What Happens When You Die? The Four Last Things Fr. Richard Gill June 2018 “How lovely is your dwelling place,O Lord, mighty . My longs for the courts of our Lord” (Ps. 84: 1-2) The Urgency of Heaven “The dignity of the human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God; it is fulfilled in his vocation to divine beatitude. It is essential to a human being freely to direct himself to this fulfillment.” (Catechism of the 1700)

All persons enjoy equal dignity because we are all called to the same end.

“If you are wise, then, know that you have been created for the glory of God and your own eternal salvation. This is your goal; this is the center of your life; this is the treasure of your heart. If you reach this goal, you will find happiness. If you fail to reach it, you will find misery.” -St. Robert Bellarmine What is Heaven?

““Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness… the life of the blessed consists in the full and perfect possession of the redemption accomplished by Christ. He makes partners in his heavenly glorification those who have believed in him and remained faithful to his will. Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated in Christ.” (CCC 1014-1026) St. on Heaven

“The pleasant companionship of all the blessed in heaven will be a companionship replete with delight. For each one will possess all good things together with the blessed, because they will love one another as themselves, and will therefore rejoice in the happiness of others’ good as well as their own. Consequently, the joy and gladness of one will be as great as the joy of all.” Sacred Scripture on Heaven

“…no eye hath seen, no ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor 2: 9)

“And they shall see his face and his name shall be on their foreheads. And the night shall be no more, and they shall have no need of lamp or of the sun, for the Lord God will shed light upon them and they shall reign forever.” (Rev. 22: 4-5)

“And we who live will be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and we shall ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4: 17) Characteristics of the Glorified Body

“If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body… for this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put immortality.” (1 Cor. 15: 42, 53) 1. Impassibility: incapable of suffering or dying 2. Subtility: passes through solid objects 3. Agility: soul moves the body at the speed of thought 4. Clarity: free from all deformity and defect What do we do in Heaven?

1. Understand our earthly life by the light of God ( needed)

2. Share with other human lives (communion of )

3. Explore the infinite richness of God and his plan (beatific ) Some Final Issues

1. Are we all equal in Heaven? 2. Do those in Heaven see us now? 3. Do ghosts come from Heaven? •Poor —probably purgatorial •Evil spirits who deceive •Good spirits as messengers of 1. Animals? June 8 Judgement (and Purgatory)

Thank you for coming.