Life is fragile, its end sudden and unpredictable. Two personal events have seared this truth into my heart: the first is a relative I hold close to my heart recently diagnosed with end-stage COPD, now striving to mend relationships and forgive those who have hurt her, and the second a dear friend who collapsed in our backyard this weekend, rushed to the hospital for heart tests. These moments help remind me and them of the Catholic teaching on the Four Last Things—Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. Yet, over the last 20–30 years, Catholics, especially young people, have been deprived of robust catechesis on these eternal truths, leaving many unprepared for their Particular Judgment. The tragic flood in Kerr, Texas, where children lost their lives, serves as a heart-wrenching reminder that even the young face death, underscoring the urgent need to teach the Four Last Things to all. As St. Leonard of Port Maurice warned, “Hell exists and few go to Heaven,” citing the narrow path to salvation (Matthew 7:14). St. Catherine of Siena’s visions of Purgatory and Hell confirm this reality, urging conversion. As Catholics, we must live in a state of grace, for “you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13). Why, then, do we presume loved ones are in Heaven, risking the sin of presumption?
The Catholic Church teaches that only God knows a soul’s eternal destiny at death. At our Particular Judgment, “our soul is sent immediately to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell” based on its state of grace (Baltimore Catechism Q. 151). Presuming a soul is in Heaven without the Church’s canonization process, which declares saints (CCC 828), risks presumption—a sin that assumes salvation while neglecting God’s justice and repentance (CCC 2091–2092). St. Thomas Aquinas warns that presumption arises when one relies on God’s mercy without striving for holiness (Summa Theologica, II-II, Q. 21, A. 1). For instance, assuming salvation due to good deeds while ignoring unrepented sins, including sins of omission like failing to defend the faith against false teachings. St. Catherine of Siena, in her Dialogue, saw Purgatory’s purifying fire and Hell’s torments, urging prayers for the dead, who may be in Purgatory (CCC 1030–1032). My loved ones’ trials call us to pray for their souls, not presume their fate, and to teach these truths to all.
Death: Gateway to Eternity
The Baltimore Catechism defines death as “the end of this earthly life” (Q. 150), when the soul separates from the body, a consequence of original sin (Aquinas, Summa Theologica, II-II, Q. 164, A. 1). Aquinas teaches that the soul, immortal and intellectual, persists after death, awaiting reunion with a glorified body at the resurrection (Summa Theologica, Supplement, Q. 75, A. 1). This refutes heresies like Gnosticism, which viewed the body as evil and denied its resurrection. My relative’s COPD diagnosis is a grace-filled call to reconcile, forgive those who haven’t sought forgiveness, and make amends. The Kerr, Texas, flood, where children tragically died, reminds us that death spares no age. Yet, the lack of catechesis over decades has left many Catholics, especially young people, unaware of how we gamble eternally with our souls. Parishes must revive these teachings to prepare souls through daily prayer, confession, and the Eucharist.
Judgment: Standing Before Christ
Aquinas explains that at the Particular Judgment, the soul faces Christ immediately after death, its fate determined by its state of grace (Summa Theologica, Supplement, Q. 69, A. 2; Balt Cat, Q. 151). At the general judgment, all deeds are revealed with resurrected bodies (Q. 152). Sins of omission—failing to love, forgive, or defend the Catholic faith against secular lies—carry grave weight. Ed Jozsa, who survived a 2017 car accident in Indiana, saw this in his near-death experience: “I saw myself as I truly was, and I felt the weight of my sins. I saw myself in truth” (The Catholic Moment, June 2024). His vision of a purgative state and Hell’s horrors mirrors Catherine’s revelations (Dialogue, Ch. 42). My friend’s collapse urges confession and bold witness, such as correcting false teachings about the Church. Catechesis must teach judgment to foster accountability. It does not help when Church leaders downplay the reality of Hell or explain the fact how few souls reach Heaven. The Curé of Ars (St. John Vianney) warned that many souls are lost to Hell due to lukewarmness and failure to repent.
Heaven: The Beatific Vision
Heaven, “a state of everlasting happiness where we see God face to face” (Baltimore Catechism, Q. 153), is the beatific vision, Aquinas teaches (Summa Theologica, I, Q. 12, A. 1). St. Augustine’s words resonate: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Jozsa’s glimpse of divine light reflects this hope. Heaven rewards enduring trials with faith, but presuming a soul’s presence there risks neglecting Purgatory prayers. Catechesis, lacking for decades, must inspire youth to seek Heaven through holiness.
Hell: The Reality of Separation
Hell is “a state of everlasting punishment” for unrepented mortal sin (Balt Cat, Q. 154), eternal separation from God, Aquinas teaches (Summa Theologica, Supplement, Q. 98, A. 1). St. Leonard’s warning that “few go to Heaven” underscores this. Sins of omission, like failing to uphold the faith and a lack of charity, lead here. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen said, “The greatest tragedy in the world is not the suffering of the innocent, but the refusal of sinners to repent.” . Catechesis should emphasize Confession and charity to avoid this fate.
The Four Last Things demand vigilance. “The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (CCC 1036). My relative’s reconciliation and friend’s health scare call me to confession, the Eucharist, and bold witness. To address the catechetical crisis, parishes should update their religious education offerings to include these important learnings, encourage family discussions on eternity, and use stories like Jozsa’s to engage young people.
If today were my last, would I be ready to meet God? Aquinas and Jozsa’s experience urge us to live in grace, avoiding presumption. We must forgive generously, restore relationships, defend the faith courageously, and teach others, especially children, to do the same. As Sheen reminds us, “God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us.” May we respond to that love, preparing our souls—and the next generation—for eternity.