>> WE ALL WANT GOOD THINGS FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES, BUT ARE WE LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE GOOD OF SPENDING ETERNITY WITH GOD? WE'LL TALK ABOUT FOUR VERY IMPORTANT THINGS TONIGHT. THE LAST THINGS, SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. ♪ [APPLAUSE] >> Fr. Pacwa: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELCOME, I'M FATHER MITCH PACWA AND WELCOME TO EWTN LIVE WHERE WE BRING YOU GUESTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. BEFORE WE GET TO OUR GUEST, THOUGH, I WANT TO MENTION THAT TODAY IS THE FEAST OF ST. ANTHONY THE GREAT. HE'S ALSO KNOWN AS ST. ANTHONY OF THE DESERT, BORN IN 251A.D. AND BY THE TIME HE WAS 20, HE HAD GONE OUT, THINK IT WAS IN TWO STAGES, WHEN HE WAS 18 AND THEN AGE 20, HE WAS LIVING WITH A HERMIT TO LEARN THE MONASTIC LIFE. THEN HE WENT OFF FURTHER INTO THE DESERT. YET PEOPLE SOUGHT HIM OUT. HE WAS THERE IN A TIME OF GREAT PERSECUTION AS WELL AS, HE LIVED 105 YEARS. UNTIL 356. CHRISTIANITY WAS LEGALIZED IN 313. SO, HE WAS JUST 62-YEARS-OLD. AND HE LIVED 40-SOMETHING YEARS AFTER THAT. IN ORDER TO HELP THE CHRISTIANS AFTER THE CHURCH WAS LEGAL AND THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO TAKE OVER IN THE WAY BY DENYING THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST AND MAKING IT AMENABLE TO POLITICAL ISSUES, HE HELPED PEOPLE LIKE SAINT ATHANASIUS TO STAY FIRM WITH THE FAITH AND KEEP IT, AND REMAIN COURAGEOUS IN THE MIDST OF IT. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE LIFE OF ST. ANTHONY FROM OUR WEB SITE. ewtn.com. GO TO THE DOCUMENT TAB, LIBRARY, AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE. THE LIFE OF ST. ANTHONY. IT'S WRITTEN BY SAINT ATHANASIUS AND WE WOULD STRONGLY URGE YOU TO DO THAT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A GUEST TONIGHT AND NOT FROM TOO FAR AWAY IN THE WORLD. BUT HE'S WELL KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD TO OUR WHOLE EWTN FAMILY. HE HAS VARIOUS TV SERIES, HOMLIES AT THE DAILY MASSES HERE AT EWTN. AND ALL OF THE OTHER WORK HE DOES. PLUS, HE'S THE NEWEST HOST OF EWTN RADIO'S OPEN LINE. AND HE WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS EVERY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. HE'S HERE TONIGHT TO HELP US CONTEMPLATE THE FOUR LAST THINGS TO WHICH WE ARE MOVING, EACH HOUR OF THE DAY AND NIGHT. EVERY ONE OF US. HIS NEW BOOK IS CALLED THE FOUR LAST THINGS A CATECHETICAL GUIDE TO DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN AND HELL. THIS CAN HELP US TO PURSUE UNDERSTANDING THOSE FOUR LAST THINGS. SO, PLEASE, WELCOME FR. MENEZES. FATHER WADE, WELCOME. [APPLAUSE] HOW ARE YOU? >> DOING GREAT. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU. IT WAS ENJOYABLE CELEBRATING MASS WITH YOU THIS MORNING AND ALSO, GOING OVER YOUR BOOK. IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC BECAUSE IT IS NEGLECTED. PEOPLE OFTENTIMES SPOKE BACK IN THE 1950'S, AND 1960'S, THAT WE WERE NOT TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT SEXUALITY AND PROCREATION AND PEOPLE WERE TOO VICTORIAN AND UPTIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS. NOW, THAT'S ALL WE TALK ABOUT! AND WE SKIP TALKING -- WE'RE TOO UPTIGHT TO TALK ABOUT DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN AND HELL. THE FOUR LAST THINGS. THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THINGS, THE BEGINNING OF LIFE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE END OF LIFE. NOW, WHY IS IT FIRST OF ALL THAT YOU TOOK THIS TOPIC, CATECHISM IS HUGE. SO, WHY THIS TOPIC IN PARTICULAR? >> Guest: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ENDORSER OF THE BOOK, FATHER PAVONE, JOHNETTE BENCOVIC, AND BISHOP BAKER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND BEING THE ITINERANT PREACHER FOR FATHERS OF MERCY, WE PREACH ALL THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, CANADIAN AND IT COULD BE ON DIFFERENT TOPICS, MARRIAGE, FAMILY LIFE, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS WITHIN THE CHURCH TEACHINGS. LET'S SAY I WAS GIVING A TALK ON MORTAL VS. HELL. AND I REALIZE THAT HAD PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE PARTICULARS OF THE FOUR LAST THINGS. AND THIS VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE APOSTOLATE OF PREACHING, DAY LONG CONFERENCE OR WEEK-LONG RETREATS, WEEK LONG PARISH MISSIONS. YOU KNOW WHAT? I BELIEVE GOD IS CALLING ME TO DO A SERIES ON THE FOUR LAST THINGS. SO, I SET OUT TO DO JUST THAT. THERE WAS A LOT OF MISNOMERS OUT THERE ABOUT THE FOUR LAST THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, DEATH. A VERY, VERY SCARY EVENT REGARDLESS OF WHEN IT'S PREPARED FOR NOT. JUDGMENT. NO KNOWLEDGE BETWEEN THE PARTICULAR VERSES, THE GENERAL JUDGMENT. THE GENERAL JUDGMENT RATIFIES THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT. NO REALLY SOUND CATECHESIS ON HEAVEN. THIS IMAGE OF THE FAT CHERUBS THAT WE SEE IN THE MALL WINDOWS AND THIS IMAGE OF HELL. GOD SENDS NO ONE TO HELL. AND I SAY, YOU ARE CORRECT. NOBODY, GOD DOES NOT DO THAT. IT'S PART OF THE CHURCH THAT SOULS CAN GO THERE. AND WE HAVE FORMAL CANONIZATIONS AND NO FORMAL DAMNATIONS IN THE CHURCH. >> NOBODY HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DAMNED TO HELL, NOT EVEN JUDAS ISCARIOT. >> RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. BUT THAT'S NOT TAKING AWAY FROM THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH THAT IT'S POSSIBLE FOR SOULS TO GO THERE BEFORE THE GENERAL JUDGMENT AND TO HAVE THE BODY REUNITED WITH THE SOULS AT THE END OF TIME FOR ALL ETERNITY. THERE'S A GREAT QUOTE FROM ST. BERNARD CLAIRVOUX LET US WORK FOR THE FOOD THAT DOES NOT PERISH, OUR SALVATION. AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE CORRECT IN THE OPENING COMMENTS, WE THINK TEMPORALLY MINDED NOW AS SOCIETY HAS PROGRESSED SINCE THE 1950'S. AND WE DON'T FOCUS NOW SO MUCH ON THE ETERNAL REALITIES THAT AWAIT US. THE CHURCH'S ESCATOLOGY, FROM THE GREEK WORD, MEANING THE LAST. ESCATOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF THE LAST FOUR THINGS, DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN AND HELL. THREE OF WHICH APPLY TO EACH ONE OF US PERSONALLY. DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN, OR HELL. NOW, I LIKE TO SAY THAT VATICAN II IS NOT THE CAUSE OF US WANING FROM THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH, ESCATOLOGY BUT IT'S THE WAY THAT WE ARE WANED FROM THE ESCATOLOGY OF THE CHURCH. WHY? BECAUSE PROGRESSIVE FORCES FROM THE COUNCIL'S CLOSING IN 1965, MANY OF THE PROGRESSIVES IN THE CHURCH TOOK THE BALL OF VATICAN II AND RAN IN THE WRONG DIRECTION WITH IT. THAT'S A VERY SAD TRUTH I BELIEVE. BUT NOT TO BLAME THE COUNCIL, I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. IT'S ALMOST AS THE PROGRESSIVES IN THE CHURCH THOUGHT THAT JUDGMENT, PURGATORY, HELL, WERE NOT APPEALING TO THE SO-CALLED MODERN DAY MAN AND WOMAN IN THE MID 1960'S. INSTEAD, THERE WAS AN OVERFOCUS, PREDOMINANT FOCUS ON HEAVEN AND SALVATION. AND TRUTH, FATHER MITCH IS THIS, EACH ONE OF THE FOUR LAST THINGS IS IN COMPLEMENTARY DOCTRINE WITH THE OTHER THREE. YOU CAN'T FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE OR THE NEGATIVE BECAUSE YOU YIELD AN IMBALANCED VIEW OF THE WORLD NOW AND THE NEXT WORLD TO COME. >> Fr. Pacwa: THERE ARE COMPLAINTS. I REMEMBER BEING ON AN AIRPLANE BACK IN THE 1990's, AND THIS ONE YOUNG WOMAN SAID I LEFT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BECAUSE ALL THEY EVER DID WAS PREACH ON HELL. I SAID, OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS? ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? WHO WAS THIS PRIEST THAT YOU HAD? BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T. YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT VATICAN II. YOU HAD FOLKS WHO WANTED THE SPIRIT OF VATICAN II WHICH MEANT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO COMPROMISE WITH THE PROGRESSIVE ELEMENT OF THE CHURCH. INSTEAD OF THE BALANCE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE PROGRESSIVES AND THE TRADITIONALISTS. THEY WANTED TO GET RID OF ANYTHING TRADITIONAL. AND LUMEN GENTIUM MENTIONS HEAVEN, HELL, AND PURGATORY AS OPTIONS. >> RIGHT. VATICAN II IS A BEAUTIFULLY BALANCED COUNCIL, THE DOCUMENTS ARE JUST MAGNIFICENT. AND WE HAVE YET TO KNOW THEM FULLY REALLY. EVEN THE FIRST ONE THAT WAS PROMULGATED, THE ONE ON SACRED LITURGY, WHEN I SET OUT TO WRITE THE BOOK, REALIZING, I BELIEVE, THAT WAS AN AREA THAT LACKED AMONGST CATHOLICS AT LEAST IN THE WESTERN WORLD, PREACHING MISSIONS AND PARISH RETREATS, I WANTED TO SET OUT TO WRITE IT IN A VERY SIMPLE WAY TO SPRING BOARD FROM THE CATECHISM. I WANT HAD ANY EIGHTH GRADE INTELLECT OR HIGHER TO BE ABLE TO GRAB THE BOOK AND EASILY COMPREHEND IT, EASILY UNDERSTAND IT. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO DO, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A SERIOUS TOPIC, I WANTED TO WRITE IT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF WIT PRECISELY BECAUSE THERE IS A REALITY OF A KIND OF A DAUNTING CLOUD OVER THE FOUR LAST THINGS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HEAVEN. BUT AGAIN, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE LAST FOUR THINGS, NOT IN A MORBID OR MOROSE WAY BUT JOYFUL AND ANTICIPATORY WAY. BEAUTIFUL QUOTE FROM ST. THERESE SHE SAYS, I'M NOT DYING, I'M ENTERING INTO LIFE. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS FROM HER DEATHBED WHEN SHE WAS HAVING VIOLENT TEMPTATIONS AGAINST FAITH. ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH ON HIS WAY TO MARTYRDOM IN ROME, SAYS BEAUTIFULLY TO THOSE HE'S WRITING LETTERS TO, ONLY ONCE I FINALLY GET THERE, IN REFERENCE TO HEAVEN, CAN I BE FULLY A MAN, LIVING FULLY HIS HUMAN NATURE THAT HE WAS MADE IN, IN GOD'S OWN IMAGE AND LIKENESS. NO MORE TENDENCIES OF CONCUPISCENCE PULLING HIM WHILE LIVING IN THE EARTHLY STATE. ONLY ONCE I'M IN HEAVEN CAN I BE FULLY MAN. AND AGAIN, BERNARD OF CLAIRVOUX'S QUOTE, WE WORK FOR FOOD THAT HELPS OUR SALVATION >> Fr. Pacwa: THIS IS TRUE. LIFE IS DIFFICULT. AND FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT'S FAR MORE DIFFICULT THAN FOR OTHERS BECAUSE OF SICKNESS, SOMETIMES WAR, DISEASE, TERRIBLE, NATURAL CATASTROPHES. LIFE CAN BE VERY, VERY HARD. AND YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE NO HOPE FOR HEAVEN. THEY HAVE NO FEAR OF HELL. AND THEY END UP WE CAN WELCOMING DEATH, YOU KNOW, IF I AM GOING TO SUFFER, JUST KILL ME. NOT REALIZING THAT PUTTING UP WITH SUFFERING MAKES FOR A MORE JOYFUL HEAVEN. HEAVEN WILL WELL OVERWHELM THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE HAVE HERE WHILE TRYING TO AVOID DIFFICULTIES BY KILLING YOURSELF WILL OPEN UP FAR WORSE PAINS IN HELL THAN YOU ARE ABOUT TO SUFFER HERE >> Guest: YES, ABSOLUTELY. I TOUCH UPON THIS IN THE BOOK, THE SALVIFIC ASPECT OF SUFFERING, THE REDEMPTIVE ASPECT OF SUFFERING. NO SUFFERING GOES UNMERITED OR UNWARRANTED WHEN IT'S OFFERED UP IN UNION WITH THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUFFERING OR THE SALVIFIC SUFFERING, IT'S THE DOCTRINE OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. AND THOSE ON LIFE, FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT, WHETHER IT'S PERSECUTION, MIDDLE EAST BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OR THOSE LIVING HERE IN THE WEST WITH CANCER, OR WHATEVER YOUR TRIAL OR TRIBULATION MAY BE, AS MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH MILITANT, WE'RE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT IN UNION WITH CHRIST'S CROSS. AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT ARE IN HEAVEN AND THE CHURCH'S SUFFERING ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE IN PURGATORY, WHO ARE ASSURED OF HEAVEN, AND THE THREE-TIER HIERARCHY, COMMUNION GOING ON, US FOR THEM, THEM FOR US, AND BACK AND FORTH. AND THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL PARAGRAPH IN THE CATECHISM, TALKING ABOUT SUFFERING, OUR PRAYERS, CHURCH MILITANT'S PRAYERS, OUR PRAYERS FOR THEM, THE SUFFERING CHURCH, OUR PRAYERS FOR THEM ARE CAPABLE OF NOT ONLY HELPING THEM BUT OF MAKING THEIR INTERCESSION FOR US EFFECTIVE. IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY DO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE INTERCESSORY POWER FOR US, IT'S ONLY BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING FIRST. WE ARE PRAYING FOR THEM. THIS IS PART OF THAT COMMUNION. AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DOCTRINE TIED TO THE REALITY OF THE CHURCH MILITANT, EMBRACING ITSELF IN SUFFERING IN ANY FORM. MERITING IN HEAVEN A HIGHER PLACE BECAUSE OF ANY SUFFERING. NOW, WE'RE ETERNITY MINDED. THAT'S A STRONG POINT I MAKE IN THE BOOK, ALL FIVE CHAPTERS. FIRST FOUR CHAPTERS ARE ENTITLED, DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN AND HELL. NOW, IN ALL FIVE I TALK ALL FIVE AND TALKING ABOUT ETERNITY MINDED, NOT FOCUSING ON THE REALITY DAILY IN A MOROSE OR SUFFERING FASHION, BUT A JOYFUL FASHION. AND YOU ENDORSERS, ALL FOUR OF YOU GOT IT WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE BOOK. JOHNETTE BENCOVIC, HER QUOTE FOR THE ENDORSING OF THE BOOK, THIS BOOK FILLED ME WITH GREAT JOYFUL ANTICIPATION OF WHAT IS TO COME. AND I THOUGHT, SHE NAILED IT. JOYFUL ANTICIPATION OF WHAT IS TO COME IS WHAT I WANT THIS BOOK TO FILL PEOPLE UP WITH >> Fr. Pacwa: WHEN I WAS IN UNDERGRAD, MY FAVORITE PHILOSOPHER WAS NOT WELL KNOWN BUT HE WAS A FRENCHMAN [FRENCH WORD] AND IN HIS BOOK, THE PHENOMENOLOGY PERCEPTION, HE BRINGS OUT A KEY ELEMENT REGARDING, IT'S RELATED TO ESCATOLOGY. HE TALKED ABOUT HOW YOUR OBJECTIVES DEFINE WHAT YOU SEE IN THE WORLD. YOU LOOK AROUND AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT >> Guest: SURE >> Fr. Pacwa: A LOT OF THEM FORM A BACKGROUND. BUT A LOT OF OBJECTS ARE AT THE FOREGROUND. YOU FOCUS ON CERTAIN THINGS AND A LOT OF THINGS YOU IGNORE. HIS INSIGHT THAT IT'S YOUR OBJECTIVES, YOUR PURPOSES, YOUR GOALS THAT GET YOU TO DEFINE WHAT YOU SEE AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN ALL THE THINGS AROUND YOU. I'M NOT AN ELECTRICIAN. I DON'T PAY A WHOLE LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE LIGHTS AND THE WIRES BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT AND I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH ANY OF THE STUFF. THOSE ARE NOT MY TOYS. BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT I KNOW ABOUT, BOOKS ON THE SHELVES BECAUSE I READ A LOT. THIS IS TRUE IN REGARD TO HEAVEN AND HELL >> Guest: YEAH >> Fr. Pacwa: IF YOU MAKE HEAVEN YOUR REAL GOAL, YOU WILL BE LOOKING FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH GOD IS LEADING YOU TO HEAVEN. IF YOUR GOAL IS SOMETHING ELSE THAN HEAVEN, YOU WILL SEE THE THINGS THAT HELP YOU GET TO THAT GOAL AND THEY MAY BE THE THINGS THAT PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING TO HEAVEN. >> Guest: RIGHT. RIGHT. >> Fr. Pacwa: THIS IS A KEY PRINCIPLE >> Guest: YOU ARE REMINDING ME OF THE GREAT QUOTE FROM ST. THOMAS A'KEMPIS, IMITATION OF CHRIST, BOOK ONE, IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WOULD LIVE YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO DIE BY DAY'S END. NOW, THAT MIND SOUND KIND OF MORBID, BUT IT'S REALITY. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT TOMORROW IS NOT THE DAY THAT WE MIGHT BE HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER RIG AND DIE INSTANTLY IN THE ACCIDENT. THESE ARE REALITIES. AND WE WANT OUR OBJECTIVES AS YOU DESCRIBE THEM FROM THE PHILOSOPHER, TO BE ETERNITY-MINDED, ETERNAL MINDED. AND THIS IN OUR DAILY INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS AS WELL. OUR PRAYER, WORK, FAMILY LIFE, OUR RECREATION AND LEISURE. THERE'S SUCH A THING AS MORAL RECREATION. THERE IS SUCH A THING AS IMMORAL RECREATION. SHOULD I BE DOING THIS. DO I WANT TO BE DOING THIS. DOING THIS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY, IS IT CONDUCIVE IN LIVING IN SUCH A WAY THAT I AM ETERNITY-MINDED. AND THE OTHER THING I BRING OUT IN THE BOOK, FIFTH CHAPTER, PRAY DAILY FOR THE GRACE OF A HOLY, HAPPY, AND PROVIDED-FOR DEATH. THAT'S TRADITIONAL LANGUAGE OF THE CHURCH. PRAY FOR A HAPPY, HOLY AND PROVIDED-FOR DEATH. AND ST. JOSEPH IS THE PATRON OF A HAPPY DEATH. WHY? BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND TRADITION IN THE CHURCH WHEN HE DIED, ST. JOSEPH DIED, HE WAS FLANKED ON EITHER SIDE OF HIS DEATHBED, THE BLESSED MOTHER HIS SPOUSE AND BY JESUS CHRIST HIS FOSTER SON. IN OTHER WORDS, THE DEVILS DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET TO HIM. THAT'S PRETTY POWERFUL. WHAT DO WE MEAN PARTICULARLY BY THE GRACE OF A HOLY, HAPPY, AND PROVIDED-FOR DEATH. NUMBER ONE, NOT TO DO UNREPENTANT OF ANY MORTAL SIN, ESPECIALLY WILLFULLY SO. NUMBER TWO, RECEIVING ANOINTING OF THE SICK. AND THREE, RECEIVING HOLY VIATICUM. AND NUMBER FOUR, PRAYERS FOR THE COMMENDATION OF THE DYING. AND THEN, NUMBER FIVE, RECEIVING THE PRAYER BY THE CHURCH'S OWN AUTHORITY. NOW, BECAUSE DEATH IS INSTANT IN AN ACCIDENT, THAT, ONE CANNOT RECEIVE ANY ONE OR ALL OF THESE. THAT'S OKAY. THE FACT IS, YOU PRAY DAILY FOR THE GRACE OF A HOLY, HAPPY, AND PROVIDED-FOR DEATH. AND NAMELY NOT TO DIE WITH UNREPENTANT MORTAL SIN ON YOUR SOUL >> Fr. Pacwa: THAT'S IT. I WAS CLOSE TO DEATH, AND IT WAS UNEXPECTED, TWICE. TWICE. ONCE A GUY PULLED A PISTOL ON ME AND POINTED IT AT MY FACE. PULLED THE TRIGGER TWICE. >> Guest: WOW >> Fr. Pacwa: AND IT DIDN'T FIRE. AND SOME OF MY FRIENDS AD PISTOL AND THEY SHOT AT HIM IN WAY TO DISCOURAGE HIM FROM DOING THAT ANY MORE. HE RAN AWAY. IN THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, I WENT HOME FROM THAT WITH TWO SENSES. ONE, MY GUARDIAN ANGEL MUST HAVE VERY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE BECAUSE IT WAS SO CLOSE. THE GUY IS CLICKING THE TRIGGER AND IT DIDN'T GO OFF. AND I SAID AN EXPLETIVE THAT MADE ME SOUND LIKE I BELONGED ON THE STAFF OF CNN. AND I SAID TO MYSELF, THOSE ARE THE LAST WORDS THAT YOU WANT TO SAY BEFORE YOU SEE JESUS AND HIS MAMMA. ARE YOU STUPID? AND I WAS. I RESOLVED AT THAT POINT, IF YOU EVER GET CLOSE TO THAT POINT AGAIN, GET IN, LORD, HAVE MERCY. AND THEN GET IN AN ACT OF CONTRITION. SO, THE SECOND TIME, I HAD A LITTLE MORE TIME, WHEN I HAD MY HEART ATTACK, I GOT IN THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND TWO HAIL MARYS. I COULDN'T DO ANY MORE THAN THAT. BUT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK IT THROUGH. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> AS TO WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO. >> AND THE SECOND ONE IN YOUR CASE, THE ONE I'M FAMILIAR WITH, THE HEART ATTACK. IS THAT CORRECT? >> YEAH, THANKS BE TO GOD, FATHER JOSEPH WAS ABLE TO GET THERE. >> AMEN. >> AND I COULD GO TO CONFESSION AND GET THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK. >> TO AID US IN BEING ETERNITY-MINDED, ANTICIPATORY MINDED, THE CHURCH'S ESCATOLOGY, FOUR LAST THINGS. IN THE FIFTH CHAPTER I LISTED NECESSITIES, PLURAL, NECESSITY IN THE SINGULAR TOO. AND FOR EXAMPLE, MONTHLY CONFESSION. JUST 12 TIMES A YEAR. SAY IN HONOR OF THE FIRST FRIDAY, SACRED OF THE HEART OF JESUS. OR FIRST SATURDAY, IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY. AND YOU KNOW, WEEKLY, EUCHARIST. BY THAT, I MEAN, THE SUNDAY OBLIGATION MASS. >> AND BY THE WAY, CONFESSION. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS IF YOU HAVE ANY SINS, ASK YOUR SPOUSE! THEY WILL TELL YOU. >> OR IN RELIGIOUS LIFE, ASKS YOUR FELLOW BROTHERS. THEY KNOW ABOUT IT. >> AND MONTHLY CONFESSION, WEEKLY EUCHARIST. THE MORNING OFFERING UPON RISING. HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE NOT YOUR LAST DAY? DAILY ROSARY, FIVE DECADES A DAY REMAINS THE NORM. JOHN PAUL II WAS CLEAR OF THAT IN ROSARIUM VIRGIN MARY, AND THE JOYFUL, SORROWFUL, LUMINOUS, GLORIOUS. AND SEVEN DAY, MINUTE EXERCISE TO PRAY THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET. GO ON A PRAYER WALK WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOUR SPOUSE ON A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER EVENING. AND THE ASPIRATORY PRAYERS FOR THE DAY. JESUS MARY AND JOSEPH, I LOVE YOU, SAVE SOULS. PICK ONE AND STICK WITH IT FOR THE DAY. AND PICK ONE AND STICK WITH IT FOR THE WEEK. MY GUARDIAN ANGEL, I LOVE YOU. AND THEY HELP YOU KEEP ETERNITY-MINDED BECAUSE THEY HELP YOU PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD. FASTING. TWO SMALL MEALS AND ONE SUSTAINING MEALS, THAT'S IT, WITH NOTHING IN BETWEEN EXCEPT FOR WATER OR MEDICATION THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE. AND THE TWO SMALLER MEALS DON'T MAKE THE SUSTAINING MEAL. HECK, I DO THAT EVERYDAY JUST FOR HEALTH PURPOSES, LET ALONE FOR FASTING PURPOSES. HOW ABOUT THE USE OF SACRAMENTALS AND OTHER BEAUTIFUL PRACTICE TO HELP US STAY ETERNITY MINDED. WEARING THE PATRON SAINT MEDAL OF THE NAME SACRAMENTAL, HAVING YOUR ROSARY BLESSED. LECTIO DIVINA. ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO STAY ETERNITY MINDED. THESE ARE TOOLS THAT ARE PART OF THE PATRIMONY OF THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH. PART OF THE PATRIMONY HANDED DOWN THROUGH THE CENTURIES OF THE WISDOM OF THE FATHERS, THROUGH THEIR WRITINGS. ANOTHER ONE. READ THE CHURCH FATHERS. VERY LITURGICALLY MINDED. HOW TO FORM ONES LIFE AROUND THE LITURGICAL YEAR. AND FATHER MITCH, THAT'S THE LAST ONE I SHARED WITH YOU LAST TIME I WAS HERE. THE FATHERS ARE MASTERS AT THAT. AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF WAY TO DO THAT. THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO BRING OUT IN THE BOOK >> Fr. Pacwa: THAT'S PART OF THE POINT I WAS MAKING. IF HEAVEN IS YOUR GOAL, YOU ARE GOING TO START LOOKING FOR THAT WHICH PREPARES YOU FOR IT AND REMINDS YOU OF IT. THE KIND OF PICTURES THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOME, ARE THEY ORIENTED TOWARD LIFTING YOUR HEART TOWARD GOD? OR TO GETTING TO HEAVEN? DO YOU HAVE IMAGES OF THE BLESSED MOTHER, THE SAINTS, WITH WHOM YOU HOPE TO SPEND ETERNITY. GET STARTED KNOWING THEM NOW. HAVING FRIENDS THERE. THIS IS IMPORTANT >> Guest: IF OUR GOAL WITH THE TRIUNE GOD AND THE ANGELS FOR ALL ETERNITY IS OUR GOAL, DOESN'T IT MAKE SENSE TO TRY TO GET TO KNOW THE THREE DIVINE PERSONS, ANGELS AND SAINTS, NOW WHILE STILL LIVING ON THE EARTH FOR AVERAGE OF 78 AND A HALF YEARS. THAT'S THE LATEST LONGEVITY STATISTICS FOR MEN AND WOMEN. >> IT'S GOING DOWN. >> RIGHT. WOMEN LIVE AN AVERAGE OF 78.8 AND MEN AVERAGE OF 78.4 YEARS. SO, WOMEN HAVE A FEW MONTHS ON US MEN. >> WHAT ARE THEY DO DOING, PICKING UP OUR BAD HABITS? >> I DON'T KNOW. THE AVERAGE IS 78 YEARS AND HOW DO YOU LIVE IT NOW FROM THE AGE OF REASON AND BEYOND. HOW DO YOU LIVE 71 YEARS, FROM THE AGE OF 70, LIVING FOR GOD OR AGAINST GOD? FOR THIS GOOD OR EVIL? TOWARD THESE VIRTUES OR VICES THESE THINGS OF YOUR BETTERMENT OR THESE THINGS OF YOUR DETRIMENT. THESE ARE THE CHOICES WE MAKE. AND ONE BIG MISNOMER OR NOT KNOWN AT ALL, REGARDING THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT AND THE GENERAL JUDGMENT IS THIS. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PARTICULAR VS. GENERAL. EXPLAIN THAT. >> THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT IS WHEN YOU YOURSELF DIE, WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL DIES. HIM OR HER. AND THEY ARE JUDGED BEFORE GOD. AT THE GENERAL JUDGMENT, THE CHURCH TEACHES, ONE OF YOUR JESUIT BROTHERS, ROBERT BELLARMINE WROTE A GREAT TREATISE. AT THE GENERAL JUDGMENT, THE SECOND COMING, THE GREAT PERUSIA, SECOND COMING, ONES PARTICULAR JUDGMENT IS RATIFIED FOR ALL TO SEE AND TO KNOW WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT IS WHAT IT IS. NOW, FOR THOSE WHO ARE SAVED, THE CHURCH'S DOCTRINE TELLS US BEAUTIFULLY, THIS IS NO SOURCE OF SHAME FOR THEM. WHY? BECAUSE HAVING THEIR WHOLE LIFE REVEALED -- THEY ARE SAVED NOW, I'M TALKING ABOUT -- HAVING THEIR WHOLE LIFE REVEALED AT THE GENERAL JUDGMENT SHOWS PRECISELY HOW GOD'S MERCIES WORKED IN THEIR LIFE AND HOW THEY ACCEPTED IT. FOR THOSE REPROBATE HAD AND DAMNED AT THEIR PARTICULAR JUDGMENT, BUT AT THE GENERAL JUDGMENT, WHEN THEIR LIFE IS MADE KNOWN BEFORE ALL AS TO WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT IS WHAT IT IS, THEIR REPROBATION OR DAMNATION, THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT SOURCE OF SHAME, RIDICULE AND PERSECUTION FOR THEM. WHY? BECAUSE THEIR LIFE WILL PRECISELY SHOW HOW THEY REJECTED GOD'S MERCY AND DID NOT ACCEPT IT >> Fr. Pacwa: THAT'S WHY I OFTEN SAY, WHEN I THINK OF HELL, I ALWAYS THINK OF THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW. YOU COME UP THERE WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SINNING WITH AND THE AUDIENCE MAKES FUN OF YOU. THAT'S THE FIRST DAY OF HELL. >> Guest: THERE YOU HAVE IT. BECAUSE THE DEVILS WILL BE LAUGHING. >> Fr. Pacwa: BUT THE THING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A SENSE IS THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN LAS VEGAS DOES NOT STAY THERE >> Guest: RIGHT >> Fr. Pacwa: IT DOES NOT. THAT'S A FALSE ADVERTISING. GOD WILL MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU DID ANYWHERE, WHETHER IT WAS LAS VEGAS OR ANYWHERE ELSE, THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE BRING WITH US TO THE JUDGMENT. >> DANTE'S INFERNO TALKS ABOUT THE DEVIL'S LAUGHING AT THOSE IN HELL BECAUSE THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. AND THE GREATEST TORMENT IN HELL IS GOING TO BE ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD AND KNOWING THAT YOU CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. >> AND BEING WITH PEOPLE WHO HATE YOU. ALL THE SOULS IN HELL WILL HATE YOU. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, I WAS AT A MEETING. AND THERE WAS A POLITICIAN WHO DESCRIBED HOW A GUY WENT DOWN TO HELL. IT WAS BARS, CASINOS, AND ALL KINDS OF LOOSE PEOPLE, MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE. AND THEN WENT UP TO HEAVEN. IT WAS QUIET AND PEACEFUL. BUT COMPARED TO THAT, BORING. SO, HE SAYS, WELL, I WANT TO GO TO HELL. SO, HE GOES BACK. AND THERE'S THE FLAMES. AND THE SULPHUR AND HE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT HAPPENED? AND THE DEVIL SAID, OH, WHEN YOU FIRST CAME HERE, WE WERE CAMPAIGNING. NOW, WE WON THE ELECTION, SO, HERE YOU GO. THIS IS THE REALITY. >> LAST TIME I WAS HERE, AND I HAD SOME OF THE TELEVISED MASSES, AND I TALKED ABOUT LUST AND I USED DANTE'S INFERNO IMAGE, HE HAD THE SOULS SUFFERING, FROM LUST ON EARTH, THEY ARE LYING COMPLETELY FLAT ON THEIR STOMACHS ALL THROUGH ETERNITY. THEY CAN'T LOOK UP AT ALL. BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR EYES THAT LED THEM INTO THE SIN. BY BEING COMPLETELY FLAT, THEY ARE PREVENTED FROM LOOKING UP ANY MORE. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SECONDARY TORMENT ON THE TORMENT THAT YOU SUFFERED AS A VICE WHILE ON EARTH. >> Fr. Pacwa: RIGHT. WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK. >> IT GOES BY FAST >> Fr. Pacwa: IT DOES. BUT WE'LL BE BACK WITH YOUR QUESTIONS, SO, PLEASE, STAY WITH US. [APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ [APPLAUSE] >> Fr. Pacwa: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO DO WHAT THE NICE FOLKS IN OUR AUDIENCE HAVE DONE. COME HERE, BE PART OF OUR LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE. YOU CAN DO SO BY CONTACTING OUR PILGRIMAGE DEPARTMENT. IT'S pilgrimage@ewtn.com. pilgrimage@ewtn.com. OR YOU CAN CALL THEM. THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS 205-271-2966. ALSO, I WANT TO, WE MENTIONED IT EARLIER, BUT I WANT TO GO ON A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU HAVING A RADIO SHOW. YOU STARTED THIS YET? >> Guest: I V. WE DID MY THIRD SHOW THIS PAST TUESDAY, OPEN LINE TUESDAY. >> YOU LIKE IT? >> YEAH, VERY MUCH. IT'S GREAT WITH THE VARIETY OF CALLERS AND EMAILERS WE HAVE COMING IN. AND THE HOUR JUST FLIES BY, JUST LIKE THIS ONE >> Fr. Pacwa: YEAH, YEAH. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND YOU HAVE BEEN THE HOST FOR OPEN LINE WEDNESDAY FOR MANY YEARS. >> MY COVERAGE IS FAMILY, FAITH, FELLOWSHIP AND GENERAL CATECHESIS. MONDAY WE HAVE JOHN MARTINONI WITH APOLOGETICS. TUESDAY FAITH FAMILY AND FELLOWSHIP, ME. AND YOU ARE WEDNESDAY, WITH FAITH FELLOWSHIP AND BIBLE. >> THEY ASK WHATEVER THEY WANT. WE TRY TO ORIENT IT TOWARD THAT. >> AND FATHER LARRY RICHARD, FRIDAY IS COLIN DONOVAN WITH THEOLOGY. >> Fr. Pacwa: YEAH, SO THAT'S A GOOD THING. YOU LIKE IT? >> I DO VERY MUCH SO. >> RADIO IS A LOT OF FUN. AND I ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASK ME, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THIS DONE AT EWTN. AND I SAY, NO, I'M NOT IN MANAGEMENT. I'M JUST A PRETTY FACE ON THE TV. >> SIT IN THE CHAIR AND GO FOR IT. >> I DESCRIBE IT AS I'M A PRETTY FACE ON TV AND THAT'S WHY THEY GAVE ME RADIO SHOWS! [LAUGHTER] THE FACE FOR RADIO. SO, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE OPEN LINE RADIO PROGRAMS. IT'S A LOT OF FUN. IT'S 3:00 PM, EASTERN TIME ON TUESDAYS. MINE IS ALSO AT 3:00 PM, EASTERN TIME ON WEDNESDAYS. NOW, YOU READY FOR SOME QUESTIONS? THEY ARE CHAFING AT THE BIT. NOW, YOUNG LADY, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> Voice: PEORIA ILLINOIS >> Fr. Pacwa: THAT'S A NICE TOWN. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? >> Voice: WHERE IN THE BIBLE IS PURGATORY MENTIONED. >> Guest: GREAT QUESTION. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY NOTICE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE FIVE LAST THINGS WHEN WE STUDY THE CHURCH'S ESCATOLOGY. FOUR LAST THING. PURGATORY CEASES AT THE GENERAL JUDGMENT. THERE'S NO LONGER A NEED FOR IT. PURGATORY IS ABOUT PURGATING ONE'S TEMPORAL PUNISHMENT, THAT'S A PURGING, CLEANSING DUE TO SINS THAT WERE COMMITTED ON EARTH WHILE LIVING, FORGIVEN SINS THUS DYING IN A STATE OF GRACE BUT NOT ATONED YET FOR SINS. WHY IS THERE AN ATONEMENT? I'LL GET TO THE PURGATORY IN A MOMENT. ATONEMENT IS, SIN IS MESSY AS THE CATECHISM TEACHES CLEARLY. I CAN ROB A BANK, IMMEDIATELY SPEND THE MONEY. AND THAT SAME EVENING, HAVE COMPLETE REMORSE AND GO AND TELLING THE BANK MANGER AND BANK PRESIDENT THAT I'M REALLY SORRY, SO HEARTFELT SORROW AND THAT I'M SORRY THAT I ROBBED THE BANK, SPENT THE MONEY. AND IN THEIR GOODNESS THEY IMMEDIATELY FORGIVE ME. THAT'S ALL FINE AND DANDY. I ACCEPT THE FORGIVENESS. BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT THERE'S MONEY SPENT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAID BACK TO THE PROPER OWNERS. WE EACH DRIVE A PICKUP TRUCK, FATHER MITCH. LET'S SAY I VISIT YOU AT YOUR HOUSE AND I GO TO LEAVE AFTER THE VISIT WITH YOU. AND I BACK MY TRUCK INTO YOURS. AND GO UP YOUR FRONT STEP AND I KNOCK ON YOUR FRONT DOOR, I SAY, FATHER MITCH, I JUST HIT THE RIGHT FENDER WITH MY TRUCK AND I'M SO SO SORRY. AND YOU ME IMMEDIATELY FORGIVE ME IN YOUR KINDNESS. AND YOU SAY, FR. MENEZES, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, I HAVE GREAT INSURANCE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. AND I ACCEPT THAT, WORDS OF ABSOLUTION. BUT WHAT REMAINS ON THE CURB IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE? YOUR DENTED UP TRUCK. SO, SIN IS MESSY. EVEN THOUGH IT'S FORGIVEN, THIS ATONEMENT STILL REMAINS THAT NEEDS TO BE ATONED FOR. NOW, WE CAN ATONE FOR THAT TEMPORAL PUNISHMENT WHILE STILL LIVING ON THE EARTH. THAT'S OUR GOAL TO GO STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN. THAT'S ANOTHER MISNOMER THAT CAUSED ME TO DO THE BOOK ON THE FOUR LAST THINGS. A LOT OF PEOPLE, WELL MEANING, GOOD CATHOLICS BELIEVE THAT PURGATORY IS AN AUTOMATIC DOCTRINE THAT IT CANNOT BE AVOIDED. THAT IT'S AUTOMATIC. NO, GOD'S PLAN A FOR YOU IS TO GO STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE. THAT'S VERY, VERY POSSIBLE. HIS PLAN B FOR YOU, IF YOU WILL, IF YOU WANT TO CALL THAT, IS TO GO TO PURGATORY BECAUSE AGAIN THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY ARE SAVED AND THEY ARE ASSURED SALVATION IN HEAVEN. BUT IT'S AT THE TIME OF EARTHLY DEATH THAT ONE HAS NOT YET ATONED FOR, THIS TEMPORAL PUNISHMENT DUE TO FORGIVEN VENIAL AND MORTAL SIN THAT NEEDS TO BE ATONED FOR IN PURGATORY. NOW, JUST LIKE THIS IS NOT EXPLICIT IN TRINITY, NEITHER IS THE TRINITY. >> WORDS IS NOT USED. IT CAME LATER. >> RIGHT. I'M SO GLAD THIS YOUNG WOMAN ASKED FOR THE QUESTION. THERE'S NUMEROUS PASSAGES, NOT ONLY THE OLD TESTAMENT BUT THE NEW TESTAMENT AS WELL THAT TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR PURGATION AFTER DEATH. SECOND MACCABEES. IT IS A HOLY AND PIOUS PRACTICE AND THOUGHT TO PRAY FOR THE DEAD. >> THAT'S CHAPTER 15, 1MACCABEES 46. >> AND WE HAVE 1 PETER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PURGATION NEEDED AS THOUGH THROUGH FIRE ONE CAN ENTER INTO HEAVEN. >> THAT'S 1 CORINTHIANS. >> AND 1 PETER AS WELL ALSO MENTIONED NEED FOR PURGATION, JESUS' OWN GOSPEL, LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN. AND THE GREAT CHASM THAT EXISTS BETWEEN LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN THAT CANNOT BE CROSSED UNTIL ONE IS CLEANSED AND PURGATED. AND THESE ARE PASSAGES THAT LEND THEMSELVES TO THE DOCTRINE OF PURGATORY. >> AND IN 1 PETER 3, YOU SEE, I FOUND THAT CHRIST DIED ONCE FOR OUR SINS VERSE 18, CHRIST DIED ONCE FOR OUR SINS, THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST THAT HE MIGHT OFFER US TO GOD, BEING PUT TO DEATH INDEED IN THE FLESH AND ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT IN WHICH ALSO COMING, HE PREACHED TO THOSE SPIRITS THAT WERE IN PRISON WHICH HAD SOMETIME BEEN INCREDULOUS WHEN THEY WERE AWAITING WITH PATIENCE, FOR THE PATIENCE OF GOD IN THE DAYS OF NOAH. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS A PRISON FOR ALL THE SOULS THAT DIED BEFORE CHRIST'S SALVATION, THE GOOD SOULS. SO, THE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS. BUT THEY COULDN'T GO TO HEAVEN UNTIL CHRIST OPENED IT. HE WENT DOWN AND PREACHED TO THEM. AND I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER THE SERMON THAT WE READ IN THE OFFICE OF THE ROMAN RITE ON HOLY SATURDAY. ABOUT, IT'S THE SECOND CENTURY SERMON ABOUT CHRIST GOING THERE AND PREACHING TO THOSE SPIRITS. ADAM SAYS, HARK. >> I'M UNLEASHING THE SOULS. >> RIGHT. AND WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, WHEN JESUS WARNS US AGAINST HOLDING GRUDGES. >> MATTHEW 5 >> Fr. Pacwa: EXACTLY. HE SAYS, DON'T GO TO THE ALTAR UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN RECONCILED BECAUSE OTHERWISE, IF YOU DON'T, WELL, YOUR ADVERSARY WILL DELIVER YOU TO THE JUDGE, HAND YOU OVER TO THE OFFICERS AND YOU ARE CAST IN PRISON WHERE YOU STAND UNTIL YOU PAY THE LAST PENNY. AND THE IDEA, IT'S THE SAME WORD FOR PRISON. SO, CHRIST IN 1 PETER USED THAT TERM FOR SOULS BEING IN A PRISON. BUT IT'S NOT HELL, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET OUT. AND IT'S NOT HEAVEN FROM WHICH YOU DON'T WANT TO GET OUT. >> AND THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO READ THE CHURCH FATHERS, NAMELY FIRST 7 TO 8 CENTURIES. THEY EXPOUND ON THE PASSAGES AND CLOSER IN PROXIMITY TO THE APOSTLES THAN ANY GENERATION AFTER THE YEAR 1,000. SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE WHAT THE FATHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THESE DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH AS WELL >> Fr. Pacwa: YEAH. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. SIR, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> Voice: SARASOTA, FLORIDA >> Fr. Pacwa: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. >> Voice: MY PARENTS DIED, AND AFTER THE FUNERAL, THE PRIEST CAME AND SAID, YOU HAVE A NEW PATRON TO PRAY FOR YOU IN HEAVEN. I DIDN'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT, PRAYING TO THOSE IN PURGATORY AND THEN HAVING US INTERCEDE FOR US. I THINK YOU HIT ON IT, BUT CAN YOU CLARIFY IT A LITTLE MORE? >> I'M SURE IT'S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PRIEST SAYS, I HEAR ENOUGH OF THIS IN MY MISSIONARY TRAVELS. IN FUNERALS, WE'RE QUICK TO CANONIZE THE PERSON WHOSE FUNERAL IT IS, WHICH I THINK IS DETRIMENTAL TO PRAY FOR THEIR SOULS. WE NEED TO REMEMBER, PRAYING FOR THE LIVING AND FOR THE DEAD, THAT'S ONE OF THE SEVEN SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY. SEVEN FOR THE BODY AND SEVEN FOR THE SOULS. AND ONE OF THE SEVEN SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY, PRAYING FOR THE LIVING AND FOR THE DEAD. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT. SO, WE SHOULDN'T CANONIZE A PERSON AT THEIR OWN FUNERAL. BECAUSE PEOPLE LEAVE THE FUNERAL AND WAKE NO LONGER PRAYING FOR THEM OR EVEN THINKING TO HAVE A MASS OFFERED FOR THEM. SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY EVEN IF THIS GENTLEMAN'S PARENTS DID GO TO PURGATORY, THEY ARE ASSURED HEAVEN. AND WE CAN PRAY FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY. AND REMEMBER THAT BEAUTIFUL PASSAGE FROM THE CATECHISM, OUR INTERCESSORY PRAYER FOR THEM IS NOT ONLY CAPABLE OF HELPING THEM BUT OF MAKING THEIR INTERCESSION FOR US EFFECTIVE. MEANING, THEY CAN PRAY FOR US PROVIDED WE'RE FIRST PRAYING FOR THEM. BUT AGAIN, EVEN IF THE PERSON DID DIE WITH A COMPLETE FULL REMISSION OF TEMPORAL PUNISHMENT AT THE TIME OF DEATH, THEY ENTERED HEAVEN. THAT'S GOD'S PLAN A FOR US, GOING STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN WHEN WE DIE. >> Fr. Pacwa: AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE OF THE PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, 2 MACCABEES 15 SAYS, IT'S A GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS THING TO PRAY FOR THE DEAD. >> YES, ABSOLUTELY >> Fr. Pacwa: THIS IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO. >> SO, WHETHER TO HEAVEN DIRECTLY OR HEAVEN INTERMEDIATELY THROUGH PURGATORY, THE CATECHISM TEACHES BEAUTIFULLY, THEY ARE ASSURED HEAVEN. AND THAT'S OUR GOAL. SO, WE WANT TO PRAY FOR THEM REGARDLESS. AND IF THEY ARE ALREADY IN HEAVEN, GOD KNOWS WHERE TO APPLY THOSE PRAYERS >> Fr. Pacwa: BUT IT IS SOMETHING. AND I THINK HIS QUESTION WAS, IF THEY ARE IN HEAVEN -- AND EVEN IF THEY ARE IN PURGATORY -- THEY CAN INTERCEDE FOR US. >> YEAH ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS THE PART OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE COMMUNITY OF SAINTS. THE CHURCH MILITANT ON EARTH FIGHTING THE FOOD FIGHT, US TO THEM, THEM FOR US. THIS REAL COMMUNIAL GOING ON. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT GIVES US GREAT COMFORT TO KNOW THAT WE CAN HAVE A MASS OFFERED FOR THE DECEASED, FOR THE DEAD. >> IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT. MA'AM, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> Voice: DALLAS, TEXAS >> Fr. Pacwa: WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE >> Voice: WHAT'S THE ROLE THAT OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS HAVE ON OUR DEATH? >> Guest: WE KNOW WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES ABOUT THE GUARDIAN ANGELS, THEY ARE WITH YOU CONSTANTLY YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, GOOD AND BAD. THEY WANT TO BE CALLED ON, PRAYED TO, ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. AND FROM A PROVED, PIOUS DEVOTION, PRIVATE REVELATIONS, NOT NEEDED FOR SALVATION, BUT APPROVED PRIVATE REVELATION IN THE CHURCH, WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE ANGELS HAVE A VERY, VERY PROMINENT ROLE IN THE END OF ONE'S LIFE PRECISELY, IT'S THE VERY MOMENT THAT SATAN WANTS TO TRY TO GET THE INDIVIDUAL AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE. AGAIN, THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PRAY FOR THE GRACE OF A HOLY, HAPPY, AND PROVIDED-FOR DEATH. THE PRAYER OF ST. JOSEPH. AT THE TIME THAT SATAN TRIES TO SNATCH THE SOUL AT THE END OF THE LIFE IT'S NO SECRET THAT SAINTS HAVE FIERCE TEMPTATIONS OF THAT WHILE ON THEIR DEATHBED. LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, ST. THERESE. AND THE GUARDIAN ANGEL OF THE INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO SURELY HELP THE PERSON AT THAT TIME. REMEMBER, CALL ON YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL AT ANY TIME, ON YOUR DEATH. SAY YOU HAVE A SLOW DEMISE, CANCER, AND YOU WANT TO GET ONES HOUSE IN ORDER. ST. TERESA OF AVILA SAYS I WANT TO SEE GOD AND TO DO SO, I MUST DIE. AND WHAT SHE MEANT BY THAT, WAS A NATURAL HOLY DEATH. NOT EUTHANASIA. AND THIS REMINDS ME, THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE ANGELS, AND PREPARING FOR THE ACTUAL MOMENT OF DEATH, THE BAD ANGELS FIGHTING WITH THE GOOD ANGEL TO GRAB YOU REMINDS ME OF WHAT THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES PARAGRAPHS 1009 AND 1011, LITERAL AND PHYSICAL DEATH. THAT ACT OF LITERALLY, PHYSICALLY DYING AND I MEAN NATURALLY -- WHICH COULD BE A CAR ACCIDENT OR SLOW DEMISE THROUGH A DISEASE, I DON'T MEAN EUTHANASIA. THE LITERAL ACT OF DYING, THE CROWNING ACT OF DYING FOR THOSE WHO DIE IN A STATE OF GRACE, TO BE FULLY INCORPORATED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST OF WHICH HE IS THE HEAD. WHY? BECAUSE AS THE CHIEF MEDIATOR, HE, THE HEAD, DIED. AND WE BECOME FULLY INCORPORATED, THE CAP, IF YOU WILL, IS OUR LITERAL PHYSICAL ACT OF DYING. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT OF THE REALITY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE FEARFUL OF DEATH IF WE'RE DYING, THAT WE KNOW WE'RE NOT DYING WITH ANY UNREPENTANT MORTAL SIN ON OUR SOUL. WE MAY HAVE VENIAL SIN ON OUR SOUL, BUT EVEN IF WE DO, IT'S ONLY MORTAL SIN THAT SEVERS THE SUPERNATURAL SANCTIFYING GRACE. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT. THE LITERAL, NOT A METAPHOR, LITERAL PHYSICAL ACT OF DYING, WHETHER IT'S IMMEDIATE, LIKE IN A CAR ACCIDENT OR WHETHER IT'S THROUGH A SLOW DEMISE, THOSE WHO DO SO IN STATE OF SANCTIFYING GRACE, IT'S THE CROWNING ACT PER SE THAT FULLY INCORPORATES THEM INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. AND IT'S THE COMPLETION OF THEIR BAPTISM. WHY? BECAUSE IN BAPTISM, WE WERE SUBMERGED IN A SYMBOLIC DEATH OR THE THREE-TIME POURING, IF IT WAS AN INFANT, SYMBOLIC SACRAMENTAL DYING TO SELF, RISING FROM THE WATER IN CHRIST A NEW PERSON. WELL, THE PHYSICAL DEATH NOW YEARS LATER OR WHENEVER IT TAKES PLACE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, EVEN A CHILD, IT'S COMPLETING THE BAPTISMAL SACRAMENTAL ACT. WHICH WAS DEATH ONLY SYMBOLICALLY >> Fr. Pacwa: EXACTLY. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS INEVITABLE FOR ALL OF US. >> Guest: ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND THIS IS EVEN MORE INEVITABLE THAN TAXES. THIS IS WHY WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO FACE IT AND PREPARE FOR IT. >> AND TO ANSWER FOR ONE'S VOCATION AND STATE IN LIFE. FOR EXAMPLE, TO SOME DEGREE, NOT THE FULL DEGREE, BUT TO SOME DEGREE, A HUSBAND AND FATHER, AS THE LEADER OF THE HOME, THE PRIEST OF THE HOME, THE CHRIST FIGURE OF THE HOME WILL HAVE TO ANSWER AS TO HOW HE LED HIS WIFE TO SALVATION. HOW HE LED HIS CHILDREN TO SALVATION. WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE SAVED. WHAT DID HE DO TO LEAD THEM TO SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST. >> OR NOT. >> OR NOT. EXACTLY. AND AGAIN, THIS IS A POINT OF THE BOOK. I WANT TO CONVEY ALL OF THESE PROFOUND TRUTHS, FATHER MITCH, IN A VERY JOYFUL WAY WITH A LITTLE BIT OF WIT. ONE OF THE PARTS OF THE BOOK IS A NEWS POLL THAT I HIGHLIGHTED IN A CAME OUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON THE TOP 10 THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF. IT WAS A HALLOWEEN POLL, PRE HALLOWEEN POLL, DENTIST, DOGS, HEIGHTS, DARK, PLACES WITH NO EASY ESCAPE, THAT MADE THE MID RANGE OF THE LIST. AROUND NUMBER FIVE, ELEVATORS, HOT AIR BALLOONS, BRIDGES, PLACE WITHS NO EASY ESCAPE. ET CETERA. AND THE LIST ONE DOWN. SPIDERS WAS NUMBER TWO. AND THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF SNAKES. NUMBER ONE THING. AND AS SOON AS I READ THE POLL, PRE HALLOWEEN POLL. I THOUGHT CALL IT THE CATHOLIC MAN, PRIEST, MORALIST IN ME. AS SOON AS I RED THE POLL, THOUGHT, WHERE IS HELL? WHERE IS HELL ON THIS POLL, ON THIS LIST? IS NO ONE JUST AFRAID OF HELL. JUST AS QUICKLY IT CAME TO ME, AHA, THAT'S HOW POMPOUS THE DEVIL IS, HE DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT HIS KINGDOM, HIS OWN ETERNAL KINGDOM, HE'S SO PRIDEFUL AND POMPOUS, HE MAKES HIMSELF APPEAR ON THE LIST NOT ONLY BUT MAKING HIMSELF APPEAR AS NUMBER ONE. SNAKES, TO USE THE IMAGE OF GENESIS, THE SERPENT. >>ND AT SERPENT OF GENESIS AND REVELATION 12. >> RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. WHEN THE WOMAN CRUSHES HIS HEAD. SO, THAT'S HOW CUNNING AND PRIDEFUL HE IS. AND THIS DEVIL, THIS SATAN TRIES TO GET THE SOUL AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE. AND THIS IS WHY THE GUARDIAN ANGEL IS SO IMPORTANT. >> Fr. Pacwa: MA'AM, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> I'M TALKING TO YOU FROM ILLINOIS. >> THANK YOU. AND WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? >> Voice: I HEARD HAVING MASSES SAID FOR YOUR LOVED ONES WHILE THEY ARE ALIVE, MORE IMPORTANT, THAN AFTER THEY HAVE PASSED AWAY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT. >> I CERTAINLY CAN. WHILE STILL LIVING, WE CAN STILL MERIT AND TURN OUR LIVES AROUND AND DO GOOD. A MASS SAID WHILE THE PERSON IS STILL LIVING IN REGARDS TO THEIR ETERNAL DESTINY IS MORE EFFICACIOUS FOR THEM WHILE THEY ARE STILL LIVING BECAUSE THEY CAN STILL MERIT FOR THEMSELVES. OR MERIT FOR OTHERS. AND THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONGRUENT AND SOMETHING, AND MERITING FOR ONE ANOTHER, HAVING THE MASS STILL WHILE YOU ARE LIVING, YOU CAN MERIT. AND MASS IS STILL EFFICACIOUS AFTER THEY DIE BUT THEY CAN NO LONGER MERIT FOR THEMSELVES. >> Fr. Pacwa: THIS IS SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS IN DANGER OF DEATH OR THEY ARE VERY SICK, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO PRAY FOR THEM PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE NOT CLOSE TO OUR LORD. THOSE WHO HAVE IGNORED GOD, IGNORED HIS COMMANDMENTS. YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS. BUT WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE. WELL IT'S NOT THAT I WANT TO JUDGE THEM. BUT I HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE BEHAVIOR IN ANALYZING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE BY GOD'S NORMS. >> OBJECTIVE JUDGING VS. SUBJECTIVE JUDGING. WE WANT TO LEAVE THE SUBJECTIVE JUDGING TO GOD. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECTIVELY JUDGE. IF THIS BEHAVIOR IS BEHAVIOR THAT WE KNOW THROUGH SACRED SCRIPTURE, SACRED TRADITION AND THE MAGISTERIUM AND IT'S WRONG, IMMORAL, COHABITATION, ADULTERY, FORNICATION, WHATEVER IT IS. >> STEALING, LYING. >> ABSOLUTELY. GREED, ENVY, ANY OF THE SEVEN CAPITAL SINS AND ANYTHING THAT BRANCHES OFF THAT. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO JUDGE IT OBJECTIVELY AND HELP THE PERSON TO TURN AROUND FROM IT. AND THIS IS WHERE FRATERNAL CORRECTION COMES IN, THE THREE HALLMARKS, PRIVATELY, CHARITABLY, AND RARELY DO YOU GO TO CORRECT SOMEONE. YOU DO IT PRIVATELY NOT TO EMBARRASS THEM ON THE EVIL THEY ARE DOING. YOU DO IT CHARITABLY BECAUSE CHARITY IS THE QUEEN OF VIRTUES. AND YOU DO IT RARELY BECAUSE THEY ARE AN ADULT AND THEY HAVE TO WORK OUT THEIR SALVATION. EVERY TIME YOU SEE THEM, YOU KNOW, YOU BRING UP THE VICE, YOU ARE TAKING THE BASEBALL BAT TO THEM AND GOING TO JUST DRIVE THEM AWAY. SO, PRIVATELY, CHARITABLY AND RARELY WE GIVE THEM CORRECTION TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING WRONG AND YOU MAY WANT TO SAY MORE FREQUENTLY THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING WRONG IN YOUR SMALL CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY DON'T LISTEN, SAY, THE FIRST TIME. >> SHORTEST ATTENTION SPAN. >> AND THEY DON'T KNOW THAT YOU MEAN IT. BUT YOU KNOW, WITH ADULTS, THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH CAUTION. AND WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WISDOM. >> THAT'S FROM ST. THOMAS, THE THREE HALLMARKS OF CORRECTION. AND HE SAYS, IF THEY ARE AN ADULT, YOU DO IT RARELY. >> Fr. Pacwa: WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERY TIME IS COME TO A CONCLUSION. WE'RE OUT OF TIME. >> FATHER MITCH, IT ALWAYS FLIES BY WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU. IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO HAVE YOU HERE. THANKS FOR WRITING THIS BOOK AND BEING ON OUR RADIO SHOW. IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN GIVING A BLESSING. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU, KEEP YOU, A CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU, FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. AND OF COURSE, WE REMIND YOU THAT MOTHER ANGELICA WAS INSPIRED TO HAVE THIS NETWORK BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU. YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE WITH YOUR DONATIONS AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP US IN BETWEEN YOUR GAS BILL, ELECTRIC BILL, AND YOUR CABLE BILL. AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY ALL OF OUR BILLS TOO. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. [APPLAUSE] ♪
