ESCHATOLOGY

• Purgatory


  A realm of the afterlife within Catholic belief where souls who have not committed mortal sins but are not yet worthy of ascending to heaven will atone for their sins and then hopefully ascend to heaven
• Particular judgement


  The judgement of individuals that happens after death
• Final judgement


  The judgement of all that will take place at the end of days when Jesus arrives
• Eschatology


  The study of the end of time in Catholicism
• Only God knows for sure when the end of time will be and what will happen
• Because of Jesus' resurrection, there will be a physical resurrection of the dead
• Resurrection of the body


  The belief that all of a person will one day rise to be judged by God on the Day of Judgement
• Non-Catholics might interpret Bible passages on the afterlife differently, e.g. not believing in purgatory or immediate judgement
• The Four Last Things


  • Death
  • Judgement
  • Heaven
  • Hell
• Death


  Catholics believe the physical body will perish but there is life beyond death
• Judgement


  A person will, in Catholic belief, be judged by God following death, and give an account at this point for their life choices
• Heaven


  A perpetual place of joy and the presence of God where believers are rewarded for their faith and good works
• Hell


  A place of enduring removal from God's presence, which cannot be left
• Funeral rites


  1. Reception of the body

  2. Funeral mass (requiem)

  3. Committal
• Anointing of the dying


  A sacrament in which healing is imparted to a seriously ill or dying individual
• Commendation of the dying


  A ceremony involving the giving of the final communion (Sacrifice of the Mass) to a dying individual
• Euthanasia is not considered to be morally permissible within Catholicism
• Catholicism emphasises palliative care for the dying, with a focus on pain relief
• RIP


  A common prayer for the dead stating 'may [they] rest in peace'
• Paschal candle


  A large beeswax candle symbolising the risen Christ, used during the Easter vigil ceremony
• Michelangelo's The Last Judgement


  • Depicts the judgement of mankind by Jesus, with the saved on the left and the damned on the right
  • Represents the separation of those in hell from the glory and light of God
• Catholic teaching stresses the necessity to prepare for the final day when Jesus will return in glory
• God predestines no one to hell, it is for those who have rejected the love of God through their own unwillingness to confess their sins
• Cosmic reconciliation


  The belief that despite the myth of the Fall, all will be cosmically reconciled in the end
• The parable of the rich man and Lazarus underlines the importance of accepting God in life and looking after the needy to Catholics
• Paschal Candle


  A large candle that has an important role in a number of church services, particularly the Easter Vigil
• Paschal Candle


  • Represents the Risen Christ
  • Used to help celebrate and share in Jesus' resurrection
• Paschal Candle in the Easter Vigil


  1. Priest lights a fire

  2. Priest traces the design of the Alpha and Omega symbols

  3. Priest inserts five little holders, each containing a grain of incense, into the candle

  4. Priest lights the Paschal candle from the fire, saying "May the light of Christ rising in glory/ dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds"

  5. Priest processes with the candle up to the altar, light from the Paschal candle is used to light the candles held by everyone else in the church
• Other uses for the Paschal Candle


  • Lit at baptisms and funerals
  • When a person is baptised, they are given a candle that is lit from the Paschal candle, showing they have been filled with the light of Christ
  • At a funeral, the Paschal candle is lit to show the deceased person has joined Christ in the resurrection
• What the Paschal Candle represents


  • The light of Christ rising from the tomb, destroying the power of sin and death through his resurrection
  • The Alpha and Omega symbols show that Christ is eternal
  • The five wounds that Christ received during his crucifixion
  • The light of Christ coming into the world, to overcome the darkness of sin and death
  • Shows that all believers are able to share in the risen glory of Christ
• Catholics believe that at the end of time, everyone will be resurrected and judged by Christ. This judgement will confirm whether a person spends the rest of eternity in heaven or hell.
• The Last Judgement (painting)


  Depicts the event of the Last (or Final) Judgement
• The Last Judgement (painting)


  • Christ is the central figure, emphasising his importance as the judge of all
  • The wounds from his crucifixion are still visible, showing that Jesus came to glory through obedience and suffering
  • Christ's right hand is raised, reflecting the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, in which Jesus promises the good will be on his right and the wicked on his left
  • Saints are shown with perfect bodies, reflecting the Catholic belief that people's bodies will be resurrected (as well as their souls), and made perfect
  • Everyone except for Jesus and Mary was originally depicted as naked, showing that in the Last Judgement, all people are equal before God
  • People are shown rising from their graves, showing that all people will be raised up for judgement on the last day
• The Last Judgement (painting)


  • People are shown moving towards hell, with a sense of despair
  • Hell is shown as a place of darkness, which reflects the idea that the light of Christ can't reach people who have rejected God
  • Seven angels blow trumpets to bring about the end of the world and Christ's judgement, with one angel holding a small book filled with the names of those who will be raised to heaven, and another angel holding a much larger book filled with the names of those who are destined for hell
• Catholics believe in the resurrection of the body (the whole person, body and soul will be judged in God's presence). Since the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, the body should be treated with respect even after death.
• Memorials for the dead


  • Structures or areas that are built to honour and show respect to the dead
  • Express various beliefs about life after death, such as a belief in heaven, judgement, resurrection, and eternal life after death
• Tombstones


  Large carved stones placed over a person's grave, indicating the location of the person's grave so it can be treated with respect
• Features of Catholic tombstones


  • Often inscribed with the letters 'RIP'
  • Often shaped like a cross
  • Some have an angel carved on them
• Meaning of tombstone features


  • 'RIP' stands for 'Requiescat in pace' or 'May (s)he rest in peace', a prayer expressing hope that the person is in heaven
  • Cross indicates the person believed in Jesus
  • Angel reflects the belief that all people have their own guardian angel, who will present them to God to be judged
• Monuments


  • Structures built to remember an important person or event
  • Some have been built for Catholic saints to indicate how important they were