souls in purgatory God wants the Church on earth to help the souls in purgatory, where many purify themselves, yearning to be with God in heaven. We have to help them in the following ways:  Offering the Holy Mass.  Praying a lot for the souls in purgatory.  Offering for them our good deeds. SIGNORELLI, Luca The Angel Arrives in Purgatory Fresco Chapel of San Brizio, Duomo, Orvieto

5. Hell exists "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels". The Gospel text concludes: “And they will go away into eternal punishment” (Mt 25:41-46). Hell exists because God is just, and in the same way as He rewards those who freely behave well, He punishes those who freely choose to behave badly. In hell there are no vacations; it never ends, because hell is eternal. God Himself said it: "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire” (Mt 25:41). The existence of hell and the eternity of the punishments are truths of faith that have to be firmly believed. BOUTS, Dieric the Elder Hell 1450 Oil on wood, 115 x 69,5 cm Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lille

6. Those that die in mortal sin go to hell It is during the final judgment that God sends the wicked to hell. Who are those who go to hell? St. Paul mentions the deeds of the flesh –that is, fornication, impurity, quarrels, murder…– and he affirms: “People who behave in these ways will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:19- 21). In short, those who die with their souls stained by mortal sin. MEMLING, Hans Hell c Oil on wood, 22 x 14 cm Musée des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg

7. We should help people go to heaven and avoid hell Heaven is the only thing that makes man’s life meaningful. Not to go to heaven is the utmost failure. But, as we have mentioned, only those who are in the state of God’s grace can enter heaven. This fact should move us to do a lot of apostolate so that all men should be saved.  We have to pray, to offer little mortifications, to give good example according to our Christian vocation, to talk to others about God.  God rewards our generosity, and we will meet in heaven those we have helped here on earth. CARLONE, Giovanni Battista Virgin and Child in Glory with Saints 1655 Oil on canvas, 122 x 98 cm Private collection

8. The “Amen” at the end of the Creed The Creed, just like the last book of the Bible, ends with the Hebrew word Amen. It is also the last word of many prayers. This word hails from the same root as to believe in Hebrew. Therefore, Amen, at the end of the Creed, confirms the I believe at the beginning. To believe is to say “Amen”, so be it, to God’s words, promises, commandments. To believe is to trust God completely. GRECO, El The Opening of the Fifth Seal (The Vision of St John) Oil on canvas, 222,3 x 193 cm Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Resolutions for Christian life

Resolutions to move forward Pray and offer little sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, and for the final perseverance of all Christians. Remember heaven when we encounter difficulties in our Christian life. Remember the existence of hell when temptations come, so as to reject them and not to offend God. When you recite the Creed and say “Amen”, be conscious of its meaning: I firmly believe everything I have just said.