Life After Life: The Catholic View of Heaven and Hell | Catholic Central

What happens to us after we die? Where do we go? More importantly, why?
In "Catholic Central: Life After Life," Kai and Libby explain the great beyond: Heaven, Purgatory and...uh, the other place.
From Family Theater Productions in Hollywood.
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[@emmanuelfadele3233]

I love our Catholic Church and Faith

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

So do we!

[@Iverymissmj1]

Thank you for this! So Glad I found this channel!!

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Dyvamarye, we are glad you found us as well! Please be sure to subscribe.

[@OskariJuurikkala]

Thanks! This is great stuff! Very useful for catechesis too, I'm definitely using this!

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Awesome!

[@33divinewill]

Thank you so much I enjoyed your presentation! It was fun and it was so meaningful. God bless you both. I pray that you may continue to do more episodes. I thought of Catholic believe.❤

[@PTN92683]

it's great and I showed the video to my confirmation class. Please continue making it.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Peter Nguyen great to hear!

[@ihaveexactly1subscriber321]

This really helped my under stand the concept of heaven and hell

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Great! That's what we hope for.

[@leandromacairan1620]

Beautiful, blessed both you

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Thank you so much!

[@laserguard_303]

bruh i fr had to do a whole paragraph on this thing for school

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

We hope we were able to help!

[@southerncatholicgal5548]

Why am I only finding you now?

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Amelia Willis we don’t know, but glad you did find us!

[@mashoshit99kbr]

this is great

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

We are glad you like it! Please be sure to subscribe to our channel so that you can be notified when we post new content.

[@carlosenrique1712]

This is so amazing! It's very under- rated!!! I'm gonna share it with my youth group!

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Carlos Enrique thanks so much! Hope they like it!

[@preetamrao3029]

Time is earthly constraint ...........great......

[@tjandrayoung6470]

5:30 Very interesting, follow Jesus without even knowing it.. thanks

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi tjandra young, yes this is a concept that the great 20th century Catholic theologian, Karl Rahner, named the "Anonymous Christian." There is Scriptural basis for this in Romans "For when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature observe the prescriptions of the law, they are a law for themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even defend them on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge people’s hidden works through Christ Jesus." (ROM 2:14-16 ) Another passage that supports this is the one in Matthew 25 where Jesus is lays out what it means to be faithful to his teachings by giving food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, etc. (MT 25:31-46).

[@justinmathew8097]

we rest till judgement

[@Sharon22-]

Is there any escape from hell, pls reply. When the world ends, or all the souls are tested, can Jesus show mercy to people in hell

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Sharon. We can never fully comprehend the breadth and depth of God’s mercy. As St. Therese of Lisieux once said “I believe in Hell, but I pray that it is empty.” For Father James Martin, “what hell is like and who is there is up to God.” The Church teaches that there is both a particular judgement when we die and a general one when the world ends. The Catechism describes each one. See if, like St Therese and Father Martin, they shed a hopeful ray of light on the “marvelous ways” of God, the just and merciful judge. On the Particular Judgment (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1022): “Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately-or immediate and everlasting damnation.” On the General or Last Judgment (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1040): “We shall know the ultimate meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of salvation and understand the marvelous ways by which God’s Providence led everything towards its final end. The Last Judgment will reveal that God’s justice triumphs over all the injustices committed by his creatures.” While it may be that neither of these quotes from the Catechism give us the comfort we seek, we as Catholics have faith in a merciful God who gives us every opportunity to repent our sins. We do not know what is revealed to us in those last minutes before we die, yet we believe that we have the chance to turn to God up to our last breath and that is all it takes to save us. Above all, Sharon, remember how much God loves us, now and always.

[@Sharon22-]

@@CatholicCentralVideos my doubt is this 1) when we die time is gone, eternity will come 2) That means if anyone goes to hell, the soul is damned. Is there anychance for the soul to be rescued. 3) can anyone escape from hell to purgatory then to heaven

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi again Sharon, there is a difference having concerns about hell for ourselves or for someone else. In either case, chronic dread of anything is certainly not what St Paul had in mind in Philippians 4:70 by “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding”! Catholics have access to the Sacrament of Confession for the absolution of sins they sincerely repent. If thoughts of hell persist, there may be broader psychological anxieties involved. Speculation about the extent and duration of hell is as old as history. Some theologians have given thought to Acts 3:19, where St Peter speaks of a “universal restoration” at the end of time, an “apokatastasis” - an unusual Greek word meaning to restore, to re-establish, or to return to the way things were at the very beginning. The most important thing to bear in mind about life after life is that no matter what a person did on earth - how “bad” we may think he or she was - God can still forgive them. As we said in our first reply, the breadth and depth of God’s mercy is beyond our comprehension. Whether or not souls can “escape” or be “rescued” from hell, these are words tied to earthly ideas and the physics of time and space and can easily trap us in riddles. What will free us is prayer. Please see our episode on the Spiritual Works of Mercy, where Libby explains how one of the Seven Works is praying for the dead so that they may join God in Heaven. Prayer for the dead not only benefits the dear ones - saints and sinners both - for whom we pray. Prayer also helps our own souls draw closer to our loving God in hope and trust. Finally, prayer helps to bring us into right relation with ourselves, or at least may guide us to the spiritual and psychological resources for which our inner harmony is the goal (see our episode called Spirituality and Mental Health). Another Spiritual Work of Mercy is praying for the living - and please know, Sharon, you are high among the living for whom we pray!

[@kevinkirtsegui7564]

Jesus heard my prayers! That's why he brought me here 😍😍

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Amen!

[@kevinkirtsegui7564]

@@CatholicCentralVideos Amen 😊

[@davidblakeman1701]

cringe

[@johnvictororeto5574]

Is mortal sin forgivable?

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Indeed! See our episode on "Reconciliation."

[@kenthefele113]

YES!

[@Morilix]

Can you guys help me im scared there is nothing after death and now I have anxiety please help me

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Morilix, we are so sorry to hear about your anxiety. You are not alone. People of great faith come to this fear at one time or another in their lives. As Catholics we have more than faith, we have proof of an afterlife - Jesus himself, who rose from the dead and dwells among us. In Matthew 19:21 Jesus describes heaven as a "place of treasure," and assures his disciples in John 14:2-3 that "in my Father's house there are many dwelling places." On the cross Jesus refers to heaven as Paradise, promising it to the repentant thief (Luke 24:43). Similar references to heaven can be found throughout the Gospels but we'll add one of our favorites, in Luke 12:32, where Jesus says: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." You're in our prayers Morilix, and we wish you God's peace.

[@GregAitchison]

This is SO great! Going to use this for Religion class later this week... Thanks! :D

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hope the kids like it! Let us know what they think!

[@angiemurrin8998]

Hey im really sorry to bother you but can you please answer some questions for me because im very confused about some stuff Is being LGBTQ+ a sin? Alot of people say it is but i dont understand. Im trans & bi & i really dont want to go to hell; im scared. Is sex before marriage really a sin? Like since it isnt hurting anyone & people usually do this with people they love, whats wrong with it? Will i remember my loved ones in Heaven? One of my worst fears is that i'll get to Heaven & just completely forget about everyone i love. Okay last question, when we die do we go to Heaven immidiately or are we just dead until the last day? Im really sorry for being an inconvienience please answer

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Angie, please remember first and foremost you are a beloved child of God. Sexual orientation in and of itself is not a sin. God will do whatever God can do to help you, and each one of us, be with God and all our loved ones for eternity. You ask great questions about love and relationships. Most of us take a lifetime of learning what authentic love is, by that we mean love that is self-gift, mutual, life-giving, trustworthy, and respectful of who others are and what they truly need (in heart, mind, soul, and strength). Almost everyone sins in the process of learning what real love is, but not to fear because Jesus teaches us about the mercy of God, who forgives our sins when we ask sincerely. Please find someone to talk with about the issues you raised, someone that can hear your story and help you discern how you are created to give and receive the love as God intends for you. The questions you ask about heaven are deep. From what we know in scripture, we are in communion with those who have already died. Our love connects us to them now and forever. God knows us each by name and we will know them and be known by others in eternal life. As to when we will enter into eternal life, we turn to this story: When he hung on the cross, Jesus said to the repentant thief. “This day you will be with me in paradise.” That seems pretty immediate to us! We hope this helps. Keep asking good questions and seeking wisdom.

[@angiemurrin8998]

@@CatholicCentralVideosok thank you so much

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Angie, you are certainly welcome and we wish you well on your faith journey. Please do not hesitate in getting in touch with us if you have any additional questions.

[@xxpeterunlustigxx]

Hello I wanted to ask you whats about the judgment day. As I understood after death there are heaven (soul being with god), purgatory and hell (self-excluding his soul from being with god). But what happens when judgment day comes. As I understood then our soul becomes one with a body (not the one we had on earth but a perfect one like Jesus had when not everyone could recognize him) and then we all get judged by god (souls from heaven and hell) but this judgment is finally can not be corrected ever after. So my questions are if this view of judgment is correct (if yes did I miss something?) and if a soul after death which is in hell can accept god and go through purgatory and to heaven in the time before judgemt day comes? Are people from heaven on judgment day still in heaven or is there the possibilty for them to go to hell? I know its a long text but I was reading many texts (catholic views) in my language and couldnt get these questions answered but I found this video and liked you way of explaining very much and hope you can answer these questions.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi! Thanks for the question. Basically, Catholics believe that everyone receives an individual judgment when they die. If someone is individually judged to go to hell, they’re there for eternity. If judged individually to go to purgatory, they can only go “up” from there. (To Heaven.) If judged individually to go to Heaven, they’re there for eternity. (Can’t go “down” to Purgatory or Hell.) The Last Judgment will be for everyone and will make it clear what all of the consequences of our actions were, as well as "the ultimate meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of salvation and understand the marvelous ways by which his Providence led everything towards its final end." (Catechism 1040) Hope this helps!

[@xxpeterunlustigxx]

@@CatholicCentralVideos thank you 👍🏼

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Peter Unlustig you’re welcome!

[@annasahlstrom6109]

So, where does the Devil hang out? I never want to meet him, but I was wondering. I hope I'm fit for Heaven when it's my time because I love God very much.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Anna, this is a very good question and, while we can’t give you a physical address, we can tell you that the devil creeps into both the good and bad parts of your life. Simply put, the devil is constantly looking for an area to exploit. If he finds an opening, he will pick at it and pick at it until he can open a hole to exploit. This can be any event in our lives - in our happy moments, it could be the sin of pride that he latches onto and in our down times, it could be our despair that he latches onto. But our faith can help us to keep him away from us.

[@Penguin-wk7gq]

Hey guys, I’m really worried about death and losing everything I have ( my family and pets ). I’m very anxious about dying and I don’t want it all to end. I want to believe in god but at times I feel that god is not with me...

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Thanks for reaching out! It is not unusual to fear death. This Earth has much to offer and it sounds like you have many reasons to appreciate life. The most important thing in this life is something that we take with us and have for all eternity: Love. Strive to nurture the love in your life. Second, try cultivating gratitude. When you feel distant from God, try taking time in prayer to remember the ways God has shown himself to you in love, beauty, guidance, protection, hope, joy, fortitude and so forth. Recalling God’s love from our past and present readies us to receive God’s love for all eternity. Do you have someone in your life who you can talk to about faith?

[@Penguin-wk7gq]

Catholic Central I suppose I have my mum, thank you for replying, please prey for me. ☺️

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Penguin64 we will pray for you!

[@ultrarandoms7897]

exquisite content guys that deserved a thumbs up #thumbsup #ilovelearning #godisgood #ben

[@35mayocynthia]

So Is purgatory a place where we can work to get our sins wiped clean and be prepared for heaven.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Cynthia Mayo, Catholics believe that Purgatory is a place where we do the work that we did not do on this earth - learning to love as God loves. Our sinfulness is certainly a part of the equation, if we truly loved God and one another, we would not sin.

[@35mayocynthia]

@@CatholicCentralVideos oh okay

[@blopppppppp8946]

God: love your neighbors like how you love yourself Me: funny of you to assume that I don't cry myself to sleep knowing how useless I am and how my family would be better of if I was just dead and was replaced with my perfect cousin.............. hahahahaha God: hell is a place of complete isolation Me: wait so when I said my life is a living hell it was true?!?! edit; tried to make that funny but it ended up just being sad

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hello CringyWeeb, it sounds to us as if you are in a very dark place. We know that when a person feels like this, it is hard to find even a glimmer of light and we pray for you. But please also know that God does indeed love you and feels the pain you are going through right now. Also, know that you are “wonderfully made” and not useless at all. You are one of God’s creations - beautiful and unique but right now, you are having a hard time realizing this. You need to see the beauty in yourself, you need to know that you are amazing, you need to know that God lives in you. It may be hard for you to realize this, especially if you are not hearing this from your family, but it is true. Listen to God’s voice in scripture: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) We also know that comparing yourself to others is not healthy. None of us can be someone else, that job is already taken. You have to find out who you are, what gives you joy - if even for a second - and build on that. We certainly do not care how perfect your cousin is (and chances are this person is far from perfect), what we do care about is you. Do you speak about your feelings to someone you trust? Maybe a friend, a teacher, a priest or deacon, a therapist? Because giving voice to our own doubts is a good way to start healing ourselves. We are sure you are a much better person than you give yourself credit for being. Seek out that person who can bring you light, look for that spark. In the meantime let these living words lifted in praise to God, sung by King David, breathe through you: “In you the darkness will not be dark. The night will shine like the day. For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful.” Psalm 139: 12-15

[@lukewalter5740]

I have a question… is it a sin to know that someone is going or is in heaven/hell?

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Luke, what is a sin is presuming to know whether or not someone is going to heaven or hell. This would fall under the category of “judgement” and that is reserved to God alone. As Catholics we believe that no one is outside of salvation, regardless as to what they have done in this life. We believe we have to our last conscious moment on this earth to express sorrow over what we have done and that our God is merciful and forgiving. If you presume to have knowledge of that which is God’s alone - that’s pride. For more on "Pride" see our "Seven Deadly Sins" episode.

[@lukewalter5740]

Thanks!

[@samw9809]

yeah but as an atheist, religion scares me, the thought of going to hell is unimaginable and i’d live a better life knowing it doesn’t exist. i want to do loving actions myself, not for a god.. advice?

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Sam, religion scares a lot of people and most of those people have it wrong to a degree. As Catholics, we believe that Hell is a consequence of our own doing, but that God is constantly offering us His mercy. It is up to us to accept it. If we choose (we are allowed to choose) not to accept it, even after death, then we would end up in hell. There is a quote that is attributed to Terese of Lisieux that says "I believe in Hell but I pray that it is empty."

[@abbythings]

..so I can't have any passions on earth in order to go to heaven?

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi abby things, it seems as if you have misunderstood us. Of course, you can have passions on earth! We are put on this earth to learn to love as God loves and having people and things in our lives that we are passionate about helps us to learn that love. What we must be careful of is that our passions, in Libby’s case her collection of horses, do not become obsessions. This can lead to a form of idolatry, we cannot be so attached to something (or someone) that they become more important than our salvation. Also, one of the ways we are created in the image of God is our freedom. When we are truly free our hearts are at peace. Catholic spirituality teaches that “a loving non-attachment” toward people and things allows us to be passionate but not dependent on that passion for the true peace that only Christ can give us.

[@abbythings]

@@CatholicCentralVideos that makes a lot more sense thank you so much!

[@AustinAOkay]

Thank you both very much

[@deliotv4081]

did you read the bible?

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

We sure did and we still do.

[@deliotv4081]

@@CatholicCentralVideos 🎁God bless you🎁

[@35mayocynthia]

What about people who are Christian but not Catholic can they go to heaven?

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Yes, the Catholic Church believes that anyone can go to heaven.

[@35mayocynthia]

@@CatholicCentralVideos okay can a nice atheist go to heaven?

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Cynthia, Pope Francis has said, on several occasions, that it is indeed possible for an atheist to go to heaven. Catholics believe that we have until our very last moment here on earth to come to God and that God does everything to bring us back to him. We have no way of knowing what our very last conscious revelation is and one would suppose that God is making every attempt to bring us to him. As Catholics, we try to follow the faith as handed down to us from Christ and through the Apostles. Everything else we leave up to God’s perfect justice and boundless mercy.

[@35mayocynthia]

@@CatholicCentralVideos okay that's cool

[@nepoleon92]

I’m not going to lie this kinda made me more scared. When you say in heaven we become one with God is that literal? Can I still think? Am I me? What frightens me more than anything is the concept that at some point I may not be self aware anymore, I love God but I sin and a lot of those sins feel really hard to give up. Like, if I am in love and before marriage I have sex is that a deal breaker? If I sometimes fear God doesn’t exist is that the same as rejecting God? When you say give up earthly attachment does that mean I no longer can like the things I like? No more history, family, foods, memories, love?

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Dear Warhammer Historian, thank you so much for sharing your faith journey. All of your questions are normal questions and show you have a maturing faith. Questioning faith is not a bad thing, It helps us to wrap our heads around the complexities of our beliefs. Questioning the existence of God is also normal. It's sometimes hard to find God with all that's going on in the world and even some of our greatest saints and thinkers questioned God’s existence when looking at was going on around them. What is important is to make sure you have people in your life to help you find answers - a good priest, deacon, religious or spiritual director can help tremendously. When it comes to what we will be when we enter the kingdom, no one person can know for sure. But God loves us more than we can imagine. God will give us a glorified body at the Resurrection, why wouldn't he glorify us with our ultimate and perfect self as well? Of course, no one can know for sure. Heaven has been described as everything that life has denied, or as the greatest moment we ever experienced on earth, times a million. We can only believe with St. Paul that "what eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart" perfectly describes "what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor 2:9) It's also been theorized that we especially retain the memories of love in heaven - those we have loved and those who have loved us - as it is love, after all, that gets us into the kingdom. When it comes to our sinfulness, we can look to the saints - many of whom had checkered pasts. God works with what we give him, none of us is perfect, and if it took perfection to get into heaven, it would be a very lonely place! But perfection is what awaits us there. In the meantime we are tasked to do the best that we can, but above all to love one another. This is what is expected of us, and this is what we take to the kingdom. If we do not love, our soul has nothing to take with it. As for giving up earthly attachments, non-attachment does not mean emptiness. It just means that we have to put everything in perspective. "Things" cannot be more important than our relationship with God, but we can still have "things" and enjoy them. In this life we are counseled to regard all things with a loving non-attachment - to love as God loves, for the good of the other and in selfless praise of the other, and in praise too of the beauty and goodness of the world he's made for us. So whatever is to come, do not worry. Be like the lilies of the field in Luke 12. They are wonderfully made, they do not toil or fret, and God will satisfy their every need.

[@josh8oh8]

Purgatory is not biblical! Jesus' final words on the cross was, "It is finished". He payed the price in full for the people who repent and believe that Jesus is their Lord and Savior and the only way to everlasting life. There are no scriptures in the Bible that would support some sort of after death cleansing. It's borderline blasphemy to say that purgatory exists. It's basically implying that Catholics think Jesus was a liar when he said, "It is finished". Finished means done. Now I am not saying that continuing to live a sinful lifestyle is ok, but so long as they repent, turn away from their sinful lifestyle, become born again and trust in Jesus, they are cleansed of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Josh. Most Christians believe that when Jesus said “It is finished” he was talking about the entirety of his divinely-appointed earthly mission and not the creation of some “Get out of Jail Free” pass for all of us. Jesus proclaims in Matthew 25:31-45 that more is expected of the professed Christian than words and worship. “Depart from me,” he says, identifying himself with the world’s suffering humanity, “for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not take me in, I was naked and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” These imperatives lay out in detail what Jesus means by warning that “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21). Purgatory is for those Christians who are born again in Jesus but have occasionally fallen short of the Father’s will. This does not mark them as champions of a “sinful lifestyle,” it marks them as fallible human beings who fight against sin and sometimes fail. Dying as otherwise good Christians they are promised salvation, but for some of them the effects of more serious sin still linger. We believe it would amount to “borderline blasphemy” to assume we are freed from all personal responsibility for our earthly sins when we die, claiming no need of cleansing before we enter the light of heaven’s eternal perfection, just because at one point in our lives we cried out “Lord, Lord.” Catholics believe Purgatory is the place where sinners, though saved, can finally “become perfect, as the Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Also, we do believe there is a Scriptural basis for Purgatory. Though it is never mentioned by name, it is implied in places such as 2 Maccabees 12:4-46, 2 Timothy 1:18, Matthew 12:32, Luke 16:19-26, Luke 23:43, and Hebrews 12:29. We think the clearest argument for Purgatory is from 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. In this passage Paul describes the three ways that God will judge a person’s earthly work on the Day of Judgement. People who built with good materials, he says, will receive their reward (heaven), and people who built with only bad materials will likewise receive their due (hell). But a person who built with both good and bad materials “will suffer loss but will be saved, but only as through fire.” The Catholic Church identifies this transitional state of the afterlife as Purgatory. We will all most likely leave this world, Josh, with some sins on the books and there will need to be a process of purification for our souls. We all strive to turn away from sin, but even though we’re born again by baptism into Jesus Christ, none of us is perfect. This completes the account of the seven sacraments, based on scriptural authority and identified by the same Catholic Church that compiled the Bible in the fourth century, both occurring long before the 1500s.

[@biblesecretstamil]

No one know about the bible secret.

[@ems5008]

Genuine question: why doesn't God give people or even athiest proof/a sign. Other than an account of Christ's life that was written a hundred years after he lived? The bible has so many contradictions, approves of slavery, and discusses the world in a non scientic manner. Also why do so many people believe God is involved in the tiniest things in their lives but he lets children starve. 💔

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Em S! You ask a question that has been asked countless times throughout the millennia since we humans came into being. A person who believes in God will tell you that he has given us plenty of signs over the years - big ones and little ones. Big ones, as Libby proposes in our episode “The Meaning and Purpose of Life,” like God talking out of a burning bush or a voice from the sky. And little ones, as Kai goes on to remind us, subtler ways God calls to most of us like “through a tweet from an old friend, our achievements, our mistakes, the saxophone guy playing Amazing Grace at the bus stop, a new baby in the family. God is always talking to us,” Kai tells us. “Be watchful and mindful.” St Paul puts it in the broadest terms. For him, the whole of creation and everything in it is a sign. He says of Christ that “all things were created through him” (Colossians 1:16). What he means is that ultimately everything reflects the soul and shape of Christ, the “Christic pattern” of life, death and rebirth. We can see it in the cycle of the seasons and the phases of the moon, and we can see it in the falling and rising rhythms of our human journey - sorrow and joy, estrangement and embrace, restlessness and peace. We can even see it in our breathing in and breathing out, and in the rhythm of our heartbeat. In our popular episode called “The Liturgical Year” we show how the celebrations of the Church have formed around these same cosmic and human rhythms, signs given by the God who created us and is all around us and in us. But for many, as you yourself suggest, these signs may not be enough. And if we look back at Jesus’ life on earth, there were people who saw what he did and they too refused to believe. So, yes, we have the life of Jesus (written only about 100 years after his Resurrection) and the Acts of the Apostles (written much closer to the actual events it describes) which tells us of the good works Jesus performed at that time. We also have a Tradition that is filled with extraordinary witness to God’s presence, from the lives of Saints to everyday people who sought the Christ in themselves and in others. Keep in mind also that the Apostles saw Jesus executed and knew that a similar fate loomed for each of them, yet they persisted in spreading the word with reckless joy. If that doesn’t feel a lot like proof, we’re not sure what does! As for slavery and other inflammatory issues, we believe the Bible to be the revealed word of God. But that Word was transcribed by people of different times and places over the course of a thousand years. So when we read the Bible we have to remember that it’s God's Word in human words. Meantime you might be interested in seeing our series of episodes on sacred scripture -- “The Bible,” “The First Five Books of the Bible,” “Pauline Letters,” “The Gospels” and “Revelation” -- where we address many of these issues. For the problem of evil please see our episode of that name, and always bear in mind that God does not simply look upon our heartbreak from afar but gathers our own suffering to himself and brings it to the cross. In light of your comment we also urge you to check our episodes called “Proofs of God” and “Faith and Reason,” making sure to look over the comments-board on both episodes which contain conversations that may interest you. Thank you for your genuine question, and we hope our genuine reply has helped a little!

[@sharonlaudi8409]

Nobody is perfect so that he/goes to heaven straight. nobody is completely bad so as to deserve hell. a mid state is logical coz nobody who is unclean can see God. if one claims total perfectness and heaven one may miss the saying all fall short of the glory of God. then the theology that if one says the sinners peayer all his sins past present n future are forgiven

[@sacredcowtipper1378]

How about some scripture? Never heard one thing about the grace of God that cannot be earned in this whole video. Salvation is by grace only. Works cannot save. This is not much different than kharma in hinduism except for the reincarnation part.

[@ruok9c]

Sacred Cowtipper “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26.

[@sacredcowtipper1378]

Are we Partially Saved by Our good Works or are We Totally Saved by Grace when We come to God with a Repentant Heart? ruok9c12 hours ago Sacred Cowtipper “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26. ruok9c Correct. I want to make sure you have the proper understanding of that though. This is saying that a person has a dead faith if THAT faith that they have never produces any good works. Real faith will have real works. But those works DO NOT save nor can they save. That is not how God's judicial system works. If good works saved even partially, the entire Mosaic covenant doesn't make sense and it nullifies the new covenant that we are now under also. Can I explain that to you if you like? If God's word contradicts itself, then it cannot be true. We know it doesn't but you hear a lot of people teach a lot of things that have logical fallacies which cause contradictions so either God's Word is a lie or they are teaching something improperly. That doesn't mean they are a terrible person purposely trying to deceive but once they have the truth and proper understanding and continue to teach contradictive teachings. then they are held accountable as a false teacher in the Lord's eyes. A saying once goes, "Ignorance can be fixed; Stupidity is forever." We have all been there with things in our lives at one time or another. things we shut our ears to because it wasn't what we wanted to hear and things we grasped good understanding and rejoiced and became those that had ears to hear and eyes to see - spiritual ears and eyes that is. We know the apostle Paul said over and over we are saved totally by grace as I have given many passages in my writings of those passages. He gave the Biblical definition of grace, not the Catholic definition "infused grace" which requires works to be saved. If someone is truly saved they will begin to have good works and not be selfish anymore but just because someone has good works doesn't mean they are saved either if they are basing their faith on what THEY DO instead of what Jesus DID. They are not trusting in the Lord's blood shed on the cross for their sins. Catholics, Protestants, do you have true Biblical SAVING FAITH or a Counterfeit Works-based Salvation? Now let's go to the old covenant under Moses which we are no longer under but we show a proper respect to. Let me ask you, "How many good works did the Israelites do yet were not saved?" Countless works. What brought them forgiveness for their sins for that ONE year? ONCE a year, on the Day of Atonement a few hundred thousand male lambs without blemish were sacrificed for their sins. This is what Easter or what Christians should call Resurrection Day is all about. The WHY Jesus actually came. Jesus died as that sinless male lamb without blemish ONCE FOR ALL. He then went to heaven with His blood and sprinkled the REAL mercy seat in heaven (not the temporal symbolic one on earth) with His own blood as a testimony of God's wrath being satisfied to all that come to Him. then Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father as our mediator or attorney for all those that come to Him for forgiveness. He is the Testator as the Book of Hebrews puts it. The only difference is that other testators didn't rise from the dead to enforce their will and testament. They had to pre-plan and hire a lawyer to do that for them to divvy out their bills and possessions to whomever they will. Jesus is alive. No crooked lawyers to worry about or siblings, friends, relatives and other acquaintances trying to get what they can get out of the deceased person that the deceased didn't leave for them. Jesus is alive and nobody can usurp authority over Him or the WORK HE DID on the cross He did for us Satisfying God's justice system. Do you want to usurp authority over what Jesus did on the cross for you by bring WORKS to the mercy seat? Do you realize that is what Cain did? He brought fruits and vegetables to the Lord instead of what Abel his brother brought- a sacrifice of blood for his sins. The entire Book of Galatians was written to show the difference of WORKS or LAW versus GRACE; SLAVES or SERVANTS versus SONS or HEIRS of the Kingdom; the FREE WOMAN versus the BOND WOMAN; trying to be saved by works versus just accepting in faith the grace of God in what Jesus provided. You slap the Giver in the face if you try to pay the Giver for what He is trying to give you freely. An old saying goes "to not look a GIFT HORSE in the mouth." Somebody is giving you a free horse and you want to see how old it might be instead of being thankful for getting a free horse which was very valuable at that time. The FREE GIFT of salvation is a billion times greater than getting a free horse that you will use temporarily on earth. See, when you add works, you take away from what really saves a person and what gives eternal life. It is the FINISHED WORK of JESUS, not our temporary minutia works we do that we are so proud of. Jesus was separated from the Father for our sakes on the cross. He said, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Three hours of darkness covered the entire planet, an earthquake hit Jerusalem and the veil of the temple was split in two from TOP to bottom separating the Holy from the Holy of Holies. The Father ripped that veil in half from TOP to bottom showing we are now under a NEW and BETTER covenant. No more blood of bulls and goats was needed. Those only temporarily covered or atoned for sin and why they had to do these sacrifices year after year after year. Jesus also said, "It is finished". What was finished? Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The word for finished here is teleo in the original Greek manuscripts. G5055 τελέω teleō tel-eh'-o From G5056; to end, that is, complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt): - accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, finish, go over, pay, perform. This means the debt mankind owed for his sins and sinfulness was paid IN FULL like a home paid in full. You don't keep on paying for something you finished paying for. DISCHARGE A DEBT. In theology this is called "penal substitution" or "propitiation". Works UNTO salvation or trying to be saved by works is called DEAD WORKS in scripture. God doesn't accept this as a means to pay a debt you could never pay. You have the WRONG CURRENCY sort to speak. You or I as a lamb sacrifice would not work as we were born with the sin nature (original sin) so we already have spiritual blemishes and we have committed many sins breaking many of the commandments- telling white lies, coveting, hating someone in our heart is as murder according to Jesus. You and I have broken the commandments countless times like everyone else. Nobody has put God first in their life every single day have they? No. That is just one of the commandments. Works AFTER salvation because you are NOW already saved is a totally different meaning and we know NO scripture contradicts itself. Do you understand this? It's simple when you realize how gracious God really is and that the work He did is free and the debt has been paid. Now you can keep on trying to pay your SIN-DEBT if you want but you can never fully do that because God required a sinless lamb sacrifice and as stated above, you can never be that. You are already tainted with the original sin and have sinned willingly at times. I hope you understand the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus as I have given it to you here, and then fall in love with how great our gracious God is and follow Him with your whole heart and bring forth good works NOT UNTO salvation (false) but BECAUSE OF His goodness as you come to understand the gospel of grace and receive the free gift. You can pay for your sins in Hell if you desire to and God will accept that for a never-ending payment as you can only pay the interest on that loan or you can trust Him who has already paid that sin-debt and receive that free gift. Keep in mind that you can NEVER pay off that sin-debt because you are a “tainted” sacrifice and that is why Hell is eternal punishment and not temporary punishment. Would you like to sign up for my teaching newsletter? It goes out to about 100 pastors/ministers mainly in the USA. I was called to minister at the age of sixteen and have been ministering part-time for 37 years. Would love to get you onboard, It is free to receive it. God Bless!

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

This maybe helpful ... www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm

[@JOHN-db1hs]

Pls. Study the Bible!!!

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

You'll enjoy our episode on The Bible, then!

[@gicraft6461]

Sorry that i, thought, said, and act any bad towards you in anyway

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Glcraft64. Once again, we are not sure what you have done or said, but it is OK. All is always forgiven!

[@SamSam-jn2rw]

Netflix: The good place Hahaha

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

I get the reference -- but not quite the same thing. Fun show, though.

[@boogerandfriends]

As a Catholic and historian, there are so many issues with this video. Firstly, Church teaching explicitly states that Purgatory is not a place but a state of being, where one is purified by fire. Dante suggested it takes place in the upper ring of Hell. Secondly, Sheol is not the Hebrew word for Hell. Gehenna is, which you even stare. Sheol is the equivalent of the Greek Hades, the place of the dead. From the Christian perspective, this means the temporary realm of the dead. It is not Hell and to suggest Hades and Hell are the same is a complete revisionist view of the Bible and history. Lastly, this entire video has a “feel good gospel”/“reasonable hope that all men are saved” feel to it.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

You have a good point. We were using a more colloquial sense of the word Sheol. We’ll be more precise going forward. Thanks for your viewing.

[@vegeta3365]

Joshua Davis The catholic view of heaven and hell is wrong it’s all about what the holy Scriptures sayThat’s common sense

[@bmv91w]

I myself, do not believe in a 'purgatory'.. the Bible says "It is appointed unto man to once die, then after this.. the judgement.."... you do not pass go, collect $200... when you die, when you open your eyes up next, you will be in front of the Judgement Seat of Christ...

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Bonehead, there are numerous scriptural sources that support the Church’s teachings on Purgatory, some of which we cited on this comments board. Expanding on our reference to 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, for example, we learn of three ways that God will judge a person’s earthly work on “the Day” - the great Day of Yahweh, the Day of Judgement. People who built with good materials will receive their reward, and people who built with only bad materials will likewise receive their due. But a person who built with both good and bad materials “will suffer loss but will be saved, but only as through fire.” The earliest expression of the idea that prayer can benefit the dead, a central feature of the doctrine of Purgatory, is found in another reference that we cited, 2 Maccabees 12: 14-16. “For if he had not expected the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death… Thus, he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from their sin.” Neither of these passages, or any of the others we cited, contradict your quotation that “it is appointed unto man to once die, then after this… the judgement.” God’s judgement decrees different consequences for different souls, each befitting their earthly works.

[@bmv91w]

@@CatholicCentralVideos .. thank you for taking the time to reply. I guess I wouldn't make a good Catholic.. lol.. I don't know how/why I came across these videos, maybe curiosity. I have a brother that is/was looking to convert to Catholic, not sure that he has. But some of the philosophies I have come across, I can't grasp on, like 'praying for the dead', 'confession', etc. Don't get me wrong. When I was in the army, I got stuck having to do a 30 day in-patient rehab for alcohol (my lowest point in life at the time) and had made best friends and a confident, Father Marc. I learned alot from him. He was the only chaplain available at the time I could get ahold of

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

“Hi BoneHead, please know that a lot of Catholics have a hard time grasping different aspects of Catholicism - we guess that is why one is called a “practicing Catholic” as we are still practicing to get it right! 😊 Actually the points you bring up are usually the ones that are some of the most misunderstood. We do have episodes that deal with these and other topics and they may be able to answer your questions. For the record, we think your insights and inquisitiveness would make you a very good Catholic - but that is your decision, not ours. In the meantime, we are here to answer any questions you may have.”

[@umorenakpan5012]

Loved this so much. God bless u guys. Are u guys married? I pray heaven becomes final for everyone who reads this comment

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Kai and Libby are not married to each other. But they are close friends!

[@corahnihlost923]

What about unbaptized babies? How do they accept Jesus and confess their many, many, many sins.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

We trust the innocent to the boundless mercy of God.

[@corahnihlost923]

@@CatholicCentralVideos 1 Samuel 6:19 "And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter." Yeah this guy seems like he has boundless mercy.

[@corahnihlost923]

Genesis 6:7 "And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." Real calm, merciful guy.

[@m.e4752]

@@corahnihlost923 thank you for picking verses without knowing the history.. do you know what they did? Of course not, im sure you will stay quiet if someone sacrifices your newborn baby to the fire, yup you will... you are full of mercy, aren't you? Lol.. sorry my God is not a passive soyboy pussy like you..

[@corahnihlost923]

@@m.e4752 Enlighten me, what did they do. What did I miss from the verses?

[@jayveeaurea9091]

EXCUSE ME PURGATORY IS 100% SCRIPTURAL!!! 2 Maccabees 12:41-46, 2 Timothy 1:18, Matthew 12:32, Luke 16:19-16:26, Luke 23:43, 1 Corinthians 3:11-3:15 and Hebrews 12:29

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Thank you for your scholarship!

[@carrierodriguez8214]

Seems boring I'll go tp hell

[@djs964]

If purgatory is true, then Jesus the Christ died for nothing. Purgatory is unbiblical.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

DJS, Jesus certainly did not die for nothing! By his dying and rising we are saved. His passion and death are expiation for our sins and the sins of the world (1Jn 2: 2-3). By believing in him we shall have eternal life. (John 3:16). Yet if faith is all it takes to be saved, why does the Bible tell us that on the Day of Judgment the person who “built with only bad materials” will be condemned, the person who “built with only good materials” will be saved, but the person “who built with both good and bad materials” will also be saved but first they will suffer loss as though fire? (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). To this intermediate process or condition of the saved, Catholics give the name Purgatory. (For other biblical roots of Purgatory, see our replies on this comments-board). But what “loss” will the souls in Purgatory suffer? What, in other words, is actually being lost? The answer is: everything that is not love. What counts,” says Paul, is “faith expressing itself through love” (Gal 5:6). A living faith, Paul is saying, naturally overflows with love. James agrees that love is “what counts,” for works of love reveal a faith that is living rather than dead. (James 2: 24). For Christ the King, even those who call him “Lord” will be condemned for ignoring the needs and suffering of “the least of these” (Matthew 25: 44-46). Works of love are necessary, Christ the King is telling us, for without them even the faithful cannot be justified. Works of love are not the basis of our justification, faith is, but they’re the necessary fruits of a faith that loves as Jesus loves. For we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) But no matter how strong our faith is, we really don’t live that walk of unconditional love that God is calling us to. We “accept Christ,” but we are all still sinners in need of Mercy. Even after we die and are saved by faith, even then, for many of us, there will be a need for God’s Mercy, for the purification Catholics call Purgatory, refining our souls and freeing us of what is still not love, leaving us only with the perfect love that eluded us in our earthly lives. “You must be perfect,” Matthew tells us, “as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Think of God as the Heavenly Parent who looked over us in our spiritual childhood while on this earth, and who in Purgatory continues to guide us through our spiritual maturity so that we may enter the Perfection of Heaven. As our episode points out, our greatest obstacles to the perfect love that God wants for us are our attachments of Self, a False Self that still clings and refuses to surrender everything, unconditionally, to the Love that God is (1 John 4:8). Attachments of the Self and to the Self are the source of all sin, of all injustices committed against the world, against others and against ourselves. As we illustrate in the episode, it seems like Libby has trouble accepting her True Self even though it just means letting go of some horse figurines. She is already saved, of course, but only in the full perfection of love can she live in communion with God. God’s grace is still at work. All stories in Purgatory end happily. Jesus did not die for nothing.

[@stevendubberly8106]

Unbelievable...The hope of Christianity is the resurrection....you didn't even touch on that subject.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

You are so right, Steven - the Resurrection is our hope, which of course is why we don’t want to end up in, well, you know. As Libby says in the episode, believing Christians can hope for heaven with “the gift of added confidence because of their faith and life in Christ.” Resurrection is a central theme, maybe the central theme, of our series. Have a look at Who Is Jesus (you won’t want to miss Libby singing “The Resurrectionnnnn!”), Easter Traditions, The Bible, The Gospels, The Liturgical Year, Pauline letters, and many more. Think you’ll find them… uplifting!

[@vegeta3365]

The catholic view of heaven and hell is wrong it’s all about what the holy Scriptures sayThat’s common sense

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi Vegeta 33, your answer does not give us much to go on. We do not see where we, as Catholics, veer away from Scripture. As a matter of fact, it's directly from the Scriptures that the Catholic tradition draws its teachings on heaven, hell and purgatory.

[@vegeta3365]

Catholic Central there is no purgatory the Catholic Church are lairs there’s only heaven or hell also the Catholic Church prays to Mary and peter and Paul and God forbids us to pray to idols

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hi again. Vegeta, we don't understand your angry tone. We are brothers and sisters with you in Christ. We do want to respond to you but in the spirit of dialogue and understanding, not ill will and argument. The Catholic teaching on Purgatory is based on the following texts, among others: 2 Maccabees 12:41-46, 2 Timothy 1:18, Matthew 12:32, Luke 16:19-16:26, Luke 23:43, 1 Corinthians 3:11-3:15 and Hebrews 12:29. Our episode on Mary addresses your concerns about idols by comparing statues of Mary and Peter and Paul to photos of people you love. It’s the person you love, not the photo itself. Idolatry is when you love the photo instead of the person, the statue instead of the saint. As for praying to Mary and Peter and Paul, we’re instead asking them to pray with us. We call this intercessory prayer. Much like asking a friend or loved one to pray for us, we are asking our “friends” in heaven to pray for us as we seek God’s guidance, strength and mercy. Hope this helps, and we extend to you the peace and joy of Jesus.

[@vegeta3365]

@@CatholicCentralVideos first of all I’m not angry at all i’m just speaking truth and you can’t handle it second of all those texts that you gave me has nothing to do with purgatory your priest is lying to you he doesn’t know the Bible or he doesn’t even have the Spirit of God to interpret the Bible properly For example the parable that Jesus talk about Lazarus was it purgatory it was a man in hell Jesus was just explaining to us the difference between heaven and hell second of all you shouldn’t be praying to old saints remember the Bible says the dead no nothing so you praying to Mary Peter or Paul they can’t hear your prayers for they are dead and are sleep

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Vegeta, thanks again for your participation. We’re not sure that focusing on our differences in biblical interpretation will be of much spiritual help going forward. We also risk overlooking the blessings we share as children of God and disciples of Jesus. Disunity among Christians is exactly what the Prince of Disunity and Chaos would wish upon us, and we’d like to say “No Thanks!” to that. God bless and Godspeed!

[@Angelinesekle]

There is no purgatory. As you so said it's not in scripture and what Jesus did on the cross is enough to forgive sins. There is no additional help needed to forgive sins. Jesus forgiveness is enough period and it's a slap in his face to say that something extra is needed to completely purge you from your sins. HIS WORK ON THE CROSS IS ENOUGH.

[@hectordanielsanchezcobo7713]

1 Corinthians 3:13-15: "each one’s work shall be made manifest. For the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it will be revealed by fire. And this fire will test each one’s work, as to what kind it is. If anyone’s work, which he has built upon it, remains, then he will receive a reward. *If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer its loss, but he himself will still be saved, but only as through fire* ." It literally cannot be any clearer

[@m.e4752]

@@hectordanielsanchezcobo7713 1 Corinthians 3 : 16-17 "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." So destroyed or saved? 🤯

[@kungfu8150]

Please get your facts straight before you try to educate. The earth is flat and heaven and hell are real physical places.

[@melkam9917]

Greetings from Ethiopia where there is a small number of Catholics and Catechesis, your Chanel helped me a lot to know and learn a lot. God bless!

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

we are so happy to hear that! Greetings to you!

[@melkam9917]

Catholic Central how blessed I felt to hear from you love you more!

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

@@melkam9917 we felt blessed to see your comment!!

[@Name-le2cc]

Hi bro Im Eritrean & I understand your situation, I recommend you this channels they helped me to grow in my faith. The channels are Catholic answer & ascension presents. God bless you

[@kaizze8777]

3:57 soooooo, Jesus healed us of our sins, forgave them, made us white as snow. BUT we have lingering effects of sin, how does that work? If I accept that then I would have to accept that Jesus did not heal me completely? White as snow, but not white, white? Is there scripture for this?

[@icarusrising355]

What on earth are you talking about? It's pretty blatant in scripture. If you're given a clear slate and have no lingering impact from sin then why aren't you in the heavenly presence at this moment? One could look at original sin as analogous to this.

[@thebandnevada]

Hello Catholic Central, I am a young Catholic who fears death. I am scared of being unconscious for eternity, and it takes a toll on my everyday life thinking about it. So I was wondering if you guys can find proof of Heaven or an argument for the existence of Heaven. Thank you, and God Bless.

[@CatholicCentralVideos]

Hello Thomas, you are not alone with this fear - most everyone does at one point or another. This fear can last a short or long time, but it is something you can get past. We think it is important to have faith that God will be there for you when the time comes. It might help to find a priest, deacon, or spiritual director that you are comfortable with and speak to this person. To your specific question, the only real proof of heaven that we need is Jesus himself. God who came to live among us and then promised us a place with him when our time on earth is over. As Catholics, we believe that God is constantly reaching out to us, up to our last conscious moment on this earth, waiting for us to accept him. The best way to avoid being “unconscious for eternity” is to do your best to consciously live the life God wants you to live. In other words, live your life joyfully - giving love to all and receiving all in your life as gift - and being the best person, you can be. We know that any answer we give will not alleviate your anxiety, but if you open yourself up to God moving in your life, you will begin to slowly come out of the anxiety.