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The Church has always professed in what is known as the Four Last Things. This includes the eschatological realities of what are known as 1) Death 2) Judgment 3) Heaven and 4) Hell. Many Saints have always stated that we ought to constantly meditate on these 4 realities, in order to prepare for a Holy Death. 1) Because of original sin, we live in a fallen nature, in which death is one of the consequences of this. This means that death is unavoidable and we will all have to embrace it. The proper Christian way of doing so, is by...

Contemplating Death Jan 5th, 2012 by Gary Zimak. “Tempus Fugit, Memento Mori” (“Time Flies, Remember Death”) -  a motto of the Knights of ColumbusI know it’s not a popular activity, but meditating upon the realities of death is extremely important to our spiritual well being.  If we desire to lead a good, holy life and live forever in Heaven, thinking about our death is imperative.  Why?  Because doing so reminds us that the temporal things of this life will pass and that we will be judged on how we lived our life.  That judgment, occurring immediately after we die, will determine...

THE SINNERS GUIDE Ven. Louis of Granada 1504-1588 With Imprimi Potest and Imprimatur TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC. Ch 10. The Tenth Motive for Practicing Virtue: The Thought of Hell, the Fourth of the Four Last Things   The least part of the happiness we have endeavored to portray should be sufficient to inflame our hearts with a love of virtue. Nevertheless, we shall also consider the terrible alternative of misery reserved for the reprobate. The sinner cannot comfort himself by saying, "After all, the only result of my depraved life will be that I shall never see God. Further...

Ven. Louis of Granada 1504-1588With Imprimi Potest and Imprimatur TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC. Ch 9. The Ninth Motive for Practicing Virtue: The Thought of Heaven, the Third of the Four Last Things   A motive no less powerful than those we have enumerated is the thought of Heaven. This is the reward of virtue, and in it we must distinguish two things: the excellence and beauty of the abode promised us, which is no other than the empyreal heavens, and the perfection and beauty of the Sovereign King Who reigns there with His elect. But though no tongue can...

THE SINNERS GUIDE Ven. Louis of Granada1504-1588With Imprimi Potest and Imprimatur TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC. Chapter 8. The Eighth Motive for Practicing Virtue: The Thought of the Last Judgment, the Second of the Four Last Things   Immediately after death follows the particular judgment, of which we have been treating. But there is a day of general judgment, when, in the words of the Apostle, "We must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil." [2...

THE SINNER'S GUIDE Ven. Louis of Granada1504-1588With Imprimi Potest and Imprimatur TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC. Ch 7. The Seventh Motive for Practicing Virtue: The Thought of Death, the First of the Four Last Things   Any one of the motives we have just enumerated should be sufficient to induce man to give himself wholly to the service of a Master to Whom he is bound by so many ties of gratitude. But as the generality of men are more influenced by personal interest than by motives of justice, we will here make known the inestimable advantages of virtue in...