Chapter 6 - Eschatology

Question 1

what is the Easter Vigil?

Answer 1

a service which takes place before Easter Sunday where the resurrection is celebrated

Question 2

What does the priest lighting a fire represent?

Answer 2

the light of Christ rising from the tomb, destroying the power of sin and death through resurrection

Question 3

What does the priest tracing the Alpha and Omega symbols represent?

Answer 3

They show Christ is eternal

Question 4

What does lighting the paschal candle represent?

Answer 4

Christ’s light is coming into the world, overcoming sin and death

Question 5

What does the procession of the paschal candle represent?

Answer 5

all believers share in the risen glory of Christ

Question 6

What do the symbols on the paschal candle mean?

Answer 6

5 grains of incense - 5 wounds of Christ during the crucifixion
A and O - Christ is eternal
Candle - risen Christ

Question 7

What does the paschal candle being lit at a Baptism mean?

Answer 7

the person is being filled with light of Christ

Question 8

what does the paschal candle being lit at funerals represent?

Answer 8

the deceased has joined Christ in resurrected life

Question 9

what is a tombstone?

Answer 9

a large carved stone placed over someone’s grave
it indicates the location of the person’s grave so it can be treated with respect

Question 10

what does R.I.P mean?

Answer 10

‘May s/he rest in peace’
a prayer that the person in in heaven, enjoying eternal life

Question 11

why are Catholic tombstones shaped like a cross?

Answer 11

indicates the person’s belief in Jesus
expresses the hope that they will be resurrected to eternal life with Jesus

Question 12

Why do some Catholic tombstones have an angel carved on them?

Answer 12

Reflects the belief in a guardian angel that takes care of them in life
this angle will present them to God to be judged and ask for merciful judgement

Question 13

what is a monument?

Answer 13

a structure built to remember an important person or event

Question 14

what does the chi-rho symbol on a sarcophagus represent?

Answer 14

a belief in Jesus
A reminder of Jesus’ death for everyone so they can go to heaven

Question 15

what do symbols of death and decay symbolise on a monument?

Answer 15

no matter the wealth of a person, they face death and judgement like everyone else

Question 16

what is a remembrance garden?

Answer 16

an outside area where the ashes of people who have been cremated are kept.

Question 17

why are remembrance gardens places of peace and beauty?

Answer 17

they help mourners to reflect on the peace and beauty of heaven, where the person who died is hopefully present

Question 18

why are remembrance gardens quiet and reflective spaces?

Answer 18

helps people to mourn their loved ones peacefully in a place where they feel close to them

Question 19

what will happen at the end of time? (according to the Bible)

Answer 19

• signalled by cosmic disasters
• Jesus will come to judge creation
• the end of the current world order will lead to the creation of a new one
• the Reign of God will be established

Question 20

what teaches Christians about the afterlife and the end of time?

Answer 20

Jesus’ resurrection

Question 21

what does Jesus’ resurrection teach about life after death?

Answer 21

life continues after death in the presence of God

Question 22

what were early beliefs about the end of time?

Answer 22

• The end of the world would happen shortly
• all people would be resurrected and taken into the presence of God

Question 23

what are more modern beliefs about the end of time?

Answer 23

• Christians have to live the life of the resurrection while they are on earth
• they have to follow Jesus’ teachings and resist sin
• this prepares them for judgement

Question 24

what does Paul teach about the resurrection?

Answer 24

the earthly body and resurrected body are similar to a seed and the plant that grows from it.
In some ways they are the same thing yet they are different

Question 25

what is death for Christians?

Answer 25

a transition to a new phase of life

Question 26

why should Christians not fear death?

Answer 26

it is the start of eternal life without the limitations of an earthly body

Question 27

what happens to the soul after death?

Answer 27

it is judged by God and sent to heaven or hell

Question 28

what happens during judgement?

Answer 28

God considers everything that a person has done and people have to accept responsibility for their actions

Question 29

why will judgement be merciful?

Answer 29

Jesus died so everyone could be saved

Question 30

What is heaven?

Answer 30

a state of eternal happiness in the presence of God God's love removes all cares and worries

Question 31

why can everyone not go to heaven?

Answer 31

people have to choose to accept God to go to heaven as humans have free will

Question 32

what is hell?

Answer 32

a state of eternal separation from God

Question 33

how to people get to Hell?

Answer 33

they do not accept God and send themselves there

Question 34

how do people exist in hell?

Answer 34

they are aware of what they have thrown away, and are in a state of frustration and anger at themselves

Question 35

what is purgatory?

Answer 35

a cleansing process where the effects of sins are removed so the person can feel happy in the presence of God

Question 36

how can the process of purgatory be quickened?

Answer 36

prayers of those that are still alive

Question 37

what is particular judgement?

Answer 37

- judgement immediately after someone dies - God judges someone on a personal basis where he looks at all their actions

Question 38

what is the result of particular judgement?

Answer 38

heaven, hell or purgatory

Question 39

what is final judgement?

Answer 39

- Happens at the end of time - Christ comes in glory at the end of time to judge all of creation

Question 40

What happens after final Judgement?

Answer 40

the Reign of God will be established and everything is made perfect Those judged favourably will stay with God eternally

Question 41

what are some other Christians on the afterlife?

Answer 41

- no purgatory - no particular judgement

Question 42

What is cosmic reconcilliation?

Answer 42

at the end of time, the whole of creation will be brought together in harmony (reconciled) with God

Question 43

what breaks the harmony of creation?

Answer 43

sin

Question 44

what did jesus do to restore creation?

Answer 44

He died and resurrected, destroying the power of sin and death which disrupted God's creation.

Question 45

Who was Julian of Norwich?

Answer 45

a medieval writer who experienced a series of visions from Jesus

Question 46

What did Julian of Norwich ask Jesus in one of her visions and what was the answer?

Answer 46

she asked why there was sin and hell. Jesus replied: 'It was necessary that there should be sin; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well'

Question 47

what does this quote show? 'It was necessary that there should be sin; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well'

Answer 47

- First phrase: sin is necessary as God gave humans free will. If people make bad choices against God, sin has to exist. - 'all shall be well' as sin will be defeated at the end of time. cosmic reconciliation will be completed

Question 48

What are some teachings on the end of time from the SVC?

Answer 48

- Christ will come in glory as the judge and saviour. - No one is predestined to go to hell - God does not send people to hell - people should be constantly preparing for the end of time by following Jesus' teachings

Question 49

What is some advice from the Church that Catholics should follow in hope of getting to heaven?

Answer 49

- Keep faith in God - Perform good deeds and actions - Do not commit mortal sins - confess

Question 50

What is the anointing of the sick?

Answer 50

a sacrament given to seriously ill people who may be facing death

Question 51

what does sprinkling holy water during the anointing of the sick mean?

Answer 51

it is a reminder of baptism

Question 52

what does the priest laying their hands on the sick person and calling the Holy Spirit mean? (in the anointing of the sick)

Answer 52

The Holy Spirit fills the person and gives them a sense of peace and the strength to resist sin It also gives them courage to overcome the doubt and despair that the illness has caused

Question 53

what does the priest anointing the forehead and hands of the sick person mean in the anointing of the sick?

Answer 53

- the priest asks God to help the person - the anointing gives hope of new life either in this life or eternal happiness with God

Question 54

what is the meaning of the sick person confessing their sins in the anointing of the sick?

Answer 54

the person can face the future with a clear conscience so they can feel more positive

Question 55

why is Holy Communion given to the sick person in the anointing of the sick?

Answer 55

to show that christ is present with the person and supporting them