Each day we live is a preparation for the day we die. We will die well if we live in a manner that prepares us for Heaven. We either prepare to die well or we’re headed for Hell. The choice is ours.
Thank you Father for the guidance: Your article has makes me feel very peaceful.
I began an online prayer today for this month [souls in purgatory] to add along with my morning rosary, that I say within a group podcast from the US. I find it easier, with less chance of distraction following along with other voices. 🙏🏻
Jesus said unto him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. When Jesus said this, did he mean that we can’t pray for the dead?
I believe that upon death the spirit or consciousness is — finally! — 100 percent liberated from the purely cerebrally based anxiety, agitation and contempt that may have actually blighted much of its physical existence.
Therefore, free of the corporeal shell, the soul may be wondering, ‘Why was I so angry, so much of the time? Oh, the things I said!... I really hope I didn't do damage while I was there’. ...
A few decades ago, I learned from two Latter Day Saints missionaries that their church’s doctrine teaches that the biblical ‘lake of fire’ meant for the truly wicked actually represents an eternal spiritual burning of guilt over one’s corporeal misdeeds. Bemused, I thought and said: “That’s it? Our punishment is our afterlife's guilty conscience?”
During the many years since then, however, I’ve discovered just how formidable intense guilt can be. I’ve also considered and decided that our brain's structural/chemical flaws are what we basically are while our soul is confined within our physical, bodily form. The human soul may be inherently good on its own; but trapped within the physical body, notably the corruptible brain, oftentimes the soul’s purity may not be able to shine through.
Thus, upon the multi-murderer's physical death, not only would they be 100 percent liberated from the anger and hate that blighted their physical life; their spirit or consciousness would also be forced to exist with the presumably unwanted awareness of the immense amount of needless suffering they personally had caused.
Thank you Fr S. I am 71 (born and bred in Dublin now in Canberra)and very conscious that it is the winter of my life, and seeking direction. My last grandchild is now 8, and I see them only fortnightly.
The gospel of the presentation in the Temple mentions Anna who prayed a lot is my inspiration.
Pray daily (rosary 4Mystreies) . Communion daily, Confession at least monthly, Fasting on Wed & Friday, Bible reading (Bible in a year is a good start). Love for neighbour (visit )
thank you for this article. I'm not quite sure how you can say 'Death was never in God’s plan for mankind'. One of the authors of Genesis is quite clear that the reason Adam was expelled from the garden was because 'he must not be allowed to reach out his hand and pick from the tree of life too, and eat and live for ever'. (Gen 3:22).
One of the problems we have, I think, is that when we read Scripture, we immediately equate 'death' oly with physically dying, rather than it's Jewish understanding as separation from God.
Thank you Father for the guidance: Your article has makes me feel very peaceful.
I began an online prayer today for this month [souls in purgatory] to add along with my morning rosary, that I say within a group podcast from the US. I find it easier, with less chance of distraction following along with other voices. 🙏🏻
🙏🏼💙🙏🏼
Jesus said unto him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. When Jesus said this, did he mean that we can’t pray for the dead?
I believe that upon death the spirit or consciousness is — finally! — 100 percent liberated from the purely cerebrally based anxiety, agitation and contempt that may have actually blighted much of its physical existence.
Therefore, free of the corporeal shell, the soul may be wondering, ‘Why was I so angry, so much of the time? Oh, the things I said!... I really hope I didn't do damage while I was there’. ...
A few decades ago, I learned from two Latter Day Saints missionaries that their church’s doctrine teaches that the biblical ‘lake of fire’ meant for the truly wicked actually represents an eternal spiritual burning of guilt over one’s corporeal misdeeds. Bemused, I thought and said: “That’s it? Our punishment is our afterlife's guilty conscience?”
During the many years since then, however, I’ve discovered just how formidable intense guilt can be. I’ve also considered and decided that our brain's structural/chemical flaws are what we basically are while our soul is confined within our physical, bodily form. The human soul may be inherently good on its own; but trapped within the physical body, notably the corruptible brain, oftentimes the soul’s purity may not be able to shine through.
Thus, upon the multi-murderer's physical death, not only would they be 100 percent liberated from the anger and hate that blighted their physical life; their spirit or consciousness would also be forced to exist with the presumably unwanted awareness of the immense amount of needless suffering they personally had caused.
Wonderful essay. Thank you so much.
Thank you Fr S. I am 71 (born and bred in Dublin now in Canberra)and very conscious that it is the winter of my life, and seeking direction. My last grandchild is now 8, and I see them only fortnightly.
The gospel of the presentation in the Temple mentions Anna who prayed a lot is my inspiration.
Pray daily (rosary 4Mystreies) . Communion daily, Confession at least monthly, Fasting on Wed & Friday, Bible reading (Bible in a year is a good start). Love for neighbour (visit )
Keep away from the TV.
God Bless , keep up the writing
Viva Christo Rey
Dear all,
thank you for this article. I'm not quite sure how you can say 'Death was never in God’s plan for mankind'. One of the authors of Genesis is quite clear that the reason Adam was expelled from the garden was because 'he must not be allowed to reach out his hand and pick from the tree of life too, and eat and live for ever'. (Gen 3:22).
One of the problems we have, I think, is that when we read Scripture, we immediately equate 'death' oly with physically dying, rather than it's Jewish understanding as separation from God.