The End of the World

As Jesus died and was buried, so you and I shall some day die and be buried; and as Jesus arose from the dead, so on the Last Day, when the end of the world has come, you and I and every one that has ever lived will rise again from the dead.

On that great day, the angel of God will blow a mighty blast on his trumpet and shout with a voice that shall be heard from one end of the earth to the other: “Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment.”

Then all the souls in Heaven and all the souls in hell will enter once more their bodies which God will raise up from the dust into which they have fallen.

The bodies of those whose souls are in sanctifying grace will be made like to the risen body of Christ. They will be glorious and beautiful and will never again know death nor sickness nor disease nor pain nor hunger nor thirst nor sadness nor grief; they will know only joy and gladness and love. And as the risen body of Christ passed through the solid rock of the grave and entered the closed room of the Last Supper, so will their bodies be able to pass through anything, as easily as a ray of sunshine passes through a pane of glass.

But the bodies belonging to the damned souls in hell will rise hideous and deformed and loathsome, and will never again be free from the most dreadful pains.

All, from Adam and Eve to the last child that has been born, will be gathered together in a great valley. Then Jesus will come to judge the world. Then we shall know the thoughts, words and acts of every one that has ever lived. Jesus will call the good to come on His right side and, filled with joy, they will hurry to their places. And He will call the bad to come on His left side and, filled with shame and trembling with fear, they will have to obey.

You and I will be standing there on that great day. To which side will Jesus call us? Oh, we must choose our side now, for then it will be too late. This very moment, let us say that, with Jesus’ help, we will stand on His right hand when He comes to judge the world; and therefore we will now say our morning and night prayers, we will never miss Mass on Sundays, we will be true Catholics as long as we live.

There will be many surprises on that last day. We will say: “Look at little John. How great and strong and beautiful he is! I remember him. He was a little cripple and used to look so pale and thin when they brought him to the window to watch us play. He died so young. I never knew he did anything great.”

And Jesus will say: “John was one of My special friends. He tried not to complain and not to grumble, and he offered to Me all his pains and aches. Now he will be forever one of the great ones in the kingdom of Heaven.”

“And there is little Annie. She used to be so ugly and no one ever liked her. She was stupid, too, and the teacher used to stand her in the corner. And she always wore such funny clothes. But isn’t she beautiful now?”

And Jesus will say: “I loved little Annie, for I could see her heart. Many a time she stopped in church to tell Me that nobody liked her. But I saw how hard Annie tried to please Me by trying to get her lessons and trying to be kind, though no one was kind to her. She knew that people laughed at her clothes and it hurt her very much, but she used to say: “All for Thee, my Jesus,” and try not to mind it. And now I have made Annie so beautiful and will place her high up in My Father’s kingdom.”

“But just see Richard. What a glorious sight he is! Don’t you remember how he was always getting into trouble? Nobody ever thought he would amount to anything.”

And Jesus will answer: “Richard had a very rich uncle who wanted him to live with him. And he promised to give him a pony and an automobile and everything he wanted if he would give up being a Catholic. But Richard told his uncle that he would never do that. And now he is one of My heroes.”

“Who is that great man over there? Why, that is old Gus, the peddler. Do you remember how the boys used to teaze him and pelt him with snow-balls?”

And Jesus will say: “Gus was a great saint. He never cursed nor swore, but all day long kept saying little prayers to Me. And one day he had a chance to steal a large sum of money and he was very poor and very hungry. But Gus would not steal and now he shall have everything he wants.”

“And see the great crowds of priests and sisters! And see how lovingly Jesus looks at them! People used to say that they were foolish to leave their homes and care for the poor and sick instead of having a good time.”

And Jesus will say: “They shall be the greatest of all in My Father’s kingdom. For they left their father and mother, brothers and sisters, and everything they loved for love of Me.”

Then Jesus will turn to the great army on His right hand and say: “Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matt. 25:34.) No music will ever sound so sweet as these words, and with glad hearts and joyful songs the good will enter Heaven with Jesus to spend in intense happiness the long day of eternity which will never come to an end.

But Jesus will turn to those on His left; and at His glance they will wither with fear and terror and call upon the mountains to fall on them and upon the sea to swallow them up. Shaking and trembling, they will hear His awful words: “During your life you were ashamed of Me, ashamed to call yourselves Catholics, ashamed to go to confession, ashamed of what your friends would say, ashamed to do right, ashamed to be poor. And now I am ashamed of you! You have had your good time. You rode about in automobiles that you stole the money to buy; you dressed in silks and furs and never did anything for My poor; you filled yourselves with food and drink and never fed My friends who were hungry. ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.’” (Matt. 25:41.)

Then, shrieking and howling, the bad will rush into the terrible flames of hell, there to burn through the long night of eternity which will never come to an end.