B
BarbaraTherese
Guest
This question has long fascinated me. I know that immediately after death is the particular judgement and we go either to Heaven, Hell or Purgatory.
What I would like to know is what The Church says about consciousness. Since we are separted from our body at death and are spirit, do we retain our consciousness of self and would we recognize other people in the same state as we are i.e. Heaven, Hell or Purgatory? I know that Christ will return, at which time we will be united with our bodies as glorified and General Judgement takes place - my question is what happens between times - between death and the re uniting with our bodies? I have done a search on the internet without any luck…links would be appreciated too providing they are authentic Catholic sites.
I dont have good imaginary powers at the best of times and I find it impossible actually to imagine myself without a body. This does not mean I question our belief, because I do not…simply that I cannot imagine my selfhood without a body. Hence it is my imagination that is impoverished, not my Faith.
What can we anticipate (if anything is known) of spirit and the interim between death and the Second Coming. We know an aweful lot about what to expect with the Return of Jesus and after…but what about the interim…will we be conscious of time passing or will the interim seem as a blink to us since we will be in eternity outside of time? And what does this say about the Souls in Purgatory - are they while being in eternity conscious of time passing etc. etc.?
Or is it simply that we do not know what to expect of this interim period and need rest in trust?
Blessings - Barb
What I would like to know is what The Church says about consciousness. Since we are separted from our body at death and are spirit, do we retain our consciousness of self and would we recognize other people in the same state as we are i.e. Heaven, Hell or Purgatory? I know that Christ will return, at which time we will be united with our bodies as glorified and General Judgement takes place - my question is what happens between times - between death and the re uniting with our bodies? I have done a search on the internet without any luck…links would be appreciated too providing they are authentic Catholic sites.
I dont have good imaginary powers at the best of times and I find it impossible actually to imagine myself without a body. This does not mean I question our belief, because I do not…simply that I cannot imagine my selfhood without a body. Hence it is my imagination that is impoverished, not my Faith.
What can we anticipate (if anything is known) of spirit and the interim between death and the Second Coming. We know an aweful lot about what to expect with the Return of Jesus and after…but what about the interim…will we be conscious of time passing or will the interim seem as a blink to us since we will be in eternity outside of time? And what does this say about the Souls in Purgatory - are they while being in eternity conscious of time passing etc. etc.?
Or is it simply that we do not know what to expect of this interim period and need rest in trust?
Blessings - Barb