Glossary Lesson 1o
beatific vision: The contemplation of God in heavenly glory, a gift of God which is a constitutive element of the happiness (or beatitude) of heaven (1028, 1720). Catechism of the Catholic Church
eschatology: From the Greek word eschaton, meaning “last.” Eschatology refers to the area of Christian faith which is concerned about “the last
things,” and the coming of Jesus on “the last day”: our human destiny, death, judgment, resurrection of the body, heaven, purgatory, and hell – all of which are contained in the final articles of the Creed (1001, 1020-1050; cf. 2771). Catechism of the Catholic Church
heaven: Eternal life with God; communion of life and love with the Trinity and all the blessed. Heaven is the state of supreme and definitive happiness, the goal of the deepest longings of humanity (1023). Catechism of the Catholic Church
hell: The state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed, reserved for those who refuse by their own free choice to believe and be converted from sin, even to the end of their lives (1033). Catechism of the Catholic Church
last judgment: The moment at the end of time when everyone will appear before Christ and receive an eternal recompense in accord with their earthly life.
purgatory: A state of final purification after death and before entrance into heaven for those who died in God’s friendship, but were only imperfectly purified; a final cleansing of human imperfection before one is able to enter the joy of heaven (1031; cf. 1472). Catechism of the Catholic Church
eschatology: From the Greek word eschaton, meaning “last.” Eschatology refers to the area of Christian faith which is concerned about “the last
things,” and the coming of Jesus on “the last day”: our human destiny, death, judgment, resurrection of the body, heaven, purgatory, and hell – all of which are contained in the final articles of the Creed (1001, 1020-1050; cf. 2771). Catechism of the Catholic Church
heaven: Eternal life with God; communion of life and love with the Trinity and all the blessed. Heaven is the state of supreme and definitive happiness, the goal of the deepest longings of humanity (1023). Catechism of the Catholic Church
hell: The state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed, reserved for those who refuse by their own free choice to believe and be converted from sin, even to the end of their lives (1033). Catechism of the Catholic Church
last judgment: The moment at the end of time when everyone will appear before Christ and receive an eternal recompense in accord with their earthly life.
purgatory: A state of final purification after death and before entrance into heaven for those who died in God’s friendship, but were only imperfectly purified; a final cleansing of human imperfection before one is able to enter the joy of heaven (1031; cf. 1472). Catechism of the Catholic Church