Four Last Things

Catechism of the Catholic Church sections # 1020 through 1060 are relevant to these documents.	The story of Church letters	Background statements written by Msgr. Peter J. Elliott of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and copyrighted by Catholics Committed to Support the Pope are indicated by ©CCSP. All others are written and copyrighted by Martin K.Barrack.
Document	Description	Background
Anathematism Against the Origenists Still looking	Council of Constantinople, 543	This anathema was directed by this Provincial Council against some followers of Origen who, on the basis of Platonic philosophy, denied revealed truths. The document prepared by the Council was signed by all Eastern patriarchs and confirmed by Pope Vigilius. ©CCSP
Eleventh Council of Toledo EWTN Library	Symbol of Faith, 675	The Creed, or Symbol, prepared for this Provincial Council has always been held in high regard by the Church and provides a short but excellent treatment of the Last Things, or eschatology. ©CCSP
Symbol of Lateran Still looking	Fourth Lateran Council, 1215	This Council was held under Pope Innocent III in 1215 and issued a profession of faith directly intended to combat the errors of the Albigensians and Cathars, errors reminiscent of those of the Manichees. It thus vigorously reaffirms Catholic doctrine as regards the resurrection of the body, the judgment of all men according to their deeds, and their eternal reward or punishment. ©CCSP
Profession of Faith of Michael Palaeologus Still looking	Second Council of Lyon	This profession of Catholic faith in the last things, seeking to suppress elements of dissent, in the context of individual eschatology, emphasizes immediate retribution and purgatory, the two main points where Latins and Greeks were at variance, and added a clause on the general judgment to stress agreement of Greeks and Latins here. ©CCSP
Benedictus Deus EWTN Library	Apostolic Constitution of Pope Benedict XII, 1336	This solemn profession of Catholic faith on man’s final end was issued by Pope Benedict XII only after a thorough inquiry, stimulated by some sermons preached by his predecessor, John XXII, in which he gave, as his private opinion, the view that the blessed will enjoy the beatific vision only after the general resurrection and final judgment. John’s private teaching stimulated a fierce debate among theologians and required this papal intervention so that the teaching of the Church on divine public revelation would be clear. ©CCSP
Council of Florence EWTN Library	Decree for the Greeks, Sixth Session, July 1439	Continuing the work of the 1274 Council of Lyons, whose goal of Christian unity was never realized, this Council effected short-lived reunion between east and west. Sections of the decree concerned with the eternal fate of the dead and with purgatory seek to reconcile Greeks and Latins. The material on purgatory in particular carefully balances the Latins’ conception of satisfaction — expiation, and the Greeks’ stress on purification. ©CCSP
Council of Trent EWTN Library	Twenty-Fifth Session, Decree on Purgatory, 1563	Faced with Luther’s denial of purgatory, the Council reaffirmed Catholic faith on the subject, affirming the reality of purgatory and the usefulness of suffrages, in particular the Mass, for the souls of the dead. It warns against needless curiosity and superstition. ©CCSP
Lumen Gentium Vatican Library	Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, November 21, 1964	According to the Council man cannot be fully understood without taking into account his final destiny as a person meant to live in communion with others. Christ is not only the alpha, the beginning, but the omega, the end. Thus the teaching of Vatican II is eschatologically rich, concerned with human and ecclesial destiny. The fullest treatment of this subject is given in Chapter VIII of the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium. ©CCSP
Gaudium et Spes Vatican Library	Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, December 7, 1965	In paragraph 39, Gaudium et Spes, the Council Fathers spoke of a “new earth and a new heaven.” Already defeated by Christ on the cross, the last enemy will be definitively conquered by Him in the end of time when His kingdom, already present mysteriously here and now, will be fully perfected. ©CCSP
Recentiores Episcoporum Synodi Still looking (So far, only available in French)	The Reality of Life After Death, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, May 11, 1979	The Church in eternity, the resurrection of the dead, the soul, our destiny in heaven, the purification of purgatory, the possibility of damnation in hell -- these eschatological realities are the subject of a timely document which calls us away from the temptation only to see the Church in terms of this world. ©CCSP