The Four Last Things: Journey of a Soul
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Are you ready for eternity?
Do you ever think about life after death? What will it be like? Will the things you did in this life follow you into eternity? What are the souls of your departed loved ones experiencing right now?
Far from being morbid, reflecting on what will happen to our souls at the moment of our death is not only fascinating, it also does us much good. When we contemplate the life that awaits us, it will help us to increase our faith, our hope, our love for God, and our desire to be with Him forever. It is a means by which we can learn more about our Savior and marvel at the greatness of how He has redeemed our fallen world.
All of this is encapsulated in the Church’s teaching on the Four Last Things.
What are the Four Last Things?
Every human soul will experience the same thing at the end of their earthly life: the soul will be separated from the body and immediately face the justice of God. After we give Him an account of our lives, the soul will receive one of two destinies: either blissful union with God forever, or painful separation from Him forever. The Church calls this the Four Last Things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell.
Many people have mistaken ideas about life after death, and believing what is false can put our souls in danger. In fact, there is no other subject that is more important to learn the truth about. And there is no other authority to which we can turn to tell us the truth about our eternal life than the visible Church founded by God Himself, Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Church teaches us everything we need to know about the meaning of life, what happens to us when we die, and what we will experience in eternity. There’s no subject more fascinating to learn about. Reflecting on these amazing truths will allow us to live in the light of God’s truth about who we are and where we’re heading.
Why join this series?
The Four Last Things: Journey of a Soul is a 40-lesson journey through the Church’s teachings on The Four Last Things. In this series you will learn how God has created the world and the human soul, the journey of the soul as it transitions from this world to the next, and the final destiny that awaits the good and the bad. Through the detailed explanations in this series you will begin to see life as God sees it, and gain a better understanding of the great importance of your every thought, word, and deed.
What will your eternal destiny be? God leaves the choice up to you. There is no better time than now to prepare your soul for eternity by studying the awesome truth that God has revealed to us through His Church.
What is included in this series?
In this series, you will receive 40 lessons. Each lesson consists of a 3-4 minute video from Fr. Timothy Reid and an article (about the length of a medium-sized blog article) from our Good Catholic staff. Each lesson ends with an audio rosary you can pray with us.
How long does this series take?
We recommend 1 lesson per day, so your series will run approximately 40 days. Every day (starting the day after you sign up), you will receive an email prompting you to read and watch the fascinating daily content for that day’s lesson. You can also jump ahead, viewing the lessons that interest you, or take more time with each lesson. Basically, go at your own pace—the emails are just there as reminders. You can repeat the series as often as you wish for a full year.
How do I access the content once I sign up?
Click the link in the daily email (make sure you’re logged in or you’ll be redirected to the purchase page). You can also click My Account and go to My Series (located in the left-side menu under “Dashboard”) to access all the series you’re subscribed to.
Series Contributors
Father Timothy Reid
Fr. Timothy Reid, a convert to the Catholic Faith, earned his B.S. in Marketing from Indiana University, but later changed his focus to pursue the study of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America. After attaining an M.A. in Philosophy in 1996, he took a job with the Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Following his Theology studies at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, earning an M.A. in Theology and a Masters of Divinity, Fr. Reid was ordained in 2004. In 2007 he was made Pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he continues to serve today. Fr. Reid is a Third Order Carmelite and serves as the Spiritual Director of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Secular Carmelite group in Charlotte.
Gretchen Filz, O.P.
Gretchen Filz, O.P., is a Catholic content writer with an M.A. in Christian Apologetics. As a result of her studies in theology and philosophy at an Evangelical seminary, she discovered the truth of Catholicism and entered into full communion with the Catholic Church in 2011. A passionate convert and Lay Dominican, Gretchen lives out her vocation through prayer, study, teaching, writing, and engaging in a variety of apostolates. Her articles have provided catechesis and inspiration for Catholics around the world. She currently works in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.
80 Reviews
I have to say I have been moved by these readings. I can truly say that this is the first time in my entire life that I have been concerned for my eternal soul. In the past I have gone to confession reluctantly or out of obligation, and I now look forward to it. Thank you Good Catholic.
I am very grateful for the Journey of a soul! To learn our faith, the importance of our faith, the LOVE of Almighty GOD Himself, and how HE wants All of us to join HIM in the end. So grateful to be a Roman Catholic at the hands of my parents.
I find this series challenging, but I like that. I like having the Church Father, Doctor, and Saint segments in each lesson because…I might not pick up a book by one of these Saints, but this format allows you to learn many of their thoughts and points of view on a single subject and don’t have to go hunting down what each of them thought on that subject. These series always help me grow in faith, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.
I find this course both informative and helpful for a more spiritual life. Thank you for your hard work to bring it to us.
The series is enlightening and the diagrams are quite helpful. So many things I know but when you see them in writing, you recognize them easier and you are better able to focus on the temptations and the areas where you need to work. It is a great series and this is the first time I have done this type of study. Every comment is helpful and encouraging.
I love the series and am thankful it is helping me take my faith to a new level. It’s just what I needed for Lent!
I absolutely love this series. I truly appreciate the depth of the writing and research and even how it is all presented! The writer is fabulous. I love the quotes from the saints and the use of mystical theology. I look forward to it each day! The video and additional resources at the end are great as well. This series was well thought out and will certainly bear much fruit! Onward good Catholic Soldiers!!
I get it! It is tough stuff!! But I have to say I feel rejuvenated!! Thank you Good Catholic for FINALLY offering something that is challenging for me and my faith to take in. This has been a perfect fit for me as I find other popular Lenten series very watered down and just not enough for me spiritually. I do, on the other hand, read a lot of books on spirituality and so am familiar with the “tougher wording” per se. Hang in there everyone!! My prayers to all. It is a pleasure taking this on with all of you.
For Fifty years I have stood just outside the church door. Listening but never part taking. Finally I received the push that sent me thru the door, Thank you Lord! At 54 I am an Inquirer and this series is perfect for filling in the gaps of my religious education. Thank you God, thank you Good Catholic and thank you my fellow participants for this wonderful experience and education.
How can we know God without the first steps of study and prayer! I loved today’s lesson. (Day 2) As St Paul said, for now we know only in part, but today I know a little more than yesterday.
I love being consumed by our Lord! This is only the second day and I’m hooked ? last night I attended Mass after being away from church but not God and I pray that I continue to devote more time and not be side tracked from the everyday attempted ways that are faced upon us
Thank you, Good Catholic and Fr. Reid for this phenomenal series, it was so enlightening, thank you for leading us through it daily with thought provoking readings, Fr, Reid’s wisdom & expert analogies, the daily prayers. We were Blessed to have this, may all who put this series together be Blessed, also.