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-day 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.
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
Confession at last..Peace.Thank you Good Catholic for this soul’s journey. And thank you my fellow travelers. Peace be with you.
My sister and I have enjoyed these readings over the last month and a half, and have discussed our views on all the subjects. Today we went together to go to confession which neither of us have done for many years. The priest was amazing, I was so scared but found myself releasing my fears and letting God lead me through it. What a complete joy we both had on our way home knowing that we were in God’s love again., although I don’t think God ever left us, it was we that left him. I’m so thankful my sister and I did this together. May God give you all the strength you need in this lifetime and prepare you for your everlasting life with him.
I loved this series and found myself crying when it was over. God knows what he is doing and now we know what we should be doing.
Thank you Good Catholic for your work on this series. I felt the weight of Gods judgement, love and mercy. Not to take lightly, my time on earth. To know others strive to LOVE God as much as I is very consoling and gives me strength! Gods peace and love this Easter season! How loving and merciful is our Lord, who can match his goodness! I scarcely know what to write…. so, so humbled that he’s chosen us to be a light in this crazy, crazy world!
This series for opening up my mind and drawing me closer to my salvation. I’m still behind and mentally preparing myself for a long overdue confession…
I was feeling physically ill about the thought of going to confession after 40years! After weeks of anxiety I finally went and cleared my conscience. The relief of doing it and the words of the priest to me were so healing. I will continue to go to confession and receive the graces given from the sacrament. Everything I learned over the last forty days has made me want to be ardent in my passion to follow the road that leads to eternity with our savior.
It’s been the most enlightening and wonderful Lenten Season I have ever experienced.
I love the term spiritual family. When I started this course I thought I would not share anything. But I got drawn in. In the morning I immediatly look for posts from my spiritual family…I am truly going to miss this and will sign up for the next one.
I feel better prepared to participate in Palm Sunday. Looking forward to Holy Week. Going to a Seder Dinner Tuesday night, Tenebrae on Wednesday, Mass of the Last Supper Thursday and of course The stations of the Cross on Good Friday. This 40 day journey has been so eye opening. Part of me fears that old bad habits will resume. But I will try and persevere through God’s grace and mercy.
My husband and I have become better Catholics through this series, for sure! We will miss our “time with our on line family.” For me this series has been a grace from the Holy Spirit- who gives us enlightenment. He has certainly given us instructions and enlightened us about our beautiful journey home to God.
Although I am saddened by the end of this series, it has been a blessing to me in my journey. What wonderful things I have learned to make me want to more closely follow our Lord and to achieve Eternal Life with Him at the end of my life here on earth…I pray each of us have found a clearer path to Heaven. I pray we may all persevere till the end…God Bless Good Catholic for these wonderful programs. I cant wait for the next one.
In these past 40 days we have helped each other up and over walls of some misconceptions and misunderstandings. We encouraged one another to get cleaned up through the sacrament of confession due to some muddy parts of our lives that needed some cleansing. Through prayer and encouragement we helped each other carry some heavy burdens / crosses (or heavy tractor tires…lol!). We know that this journey is not over. We must persevere to the end. And at the finsih line we can jump with joy into the loving arms of our Savior.