Pets afterlife?

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The Catechism says this:
2417: God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals, if it remains within reasonable limits, is a morally acceptable practice since it contributes to caring for or saving human lives.

2418: It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend mony on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.

I can find no evidence for animals in heaven, in the Catechism, I do find in 2418 a warning with regard to money and affection given to animals. My guess is we will all read into this what ever makes us feel good, and not employ clear thinking.
 
I think you’re right, Leo. This is one of those subjects on which many of us have lost the ability to be objective and allow ourselves to be ruled by emotion rather than reason. Just because we want something terribly badly doesn’t mean that we’ll get what we want, or even that the desire is a reasonable one.
 
I can find no evidence for animals in heaven, in the Catechism, I do find in 2418 a warning with regard to money and affection given to animals. My guess is we will all read into this what ever makes us feel good, and not employ clear thinking.
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The point is that there is no teaching one way or another, so we are left to draw our own conclusions. The Catechism doesn’t have to state something for it to be true, nor does it have to contridict something for it to be false.
 
“one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons”. That sounds like a warning to me, that we should be wary of improperly placed affections directed to animals.

We will all hear what we want to hear.
 
I can’t remember who said it, but I know someone once said something like…

“If you want to know a man’s true character, look at how he treats his dog.”

And there’s a certain truth to that. And Leo, it may not interest you, but it interests me to note that throughout the middle ages, the dog was used as a prominent symbol of Christian fidelity. A figure of a dog was often placed on a tomb in order to show that a man or woman was a good Christian. I think we have a lot to learn from our animal friends.

I know I learn a lot about love from my dog.

Naprous
 
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Sonya:
I think that you should look at this explaination. The Cathechism does have some information which leads us in the right direction to answer this question. Look at ewtn.com/expert/expertfaqframe.asp?source=/vexperts/conference.htm and you will see that animals do not have immortal souls. They do have souls, but since humans were the ones, not animals, in Genesis that were created in His image, humans have immortal souls. They have the intelligence to choose to live God’s way or not, not animals. There is even a suggestion that you could tell your kids that they could ask God to show them their pets when they get to Heaven. However if and when they get to Heaven, God will be the only One they will need to complete their happiness.

When you click on this link, if it takes you to categories. Click on Philosoph and then Pets in Heaven?
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Thanks, Sonya, for the information. I suppose the bottom line is, if we make it to heaven and enjoy the beatific vision, then we’ll have everything needed for complete happiness. The status of animals will be irrelevant. Since animals lack immortal souls, their existence ceases at death.
 
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JCPhoenix:
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He gave us animals not only as food, but remember, first they were companions to Adam, who was all alone.

I thank God every day for the gift of a pet God gave me…and I’d guess others do the same.

We share the planet and are all part of the chain of life. No, pets are not humans…but they are not unworthy of love and affection due for payment of the gifts they give us every day. We can and do learn a lot from them.
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Yes - I can relate to this. I have always lived alone, by choice, but about 7 years ago I adopted a cat from a rescue shelter, partly because I knew I could give an animal a really enjoyable life, and partly because I felt I needed a “creature” to look after and take me out of my selfish self a bit. That was my analytical thought process before I bonded with my cat!!
She has taught me so much, I have to say she was a gift of God to me. She has made me a great deal more tender hearted and loving - to people also. More flexible & tolerant!!
I will be distraught when she dies (I have to say that I pray she will never die a violent death) but I will see that as part of God’s plan (I hope!?) and that I will have the grace to accept it peacefully.
Too bad if this all sounds a bit pathetic!!:o
A Te numquam separari permittas - never let me be separated from You
 
How’s this for thought. Keep in mind this is a Protestant teaching but I thought it might give us something to think on.

I noticed most people here use the word “soul” and “spirit” interchangably. We are a three part being. Spirit, soul, and body. There are a couple of scriptures that back this up and if anyone wants them I’ll be happy to provide.

The teaching I heard is summed up this way: We ARE a spirit, we HAVE a soul (consisting of mind, will, and emotions) and we LIVE in a body. When we die, both spirit and soul leave our body. I agree that animals aren’t spirit beings but if you look at the previous definition of soul being “mind, will, and emotions” then animals certainly do have a soul.

Besides, God said he would give us the delights of our heart. My heart would delight in my pets being with me in heaven. 😉
 
I’ve heard it said that if one wants to know how they will be as a parent…get a dog! There is truth in that at least to some degree.

When I got my first dog as an adult, I learned that I would have been a terrible parent! While I loved her to death and was very certain that she had what she needed, my temper was short, my patience was thin, and I was overly protective of her. No, I never abused her, although I did accidently cause her pain once when correcting a behavior on the leash, any my correction caused her to yelp. I felt horrible! I never MEANT to cause that sound to come out of her and I realized my own anger was out of control and not accurate in relation to her offense. (She’s chewed up a friend’s rug which had been purchased in Africa.) I was really angry at myself.

Anyway, as I “suffered” through that dog, another abused dog we’d adopted from a shelter and bore through severe and destructive seperation anxiety, and now as I work with my current dog, I realize how much I’ve learned. And how much like children pets can be.

To care for them properly one must trim their nails, brush their teeth, balance their nutrition considering the treats, train them to behave, pick up after them, correct them when needed, bathe them when needed…etc. These are all things a parent must also do. My dogs have taught me patience, perserverence, how to deal with frustruation, how to put anothers’ personal needs above my own…and I can see how my life is the better for this. Not to mention the lives of people around me.

I can tell you that if I were to ever have a child not having had a dog or two, I would not be the same person, and my parenting skills would be atrocious.

I might also not live to be a parent because my life has been saved by 2 different family pets.

They are part of God’s plan, and while we should take care not to overdo it, we are also called to do what is needed. It is my opinion that some people are called to minister to people with various special needs, some are called to missionary work, some are called to tithe…and some of us are called to minister to the animals God put on the planet for the betterment of human life.

I will explain this last in another post if some of you don’t think the comment is clear.
 
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Curious:
I noticed most people here use the word “soul” and “spirit” interchangably. We are a three part being. Spirit, soul, and body. There are a couple of scriptures that back this up and if anyone wants them I’ll be happy to provide. 😉
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That’s along the lines of the point I was making earlier, but I came to a little different conclusion than you. I’d greatly appreciate the scriptural references you mentioned. And thanx!
 
I’d greatly appreciate the scriptural references you mentioned. And thanx!
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No problem. Here they are.

1 Thess 5:13 - "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ"
NKJV
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit…
NKJV
 
It is a grave sin to love a animal as much as a person or treat an animal like a person or to think an animal is equal to a person(heaven) or to devote time and attention to an animal as much as a person.

There were 4,000 babies murdered today - does anybody care about that?
 
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chrisg93:
There were 4,000 babies murdered today - does anybody care about that?
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What exactly is incompatable between caring for your pets AND caring about abortion?

-D
 
The EWTN answer is not a matter of Doctrine, however, but a certain line of logic based on Revelation. Unfortunately that’s all we have: educated guesses.
 
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Leo44:
The Catechism says this:
2417: God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals, if it remains within reasonable limits, is a morally acceptable practice since it contributes to caring for or saving human lives.

2418: It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend mony on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.I can find no evidence for animals in heaven, in the Catechism, I do find in 2418 a warning with regard to money and affection given to animals. My guess is we will all read into this what ever makes us feel good, and not employ clear thinking.
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Leo: How interesting! I thank you for pointing us all to this reference. I DO know some folks who regard their animals as higher than humans, and this is sick!!! Maybe a substitute for those who can’t have children of their own! Something to lavish love on------who knows for sure? I have noticed people who don’t have children seem to be especially attached to their animals.!!!

Thank you for this clarification. I still think however, that animals go to heaven and we’ll be reunited with them all someday. They are precious members of our families!!!
 
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chrisg93:
It is a grave sin to love a animal as much as a person or treat an animal like a person or to think an animal is equal to a person(heaven) or to devote time and attention to an animal as much as a person.

There were 4,000 babies murdered today - does anybody care about that?
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Of COURSE people will see their beloved animals in Heaven. The idea that we will no longer care about our animals, or other loved ones, because of the “beatific vision” is a nirvana-like absurdity. The Joy of Heaven is in seeing God, and in seeing God as OURSELVES, with ALL our memories of who we are, and who we have loved INTACT. Now Aquinas made comments about animal souls not being immortal. Perhaps they do not have souls like our own, or perhaps Aquinas was wrong. Nothing he wrote is infallible Church doctrine. You are allowed to simply discard it. And what Aquinas did not know about animals was A LOT. This is evident just in the way he likened animals to plants. Perhaps 800 years ago people, even learned people, simply did not know that animals are sentient. Plants, as far as we know, are not sentient. That is a fundamental and profound difference. Anyway, for people who want the reassurances of a great doctor of the Church, a saint greater than Aquinas, let me provide this wonderful quote by St Augustine, writng about the Gospel of John: << “Men,” saith it, “and beasts Thou shalt save, O Lord; even as Thy mercy is multiplied, O God.” For since Thou art God, and hast manifold mercy, the same multiplicity of Thy mercy reaches not only to men whom Thou hast created in Thine own image, but even to the beasts which Thou hast made subservient to men. For He who gives salvation to man, the same gives salvation also to the beast. Do not blush to think this of the Lord thy God: nay, rather believe this and trust it, and see thou think not otherwise. He that saves thee, the same saves thy horse and thy sheep; to come to the very least, also thy hen: “Salvation is of the Lord,” and God saves these.>> (St. Augustine, “The Gospel of John”, Chp. 8, Tractate 34)
I couldn’t have said it better myself! ;-D
 
I would like to know where exactly it is proclaimed that animals do not have souls.

Thanks.
 
A 5 year old thread, amazing! :eek:

Anyway, Animals have souls just a all living things have souls, they just do not have eternal souls. There are three types of souls. You want to look to St Thomas Aquinas for the full explanation. Start with the Summa Theologica or look to Aristotle.

Basically it is accepted for the most part that there are 3 types of souls-
Plants have vegetative souls that allow them to live, grow, and reproduce,
Animals have sensitive souls that allow them to feel and (usually) move from place to place, and
Humans have** rational souls** that allow us to have rational thought.

This does not mean that humans have 3 souls. The rational soul performs all 3 functions.
 
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