God did not abandon us to death but in his unfathomable mercy sent his Son to save us.
God did not will the disorder, suffering, illness, and pain that sin introduced to the world. He desired to come in solidarity with his creation, live a truly human life, and give our story a remarkable, hopeful ending.
“As faithful followers of Christ, we believe that God who is Love has a plan for us—through death—to fulfill our deepest affections and longings.”
We can only view death accurately through the lens of faith. As St. Paul says, "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). Because of Christ, we possess the hope of one day entering God’s own rest—the paradise for which we are all created.
Up Next in Eternal Rest: The Art of Dying Well
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The Faithful Departed | Eternal Rest ...
What is left for the living to do after someone dies? In this session, we talk about the final ways in which those still living on earth care for the body and soul of the dead. We discuss the work that remains for the living to do as we grieve for the deceased and as we turn to the work of prepar...
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What Do Catholics Believe About the A...
We must avoid falling into two tendencies: that there is nothing after death or that everyone immediately enters heaven.
The first pitfall to avoid is a worldly skepticism that after death, that’s it. This materialist viewpoint says we do not have immortal souls and, after death, are no differen...
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What Is Purgatory?
When we die in God’s friendship but with a heart not yet perfected, we need further purification before entering the holiness of God’s presence. This final purification is called purgatory.
Purgatory is purification—purgation—after death before we can see God face-to-face. If we cooperate with h...
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