The one thing on earth that doesn’t discriminate is death. But many people just leave it at that. The Catholic faith teaches that there are other things that take place after we die. These things make up the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell.
Read more: Don’t Wait For The End Times, Prepare NOW
In his book The Four Last Things: A Catechetical Guide to Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell, Father Wade L.J. Menezes, CPM explains these four things in an enlightening way that will make any reader want to keep on the path of holiness – even when life becomes hard.
Father Menezes provides a realistic and compassionate view of each of the last four things. He begins each chapter with a relevant verse of Scripture and a quote from a saint. In the appendices, he includes suggested daily prayers and the Litany of Saint Joseph (patron saint of a happy and holy death).
On the reality of death, Father Menezes writes: “…when it comes to the reality of death, we can easily get caught up only in the temporal realities of life, which are doubtless important, and forget about the spiritual realities of life. At the end of the day, damnation due to mortal sin is more important than snagging the ideal burial plot.” It is this type of straightforward but sensitive examination that Father Menezes gives throughout the book.
Did you know that the Judgment in the four last things refers to both the Particular and General Judgments? Father Menezes discusses that and more in his chapter on Judgment.
Did you know that there are four properties assumed by the glorified bodies of the just? They are impassibility, subtility, agility, and clarity. Not sure what any of that means? Find out in the chapter on Heaven.
Did you know that those who reject the love of God and condemn themselves to Hell are not just doing a grace injustice to the Creator but also to their own dignity? Find out even more about the reality of Hell in that chapter.
Father Menezes ends his book on a positive note, proclaiming the necessity of the spiritual life. “We are all called to become great saints– and remember that the definition of a saint is merely a soul who abides in Heaven. Given the fact that there are roughly nine thousand canonized saints, we can hope with good reason that the non-canonized saints outnumber– by a wide margin, even!– the canonized saints. Regardless of the numbers, our goal must always be to join the saints in Heaven.”
As we prepare to contemplate the death and resurrection of Christ this Lent and Easter, pick up a copy of Father Wade Menezes book The Four Last Things: A Catechetical Guide to Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell to help elevate your understanding.
