The Particular Judgment

1. Dogma on the Particular Judgment: “Immediately after death, the particular judgment takes place, in which, by a divine sentence of judgment, the eternal fate of the deceased person is decided.”

2. Note: “Immediately”. According to Catholic Theology, the moment of death is all-important (recall the dogma on the Significance of Death).

Once a person dies, their “time is up” completely.

Once they have died, there is NO opportunity for the person to do ANYTHING which will affect his/her judgment in any way. “Game Over”.

3. This is a blessing for those souls on their way to Heaven and a curse for those on their way to Hell.

The souls on their way to Heaven rejoice that they can no longer sin or do anything to lose the great prize awaiting them.

The souls on their way to Hell deeply regret that they can no longer do anything to prevent them from going forever to Hell.

The ‘Saved’ and the ‘Damned’.

4. Who is the person who judges the souls who have departed Earth for eternal life?

Jesus Christ

It is fitting that Jesus Christ be the person who judges these souls because it is He whom we have crucified by our sins.

It is He who gave His life to redeem us from our sins, He who died that we might have Life.

5. The Church teaches that this Judgment of Christ upon the soul is Immediate, Perfect, and Eternal.

“Immediate” means simply that it occurs as soon as the person dies.

There is NO DELAY whatsoever, no ‘lingering’ “between heaven and hell”.

The soul departs the body. Then it immediately encounters Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ judges the soul.

6. “Perfect” means that this judgment is completely WITHOUT ERROR of any kind.

It is both Just and Merciful.

And because it is Perfect, there is NO APPEAL of any kind that the soul can make.

7. Also, because this Judgment of God is Perfect, it is also “Eternal”, which means “everlasting/without end”.

This follows from the fact that the Judgment of God is without error.

God makes His Judgment and NEVER reverses it. “Eternal”.

8. What are we judged on at the Particular Judgment?

We are judged on: every thought, every word, every intention, and every action of our entire life.

All-encompassing because God is Just: He considers ALL the acts of our life, both mental and physical.

Remember: God is Omniscient (All-Knowing).

He knows absolutely EVERYTHING about us, even our innermost thoughts, desires, and intentions. He sees all and knows ALL, we believe.

9. For the Just (the Saved), this meeting with Christ will be pleasant.

Like two longtime friends meeting in person for the first time.

For the Damned, it will be a dreadful meeting.

We should do ALL that we can so that this never happens.

The Just will see all the good things they have done in their life and rejoice in the Mercy of God, who by His grace has saved them.

The Damned will see all the evil things they have done in their life and all the good things they have neglected to do.

And they will regret ever having been born.

Horrifying.

10. Immediately after the Particular Judgment, the judged soul is sent off on its Eternal Pathway.

If “Saved”: it goes either to Heaven directly, if it is already purified of all sin, or to Purgatory if not.

If “Damned”: it goes directly to Hell and begins its eternal sentence of suffering, misery, and despair.