Life Everlasting and the Depths of the Soul

 PREFACE

 PART 1 : SOUL IMMENSITY IN OUR PRESENT LIFE

 2. WILL AND INTELLECT

 3. SOUL IMMENSITY AND BEATIFIC VISION

 4. THE SOURCE OF LIBERTY

 5. THE ROOTS OF VICE AND VIRTUE

 6. PURGATORY BEFORE DEATH - THE NIGHT OF THE SOUL

 PART 2 : DEATH AND JUDGEMENT

 7. FINAL IMPENITENCE

 8. THE GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH - THE GIFT OF PERSEVERANCE

 9. IMMUTABILITY AFTER DEATH

 10. THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT

 11. THE LAST JUDGMENT

 12. KNOWLEDGE IN THE SEPARATED SOUL

 PART 3 : HELL

 13. THE SCRIPTURES CONCERNING HELL

 14. THEOLOGICAL REASONS 230

 15. ETERNAL HELL AND DIVINE PERFECTIONS

 16. THE PAIN OF LOSS

 17. THE PAIN OF SENSE

 18. DEGREES OF PAIN

 19. HELL AND OUR OWN AGE

 PART 4 : PURGATORY

 20. TEACHING OF THE CHURCH

 21. ARGUMENTS OF APPROPRIATENESS

 22. Demonstrative Arguments

 23. PURGATORY'S CHIEF PAIN

 24. THE PAIN OF SENSE

 25. THEIR STATE OF SOUL

 26. CHARITY FOR THE POOR SOULS

 PART 5 : HEAVEN

 27. THE EXISTENCE OF HEAVEN

 28. THE NATURE OF ETERNAL BEATITUDE

 29. THE SUBLIMITY OF THE BEATIFIC VISION

 30. BEATIFIC JOY

 31. ACCIDENTAL BEATITUDE

 32. THE NUMBER OF THE ELECT

 EPILOGUE

 ENDNOTES

21. ARGUMENTS OF APPROPRIATENESS

HERE we meet, first of all, a reason of appropriateness open even to non-believers. The order of justice, if violated, demands reparation. Now this reparation, if not made before death, must be undergone after death, and payment by him who has died without repentance must differ by far from payment by him who has repented.

This argument differs from strict theological reasoning because it rests on the principles of natural reason which can be known without revelation.

This argument is confirmed by the religious convictions of many peoples, Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, who speak of various sanctions after death. Plato [376] speaks as follows: "Separated from their bodies, souls come at once before the judge who examines them with care. If he finds one disfigured by faults, he sends it to the place where it will suffer the punishments it has merited. Some among these souls profit by the punishments which they endure since their faults can be expiated. Pain alone delivers them from injustice. But those who committed great crimes and whose perversity is incurable, can serve only as examples." [377]

Believers, too, can find special reasons of appropriateness. The doctrine of purgatory is one of wisdom and consolation.

It emphasizes the sanctity and majesty of God, since nothing soiled can appear before Him. It fortifies our sense of justice. It manifests the disorder, often unperceived, of venial faults. Faith in purgatory purifies us here on earth.

Further, faith shows us the relations between ourselves and the dead. It urges us to aid them. It gives us a special viewpoint on the mysterious communion of saints, the unity between the Church militant and the Church suffering. It consoles us when death bereaves us.

These reasons of appropriateness become still stronger when united with the theological reasons which make the existence of purgatory certain. Revelation is like a luminous window, which can be seen in two fashions. First, from without, and under this view we can scarcely discern the figures. Or from within, and then we distinguish details, behold the very features of the persons there depicted. The prophecies of the Old Testament are such windows, seen first by the mere light of reason, seen secondly in the full light of revelation.