Part I, Chapter V — Coming of Jesus Christ at the End of the World. The Two Judgments

92. What did Jesus Christ do after His resurrection?

Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, remained on earth forty days; then He ascended into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

93. Why did Jesus Christ remain on earth forty days after His resurrection?

Jesus Christ remained on earth forty days after His resurrection in order to show that He had truly risen, to confirm His disciples in their faith in Him, and to instruct them more deeply in His doctrine.

94. Is Jesus Christ now only in heaven?

Jesus Christ is not now only in heaven, but as God He is in every place, and as God and man He is in heaven and in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.

95. Will Jesus Christ ever again return visibly to this earth?

Jesus Christ will return visibly to this earth at the end of the world to judge the living and the dead, that is, all men, both good and wicked.

96. Will Jesus Christ wait until the end of the world to judge us?

Jesus Christ will not wait until the end of the world to judge us, but will judge each one immediately after death.

97. Are there two judgments?

There are two judgments: one particular, of each soul, immediately after death; the other universal, of all men, at the end of the world.

98. On what will Jesus Christ judge us?

Jesus Christ will judge us on the good and the evil done in life, even on our thoughts and our omissions.

99. After the particular judgment, what becomes of the soul?

After the particular judgment, the soul, if it is without sin and without debt of punishment, goes to heaven; if it has some venial sin or some debt of punishment, it goes to purgatory until it has made satisfaction; if it is in mortal sin, then, as a rebel beyond conversion to God, it goes to hell.

100. Where do children who die without Baptism go?

Children who die without Baptism go to Limbo, where there is no supernatural reward nor any pain; because, having only original sin and nothing more, they do not merit heaven, but neither do they merit hell or purgatory.

101. What is purgatory?

Purgatory is the temporary suffering of the privation of God, and of other pains which take away from the soul every remnant of sin in order to render it worthy to see God.

102. Can we help and even free the souls from the pains of purgatory?

We can help and even free the souls from the pains of purgatory by suffrages, that is, by prayers, indulgences, almsgiving, and other good works, and above all by the Holy Mass.

103. Is it certain that heaven and hell exist?

It is certain that heaven and hell exist: God has revealed it, often promising to the good eternal life and His own joy, and threatening the wicked with perdition and eternal fire.

104. How long will heaven and hell last?

Heaven and hell will last eternally.