Copyright © 2006 By Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.
Catechism Of The Catholic Church Reprinted With Permission.
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God’s Truth From The Catechism Of The Catholic Church – cont.
1053 "We believe that the multitude of those gathered around Jesus and Mary in Paradise forms
the Church of heaven, where in eternal blessedness they see God as he is and where they are
also, to various degrees, associated with the holy angels in the divine governance exercised by
Christ in glory, by interceding for us and helping our weakness by their fraternal concern" (Paul VI,
CPG § 29).
1054 Those who die in God's grace and friendship imperfectly purified, although they are assured
of their eternal salvation, undergo a purification after death, so as to achieve the holiness
necessary to enter the joy of God.
1055 By virtue of the "communion of saints," the Church commends the dead to God's mercy and
offers her prayers, especially the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist, on their behalf.
1056 Following the example of Christ, the Church warns the faithful of the "sad and lamentable
reality of eternal death" (GCD 69), also called "hell."
1057 Hell's principal punishment consists of eternal separation from God in whom alone man can
have the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.
1058 The Church prays that no one should be lost: "Lord, let me never be parted from you." If it is
true that no one can save himself, it is also true that God "desires all men to be saved" (1 Tim 2:4),
and that for him "all things are possible" (Mt 19:26).
1059 "The holy Roman Church firmly believes and confesses that on the Day of Judgment all men
will appear in their own bodies before Christ's tribunal to render an account of their own deeds"
(Council of Lyons II [1274]:DS 859; cf. DS 1549).
1060 At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. Then the just will reign with
Christ for ever, glorified in body and soul, and the material universe itself will be transformed. God
will then be "all in all" (1 Cor 15:28), in eternal life. "AMEN"
1061 The Creed, like the last book of the Bible,
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ends with the Hebrew word amen. This word
frequently concludes prayers in the New Testament. The Church likewise ends her prayers with
"Amen."
1062 In Hebrew, amen comes from the same root as the word "believe." This root expresses
solidity, trustworthiness, faithfulness. And so we can understand why "Amen" may express both
God's faithfulness towards us and our trust in him.
1063 In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we find the expression "God of truth" (literally "God of the
Amen"), that is, the God who is faithful to his promises: "He who blesses himself in the land shall
bless himself by the God of truth [amen]."
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Our Lord often used the word "Amen," sometimes
repeated,
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to emphasize the trustworthiness of his teaching, his authority founded on God's truth.
1064 Thus the Creed's final "Amen" repeats and confirms its first words: "I believe." To believe is
to say "Amen" to God's words, promises and commandments; to entrust oneself completely to him
who is the "Amen" of infinite love and perfect faithfulness. The Christian's everyday life will then be
the "Amen" to the "I believe" of our baptismal profession of faith:
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