The Reality of Death
It's hard to talk about death.
It's a subject that makes many people uncomfortable because it involves facing the reality of our own mortality. And that can be scary! But what if we could approach this topic in a way that wasn't so scary? The Catholic Church teaches that death is a natural part of human life. We are born to die, and our deaths are necessary for the world to continue its cycle.
The Catholic Church teaches that when we die, our souls pass through this world and into the next. We will not be judged until our final judgment at the end of time, but God will know everything about us—our sins and good deeds alike—and use this information to decide where we will spend eternity. This is why the Catholic Church offers prayers for the dead—not just because they're nice people, but because they truly believe those prayers will help bring about the transition from life to death and even beyond for those who have passed away. We believe that everyone has an immortal soul and that when we die, we pass through purgatory on our way to heaven, where we will be reunited with all those we love who have also passed on.
In order to ensure a place at heaven's gates, it is important that your soul remain pure while on earth so that when you enter into Heaven, you will have earned your place there. For those who are baptized and have died before concupiscence, before the tendency of sin, they enter into Heaven to be in the presence of our Lord.
Catholics believe that Jesus Christ came down from heaven to save us from sin by dying on a cross and rising again three days later. This sacrifice means that all Christians can go to heaven when they die if they accept Jesus Christ as their savior during life through baptism or confession with a priest.
But what about those who have never heard about this wonderful truth? Well, the Catholic Church also teaches us that there is hope for them as well. In fact, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "The universal salvific will of the one mediator, Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2:5-6), who at his Passover revealed his glory (cf. John 11:4) and instituted the Eucharist as his memorial meal (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-25) also includes those who do not yet believe in him but seek God with a sincere heart" (CCC 674).
In the words of Pope Francis, "The Christian knows that death is not an end or a defeat, but a passage." The Church teaches that while our bodies will perish, our souls will live on in heaven, where they can be reunited with God. The church also teaches that suffering is part of this world and should be accepted as such. If we suffer in this life we will be rewarded in the next life; if we accept suffering here we will experience joy there (see 1 Peter 4:13).
We should not fear death because it is merely passing through this world to another one: "Death is the last enemy," writes St Paul (1 Corinthians 15:26). "After Christ's victory over sin and death at Easter, there is no more death."
The promise of resurrection gives us hope for a better future and helps us cope with our present hardships.
