On the Last Things

COMPENDIUM

The Last Things are so called in the Sacred Writings because they are the things that finally occur to man. The Last Things are four in number:

1. Death
2. Judgment
3. Hell
4. Heaven

Death is the last thing which happens to us in this world; the judgment is the last of all judgments that we shall have to undergo; hell is the most extreme evil in store for the wicked; and heaven is the highest good reserved for the good.

It is salutary to think of the Last Things every day, and especially when we make our first prayer upon awakening in the morning, and in the evening before going to rest, and at all times whenever we are tempted to do evil, because the thought of these things is a most powerful help in the avoidance of sin.

CATECHISM

968. What do we understand by the Last Things?

The Last Things are so called in the Sacred Writings because they are the things that finally occur to man.

969. How many Last Things are there?

The Last Things are four in number: Death, Judgment, Hell, and Heaven.

970. Why are these called the Last Things?

These are called the Last Things, because death is the last thing which happens to us in this world, the judgment is the last of all judgments that we shall have to undergo, hell is the most extreme evil in store for the wicked, and heaven is the highest good reserved for the good.

971. Why should we always think on the Last Things?

It is salutary to think of the Last Things every day, and especially when we make our first prayer upon awakening in the morning, and in the evening before going to rest, and at all times whenever we are tempted to do evil, because the thought of these things is a most powerful help in the avoidance of sin.