Do we get psychopomps that guide us to the after-life?

[sidetrack]

For those who don’t know psychopomps are (in various belief systems) supernatural beings who escort those who’ve passed on into the after-life.For Catholics do we get any psychopomps waiting to “pick us up” and take us to the after-life when we die?.If we do,do they happen to be angels of some sort or the “angel of death” in particular?.Or is the “jury still out” on this one?.

 

[edward_george]

For those who don’t know psychopomps are (in various belief systems) supernatural beings who escort those who’ve passed on into the after-life.For Catholics do we get any psychopomps waiting to “pick us up” and take us to the after-life when we die?.If we do,do they happen to be angels of some sort or the “angel of death” in particular?.Or is the “jury still out” on this one?.

I don’t think this one has ever been sent to a jury because there isn’t really a need or a place for it in the Catholic theology of the afterlife. After we die, we are instantly judged, and go either to heaven, which is the eternal state of being in the presence of God (and thus may require some purgation before we can completely experience it), or to hell, which is the state of turning away from God for all eternity. These are not geographical places, but states of being, and so there wouldn’t need to be any “picking up” or “escorting” necessary.

-ACEGC

 

[freshwind]

just before my father passed I had an overwhelming sense that there were angels in the room…did not see anything, but more a feeling that we were not alone

he also at one point about an hour or so before he did pass he had a look of almost childlike wonderment in his eyes as he strained to see something

I, rightly or wrongly, felt it must have been his guardian angel

also, related to my father, at Mass one Sunday I was offering up the Mass for him, just prior to the consecration I got the feeling again…as the host was raised it seemed as if I could sense angels bowing around the altar, I immediately offered their adoration for my father and it seemed like I felt and almost saw an ecstasy of souls rising to heaven

I would not say that I am in any way an overly spiritual person, and certainly not over emotional, maybe best described as conservative, skeptical, even at times cynical…but this was so real and out of the ordinary for me I have to believe something happened those 2 days

 

[free_thinker]

In my research and readings about people who have had near death experiences, a lot of people do have angels or spirit guides present with them during the time of their death to help lead and escort them around. From what they understand too, these beings are always around us keeping watch over us and protect us like guardian angels.

 

[Jeanne_S]

just before my father passed I had an overwhelming sense that there were angels in the room…did not see anything, but more a feeling that we were not alone

he also at one point about an hour or so before he did pass he had a look of almost childlike wonderment in his eyes as he strained to see something

I, rightly or wrongly, felt it must have been his guardian angel

also, related to my father, at Mass one Sunday I was offering up the Mass for him, just prior to the consecration I got the feeling again…as the host was raised it seemed as if I could sense angels bowing around the altar, I immediately offered their adoration for my father and it seemed like I felt and almost saw an ecstasy of souls rising to heaven

I would not say that I am in any way an overly spiritual person, and certainly not over emotional, maybe best described as conservative, skeptical, even at times cynical…but this was so real and out of the ordinary for me I have to believe something happened those 2 days

Beautiful!I have read that our Guardian Angels escort us at time of death.If it be purgatory,they stay with us for the duration,then lead us to our heavenly reward.

 

[TimothyH]

At death, those who knew Mary and prayed to her during their life on earth will be granted the great favor of her escort into her son’s presence.

All of us will stand in judgement while the accuser accuses us, but Mary will intercede on behalf of those who knew her in life.

-Tim-

 

[kbwall]

Unknown. It is know that there is AN Angel of Death, for that is what killed the firstborn children of Egypt. However, it is uknown if the Angel of Death is actually a guide in the afterlife, or if it was just there to kill.

On a related note, what happens to our guardian angel after we die?