 Particular Judgement: › Determines the fate of the soul at death  General Judgement › Occurs when Christ returns and is upon mankind as a whole

Death is the end of man's earthly pilgrimage, of the time of grace and mercy which God offers him so as to work out his earthly life in keeping with the divine plan, and to decide his ultimate destiny. When "the single course of our earthly life" is completed, 586 we shall not return to other earthly lives: "It is appointed for men to die once." 587 There is no "reincarnation" after death The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the hour of our death.

 Entrance into Heaven may be direct or via Purgatory  Free of sin  Experience of the Beatific Vision (direct perception of God enjoyed by those who are in Heaven)

 On death, those souls who die with unremitted mortal sin enter directly to hell  No cross over between heaven and hell  No predestination to hell  Hell is seen as a place chosen by those who knowingly and willfully turn away from God

 Place of cleansing and preparation for heaven.  One way!  Duration spent there to proportional to the degree of sin comitted.

All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. 606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire.

 Prayers for the dead  Offering a Mass on their behalf.

 December Packets Available  Liturgical Calendars  No December Family Class  Family Caroling at Mt Alverno on Sunday, Dec 6 th  Next Family Class, Friday, January 8 th  Advent