On Particular and General Judgment

Particular and general judgment falls under eschatology which discusses the last things and the end of time. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1022, particular judgment is the verdict of God to us immediately after we die. We receive sentences from God who judges us justly according to our actions here on earth. There are three destinations for man on particular judgment namely Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. Heaven is the perfect union with God wherein we can see God face to face and behold his glory. It is where we become partakers of the divine life of God. Hell is the total separation from God. It is the most terrible state in life, being set apart from God, who is the source of happiness. Purgatory is the state of purification of man. It is one way to purge all the things immoral acts we committed on earth.

On the other hand, general judgment will occur at the end of time when Our Jesus Christ returns in glory. It will occur publicly and all the hidden things that we did on earth will be revealed and will find its fulfillment. This affirms the judgment we received in the particular judgment; it will not change. Our bodies and souls will be judged according to the judgment of God. All the living and the dead will find their fulfillment in the judgment the Lord will give.

We are the ones who brought us to our final destiny for all eternity. Since we are created with free will, we have the choice to live in holiness or sinfulness. Our daily actions affect the destiny we will partake in the particular judgment. Thus, we need to be fully conscious of our actions and live in the state of grace by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation and the Eucharist. It is important to meditate on the last things to keep in mind the judgment that awaits. Hopefully, this will lead to an examination of conscience that enables us to see the mistakes and sins that we committed on a day and make reparation and penance for it.