ETERNAL REPOSE | Faith Exposed with Cardinal Tagle

Summary

This video reflects on the teachings of the Church regarding death, judgment, and the afterlife. It explains that upon death, each soul undergoes a personal judgment based on their earthly life, as illustrated in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Those who die in a state of grace but with imperfections are purified through an encounter with Jesus. The Church encourages us to pray for the dead, offering the Eucharist on their behalf, a practice rooted in biblical tradition. The video emphasizes the communion of saints, where the living and the dead support each other in their journey toward God’s mercy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Church remembers and prays for the departed souls on All Souls' Day, particularly on November 2nd.
• 😀 The Church teaches that after death, each soul undergoes a particular judgment based on how they lived their life.
• 😀 The story of the rich man and Lazarus illustrates how individuals are judged in the afterlife according to their actions during their lifetime.
• 😀 The rich man failed to think of the afterlife, which resulted in his torment in hell, a reminder to consider life beyond death.
• 😀 Souls who die in a state of grace but with imperfections undergo purification before being united with God.
• 😀 Purification occurs through an encounter with Jesus, whose love reveals and purifies the soul's failings.
• 😀 Souls who lived before Christ's time were also purified when they encountered Him after His death.
• 😀 We can help the departed by offering prayers and the Holy Eucharist on their behalf, as this supports their purification process.
• 😀 The Eucharist is a sacrament of love, linking the living and the dead in communion, just as Judas Maccabeus prayed for the souls of his fallen soldiers.
• 😀 Praying for the dead fosters the communion of saints, where members of the Church on Earth, in Purgatory, and in Heaven work together for one another’s benefit.
• 😀 Saint Ambrose’s prayer for the deceased, 'Eternal rest grant unto them,' is a powerful way to support the departed souls' eternal peace.

Q & A

What does the Church teach about what happens after death?

The Church teaches that after death, each person undergoes a particular judgment based on how they lived their life. Souls who die in a state of grace but with imperfections undergo purification, while those who lived in sin face immediate judgment.

What is 'particular judgment' in Catholic teaching?

Particular judgment refers to the personal judgment each soul receives immediately after death, where their actions in life are evaluated. This judgment determines the soul’s eternal fate—either purification, eternal life, or damnation.

How does the story of the rich man and Lazarus illustrate the concept of judgment after death?

The story of the rich man and Lazarus shows that each person is judged according to their actions in life. Lazarus, who suffered in life but was just, is comforted in the afterlife, while the rich man, who ignored the needs of others, faces torment.

What does the Church say about purification after death?

The Church teaches that souls who die in a state of grace but with imperfections are purified in an encounter with Jesus. This purification is an act of mercy that cleanses the soul through the fire of Jesus’s love, making them ready to be with God.

Who undergoes purification, and how is it related to Jesus?

Souls who die in a state of grace but with lingering imperfections undergo purification. This process involves an encounter with Jesus, whose love reveals the soul's failings, and the fire of His love purifies them, preparing them for eternal life with God.

What role does the Eucharist play in supporting the souls of the departed?

The Church teaches that offering the Eucharist on behalf of the departed helps in their purification. The Eucharist is seen as a sacrament of love, which, like the prayers and sacrifices offered in the Old Testament, supports the souls as they undergo purification.

How does the concept of the communion of saints relate to prayer for the dead?

The communion of saints is the spiritual connection among all members of the Church—those on earth, in purgatory, and in heaven. Through prayer for the dead, we participate in this communion, where the living and the departed work together for the good of all.

Why does the Church refer to the purification process as an encounter with Jesus’s love?

The Church refers to purification as an encounter with Jesus’s love because it is through His love that the soul is shown its imperfections. The purifying fire of His love draws the soul closer to God, cleansing it in preparation for eternal life.

What is the significance of Saint Ambrose’s prayer for the departed?

Saint Ambrose’s prayer, 'Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them,' is a prayer for the eternal peace of the departed. It expresses the hope that God’s mercy will shine on the souls of the deceased, bringing them to rest in His presence.

How can we help the departed according to the Church’s teachings on All Souls’ Day?

According to the Church’s teachings, we can help the departed by offering prayers, especially the Eucharist, for their eternal repose. This act of charity and prayer aids in their purification and brings us into communion with them, as part of the broader communion of saints.