Anonymous

What Do Catholics Believe Will Happen To Them When They Die?

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21 Answers

Richard Marsden Profile
Richard Marsden answered
At the point of death, Catholics believe their soul separates from their earthly body. They face an immediate judgement by God who decides whether the person enters Heaven, goes to Purgatory or is damned to Hell. The Church accepts that most souls will go to Purgatory. This, in theological terms, is when the soul undergoes a period of purification from the sins committed on earth in preparation to enter into God's heavenly kingdom that is ultimately paradise. Those who are in complete denial of their maker, refusing to ask forgiveness for their sins, will be condemned to hell.

The concept of Purgatory is the reason why Catholics pray for people who have died, so that their souls and all the souls of the "faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace". Catholics particularly pray for their deceased loved ones on November 2nd, All Souls Day, and also throughout the month of November which is dedicated to the departed.
Christina Madera Profile
I was raised Roman Catholic myself and from what I have read here-Marsy's answer is closest to what we believe (or rather-what I was taught). We believe in Heaven, purgatory (where we go to "pay for our sins") and Hell. I am NOT sure where we go after our physical deaths BUT I personally believe that THIS
EARTH is "purgatory"! Just my personal opinion. Overall, I'd
say Marsy had has the most accurate answer of what Catholics
believe happens to us when we die.
thanked the writer.
Penny Kay
Penny Kay commented
I also believe that this life is the purgatory.
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
Hmm, interesting thought. Didn't Jesus pay for our sins with His sacrificial atoning death on the cross? Why would the Lord have done such a thing if we still are required to have to pay for them? Since we are sinners by nature, we need a saviour, correct?
Isha Isha
Isha Isha commented
Yes i do too..
carlene welch Profile
carlene welch answered
Any one that has excepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour reguardless Of their denomination will go to heaven, not limbo! Limbo is not scriptual! Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord!2Cor5:8, also Jesus said to the thief on the cross, this day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise! Luk.23:42,43...Genaveve
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Catholics who die in a state of grace (not seriously alienated from God by sin) go to Heaven, sometimes by way of Purgatory.  Limbo is not a doctrine of the Catholic faith, just a hypothetical answer to the question of where unbaptized babies go when they die.  If water baptism is necessary for entrance into heaven, and an unbaptized baby who has not sinned, dies, can he enter heaven?  Original sin would keep him  out, without personal sin.  Would God condemn him to the torments of Hell?   Hard to believe).  But thanks to Adam, all of us are born in a state of original sin and not fit for Heaven.  Purgatory is the place/process/whatever by which those who are in a state of grace but not quite perfect enough for heaven are made ready to see God face to face.  Catholics must believe in purgatory (all  those Biblical references and common sense), but they are not required to believe in limbo.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I'm in agreement with Marcy -given half my family are Catholic in Faith. I can't however understand where this idea of Purgatory came from. I also cannot find any examples in Holy Scripture where anyone prays for a deceased person. I never could understand in various Faiths (including my own) why we have to change things. What was wrong with the way the Apostles and Disciples did things?
thanked the writer.
Penny Kay
Penny Kay commented
I think Jesus not only opened the door to the heavenly Father, but he brought a simple Faith that everyone could understand. Religions keep mucking everything up, by adding 'conditions' and ceremony.
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
Bingo! Jesus said He came to fulfill the law Mat.5:17. There was nothing instituted beyond what He said. In fact there is no ceremony of marriage in Scripture. I'm not against this celebration, it's a time of joy, but we need to be careful. Rev.22:18 has a warning about adding anything to the prophecy of the book. Jesus gave us all the opportunity to behold God. We were able to embrace Him and choose whether or not to follow His words. If we read ONLY His words we would see what does matter and what is to come. Getting to Heaven is not up to the rules we make or the ceremonies we have, or the rituals we invent that were NEVER done or spoken of. Thinking we're good enough is not God thinking we're good enough. Jesus said whatever we eat,drink , say or do-do all to the glory of God. I don't see many, including myself, that passes that test alone. Let's get back to the basics and go by the Book and stop making up ways to go to Heaven. I don't want to be Catholic, Protestant, or any other name. What do Catholics believe will happen when they die? Probably only what they are told-like most of us. We like to trust those we believe are Holy or more Holy. If they are born of man-How can they be? Can we trust church leaders. I say yes----if they don't change things and simply explain things. If we have a question we can always ask "Where is it written". If our teacher can't point to it, I'd get another teacher.
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
Pencil is telling it like it is!
Sja BenAlex Profile
Sja BenAlex answered
The living know that they shall die but the dead knows not anything, neither have they any more a reward for the memory of them is forgotten also their love their hatred and their envy is perished forever neither have they any portion forever in anything that is done under the sun, until the Resurrection of the dead on the day of judgment.  This is the portion of all men who die from what ever religion.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-7
Ecclesiastes 12:6
Psalms 146:3-4
Ri Tam Profile
Ri Tam answered
I have learned that the next step is purgatory. Is this correct? Of course, no where in scripture can you find purgatory!
tinga nih Profile
tinga nih answered
That there will be an everlasting life.. Free from worries and in the HOUSE of GOD called HEAVEN..
Mike J Profile
Mike J answered
They well either live forever in Heaven if they live a good life or go to hell if they live a bad life
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I'm totally with Boo1 and pencil and for my fellow friend asking the question I invite you to read the bible and discover this truth for yourself
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Yes that is what the Catholicism believes. It is not found in the Bible and for the same reason it is not true.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Mormons believe that all mankind are eligible to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  It is based on your obedience to the commandments during this life.  Johovah Witness's believe in the 144,000 going to Heaven.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Catholics believe that you go two heaven after you die where saint peter waits at the pearl gates and lets you in if you have done good things in your life if not you got to hell to be tortured
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
When you lose your life to your Catholic Religion, then you won't find the true joy, and Happiness we desire to have. Do you know where and what the Catholic Religion and what the True definition of Catholic is. And what God defines what Religion is? Do further research. God will tell you where in his word, The Bible. Read it, you will be amazed at what God tells you about everything you want and need to know. Need more. Go to a Christian Church, I will help you in any way I can. What happens when Catholics Die, they die, pass away in the grave, or their bodies get burned, but their spirit still lives until Judgment.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I was baptized catholic, raised Methodist, and now stand as a man of science and fit under mans category of agnostic. I am not about to mock religion, but stay with me on this. I am one of the most honest people in the world. Apologize from the heart. Go out of my way to help others. I have a habit of saying the right thing to perfect strangers that brings a smile. "Life is fantastic!" When I die, let's say I show up at the pearly gates and St. Peter. Says, "So you never believed?" My response would be, "Yes, and what a mistake, sorry!" If that is not good enough for them, then I wish to go to a much better place anyway.
george lloyd Profile
george lloyd answered
George57          hi, what is said here must be backed up with the bible, Funeral ,of the catholic , getting the holy spirit after he is dead, come on , are you kidding, also purgatory, lets see what does the bible say, it christ, is the way, not a thing more, no works, mass, confession box, or mary, romans 3:10-12 says none are righteous, no not one, also mary, my queston is if a catholic stays in the catholic church , then dies , in the teaching, will they have salvation, we sometime forget that it said 150,000 people die everyday, many or most will find hell, stop fooling around and get born again, .god bless george57
katie haslam Profile
katie haslam answered
The bible actually states that only 144,000 go to heaven they are the anointed ones.
Everyone else will live in paradise upon earth.
Hell is the grave where we all go until we are resurrected after Armageddon, this is when God will judge us.
If we die at Armageddon we will not be resurrected.
thanked the writer.
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
The bible doesn't state that only 144,000 go to heaven. It mentions that there are 144,000 of the children of all the tribes of Israel, but there is nothing that even hints that they are the only ones in heaven. If you study the apocalyptic style of writing you would understand that the 144,000 annointed ones are symbolic of the perfection of heaven and the creator of heaven. If you read the Acts of the Apostles you will see that > 250,000 were saved in the short time after Christ death. The kingdom is already here!
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
Are you Mormon? This is the Mormon belief. It DOES NOT say in the Bible that only 144,000 get into the Kingdom of Heaven!

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