My Sermon on Heaven & Hell

Here is my Sermon on Heaven & Hell to high school students (delivered on Nov. 13, 2009)

Download

Pax Sinica: 地獄 Hell

地 獄

本欄今天談到「萬民四末」的第四末，也是最後的題項 —— 地獄。

天主教教理#1035指出：教會訓導聲明地獄的存在和永久性。那些在死罪中過世的靈魂（在私審判後）會立刻下地獄，受地獄的苦痛，就是「永火」。地獄主要的痛苦是與天主永遠的分離，因為人只可從天主那裡得到生命和福樂，人是為此被創造，並不斷地渴求這生命和福樂。

失落和感覺之苦

地獄之苦總概有「失落之苦」和「感覺之苦」。靈魂因在地獄中永遠不能見到美善的天主，且原屬於祂的卻永遠與祂分離，故此感到極度「失落之苦」。路加福音13:28記載耶穌向猶太人論及地獄之苦：『幾時你們望見亞巴郎、依撒格、雅各伯及眾先知在天主的國裏，你們卻被棄在外，那裏要有哀號和切齒。』「感覺之苦」主要是指火燒的懲罰。耶穌會會士若望.赫頓John Hardon神父寫道：「（地獄的）那火使人身心受到極度煎熬、折磨，而卻不被燒毁。」瑪竇福音3:12記載耶穌說過：『... 至於糠秕，卻要用不滅的火焚燒。』

無可置疑，「地獄」是令人感到難解的概念，而「天譴」更是費解的奧秘。我們會質疑：美善的天主為何要懲罰祂的受造物入地獄？赫頓神父認為：「美善的天主尊重和不予干涉祂受造物的自由，包括他們梗要把自己帶進地獄。他們自主地拒絕天主，故此，在天主的公義內，他們的選擇使他們離棄他們所拒絕的天主。」

熙篤會會士安日納.博楠Eugene Boylan邀請我們從天主的愛去看地獄的懲罰：

「基督深知離開祂就是地獄，與祂在一起就是天堂。祂亦明白，有很多靈魂卻沒有領會，那永久離開祂的痛苦是何等可怕，實際上比感覺上的痛苦更為痛苦、更為可怕；所以，祂給我們強調了地獄內被火燒痛苦的可怕 —— 雖然這會使我們覺得祂是易怒和嚴厲的判官，而非令人嚮往和渴望那位仁愛和慈悲的天主 —— 讓我們因害怕火燒，傾向尋求天堂的永福。」

真福雅仙達.瑪圖Jacinta Marto

一九一七年七月十三日，聖母在花地瑪Fatima給三個小童，一睹地獄的恐佈；八月十九日，她呼籲道：「多祈禱！為罪人多做補贖！很多靈魂失救入地獄，皆因沒有人為他們做補贖、為他們祈禱！」恐佈的地獄景象，深深刻入小雅仙達的腦海，讓她常記掛着那些「可憐的罪人」，他們快要掉進地獄去。她喊叫說：「啊，地獄！地獄！我為要進入地獄的靈魂感到悲哀。他們要活生生地被燒，就像烈焰中的燒木！」有時她喊道：「那麽多人跌進地獄裏去！真是那麽多...！而竟然沒有人聽從，還是繼續重複犯罪。」死前不久，雅仙達說：「引致最多靈魂進入地獄的原因就是情慾的罪。」她經常為罪人回頭而祈禱，為他們做補贖，為他們奉獻自己的病苦及死亡。

讓我們向真福雅仙達學習，為更多靈魂得救而努力，多祈禱、做補贖。

 

---

To hell in a handbasket

In this article we look into the last of the four things to be ever remembered: hell.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell.

“The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in Whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs” (CCC #1035).

Pain of loss and pain of sense

The above passage from the Catechism reminds us the souls in hell suffer the pain of loss and the pain of sense. The pain of loss consists in the everlasting deprivation of the vision of God for which man was created.

Jesus foretold, “There will be weeping and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside” (Lk. 13:28).

The pain of sense consists principally in punishment by fire. Father John Hardon, SJ, wrote, “It is a fire that causes pain to body and soul without consuming the one in torment.” Jesus Himself said, “The chaff He will burn in fire that will never go out” (Mt. 3:12).

Hell is difficult to conceptualize and damnation is a mystery. Why does an all-good God condemn His creatures to hell? Father Hardon answers, “God, Who is all-good, allows His creatures to condemn themselves to hell because He does not interfere with their freedom. They voluntarily choose to reject Him, and in His justice He permits them to remain separated from the God they rejected.”

Dom Eugene Boylan, OCSO, invited us to view the punishment of hell in light of the love of God. He wrote, “He [Christ] knew that to be without Him would be a grievous hell, to be with Him sweet paradise. He knew too, that many souls would never understand the fearful suffering which eternal separation from Him would cause.

“In showing to them the lesser sufferings of the fires of hell, He hopes to deter them from ruining their eternal happiness, even though He sees the danger that they may regard Him rather as an angry and stern judge than as their ardent and merciful lover, as someone to be dreaded rather than to be desired.”

Blessed Jacinta Marto

On July 13, 1917, Our Lady showed three children in Fatima, Portugal, a terrifying vision of hell. On Aug. 19 she said, “Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them.”

The vision made a great impression on Jacinta Marto, and from then on her life was marked by the constant concern over the “poor sinners” in danger of hell. She would exclaim, “Oh, hell! hell! How sorry I am for the souls who go to hell, and the people down there, burning alive, like wood in the fire!”

Sometimes she would cry out, “So many people fall down into hell! so many people! and nobody pays any heed; they continue to commit the same sins.”

Shortly before her death Jacinta said, “More souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason.” Jacinta prayed a lot, did many acts of penance, and offered up her sufferings of illness and death for the conversion of sinners.

Following the example of Blessed Jacinta, let us pray, suffer, and labour for the salvation of souls.

Please visit my personal site for other articles

Talk to Confirmation Parents

This evening, I gave a talk to the parents, whose children will receive Confirmation next year.

I talked about the basis catechetical presentation on the Sacrament of Confirmation, and also the basis responsibilities of Christian parents.  

Download

Understanding Catholic Funeral

English:

English

中文:

下戴

I preached this sermon last weekend during Masses.

Please visit my personal site for my other sermons/ homilies.

Photos from Yesterday Baptism

Blessed to be able to baptize 2 baby boys and 1 baby girl.

May God bless these little ones and their parents.

Pax Sinica: 天堂 Heaven

天堂

在「煉靈月」的今天，我們懷着喜樂的希望，探討「萬民四末」中的「天堂」。

天堂是天主、天神和諸聖的「居所」。在天堂最大的喜樂，莫如永遠能看到天主、擁有天主。還是小孩的聖女大德蘭，常想到天堂，也跟她的兄弟經常談論天堂的永恒。

完滿和真正的喜樂

我們都渴望快樂；可是，生活中的快感並不等於快樂：片刻快感過後，仍留空虛與忐忑。但真正的快樂讓我們感到平安。其實，我們所渴求的，是恆久而完滿的喜樂，無限的真、善、美 —— 那只有天主才能充實我們心靈的空虛 —— 因為只有永恆的天主才是完滿真、善、美的樂。聖奧斯定感嘆道：「我主，祢因祢而創造了我們，所以，我們的心只能在祢內，才得安寧的憩息。」

世間不能擁有完滿的喜樂：有時我們不快樂，皆源於心慾未得所償；即使心慾已償，卻因日久生厭而感枯燥。在天堂又截然不同：靈魂歷久渴求天主，每每都滿足於天主，且永不生厭或枯燥。在天堂，天主傾注完滿的喜樂予靈魂，我們不需另覓他尋。

不錯，只有在天堂才得完滿的喜樂，但我們在塵世通過愛天主、因愛天主而愛人如己，仍可享有真正的喜樂。「愛的誡命」是我們在世真正喜樂之源，亦是尋找天堂完滿喜樂之途。

痛苦並非哀愁

我們天主教教徒，是常抱有希望的人；面對痛苦，仍應喜悅和滿懷希望。年青真福法薩特(Pier Giorgio Frassati 1901-1925)寫道：「天主教教徒的靈性，總要喜樂，擯除哀愁。痛苦並非哀愁; 哀愁是靈性最大的疾病。這疾病是因為「無神論」而導致的。我們向着受造的目標在世途邁進: 雖遍佈荊棘，卻非植長哀愁，痛苦中仍保持喜樂。」

在世上, 痛苦愈大, 希望也該愈大。小的希望巳足夠支持我們面對小的苦楚，但面對更大的痛苦，我們則不得不祈求更大的望德，確保靈魂不倒。很多精修和殉道聖人，雖身處疾苦或酷刑，仍保喜悅，因為他們懷有得永生的大希望。換句話說，天堂永福的希望，常是我們面對世間暫苦的力量。望德的實踐在於祈禱: 在苦痛中，讓我們向基督學習吧：「祂在極度恐慌中，祈禱越發懇切」 (路加福音22:44）。

準備天堂

生命是旅途，天堂是終點，我們是應該每天步向天堂，每天為進入天堂作準備。一本要理書籍列舉準備進入天堂的方法：

一、心裡常常想着天堂、靈魂殷切渴望天堂。

二、渡潔德的生活。

三、勤修各種德行，以制私慾。

四、按天主創造聖意善用世物，非建私愉於其上。

五、以忍耐面對苦痛的試探。

六、在最小事情上都要對天主忠信。

七、對天主忠信至生命的終結。

_________________________________________________

HEAVEN

We continue to explore the Last Things during this month of All Souls. This time, with joyful hope, we look at the doctrine of Heaven.

Heaven is the abode of God, the angels, and the saints. The greatest joy in Heaven is to see and to possess God for all eternity. St. Teresa of Avila, when she was a young girl, would think about heaven and repeated with her brother again and again: forever and ever and ever....

True and Perfect Happiness

We all yearn for happiness. Life experiences teach us that pleasure is not the same thing as happiness. A person can still experience emptiness and uneasiness after enjoying momentary pleasure, but a person who enjoys true happiness, also experiences lasting peace. We yearn for happiness that is perfect and eternal. We yearn for the Infinite: infinite goodness, infinite truth, and infinite beauty. The void of our hearts is so great that only God can fill it. St. Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rest in You.”

Here on earth, we do not posses perfect happiness: Sometimes, we desire things, but we do not obtain them, and we are sad. Other times, we obtain what we desired, but after a while we get tired of them, and we are bored. But in Heaven, a soul always desires, and on the other hand, it is always satisfied. A soul in Heaven desires God and never get bore; it is fulfilled by God and never get sad. We can find perfect happiness only in Heaven.

Even though we can experience perfect happiness only in Heaven, we can still experience true happiness on earth in the degree that we love God and love our neighbor for His sake. The Great Commandment of Love is the key to true happiness on earth and the path to perfect happiness in Heaven. The saints are the happiest people on earth.

Suffering vs. Sadness

We, Catholics, are people of hope. We might experience sufferings, but we should always be hopeful and joyful. Shortly before his death, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) wrote: "A Catholic cannot help but be happy; sadness should be banished from their souls. Suffering is not sadness, which is the worst disease. This disease is almost always caused by atheism, but the end for which we are created guides us along life's pathway, which may be strewn with thorns, but is not sad. It is happy even through suffering."

Here on earth, the greater the suffering, the greater hope we need to help us through. If we have a small suffering, a small hope is sufficient. But if we experience great suffering, we need great hope to sustain us. Many saints and martyrs were joyful in the midst of their great sufferings before of the great hope of eternal life. In the midst of sufferings, the hope of Heaven should be our strength. Hope is exercised in prayers. In sufferings, we should remember the example of Christ: “And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly.” (Luke 22:44)

Prepare for Heaven

Life is a journey and our destination is Heaven. We must prepare for Heaven daily. A Catechism book listed the following ways for us to prepare for Heaven:

1. Often think of it, and desire it with all the ardor of our soul.

2. Live in purity

3. Subdue our passions by the courageous practice of all virtues

4. Not place our happiness in creatures, but make use of them only according to the designs of God.

5. Suffer all trials with patience.

6. Be faithful in even the smallest things.

7. Be faithful until death.

Please visit my personal site for my other articles for The BC Catholic

Saintly Quote of the Day (2009年11月16、17、18、19、20 日)

In raising human nature to heaven by His ascension, Christ has given us the hope of arriving thither ourselves.---ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.

It is useless to subdue the flesh by abstinence, unless one gives up his irregular life, and abandons vices which defile his soul.---ST. BENEDICT.

No prayers are so acceptable to God as those which we offer Him after communion.---ST. ALPHONSUS.

It avails nothing to subdue the body, if the mind allows itself to be controlled by anger.---ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.

What is it that renders death terrible? Sin. We must therefore fear sin, not death.---ST. ALPHONSUS.

In the second Purgatory, which is still Purgatory but very different from the first, one suffers a great deal, but less than in the great [first] place of expiation. Then there is a third stage, which is the Purgatory of desire, where there is no fire. The souls who did not desire Heaven ardently enough, who did not love God sufficiently are there. It is there that I am at this moment. Further, in these three parts of Purgatory, there are many degrees of variation. Little by little, as the soul becomes purified, her sufferings are changed.---AN UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT ON PURGATORY.

Saintly Quote of the Day (2009年11月14、15日)

The two principal dispositions which we should bring to holy communion are detachment from creatures, and the desire to receive Our Lord with a view to loving Him more in the future.---ST. ALPHONSUS.

In doing penance it is necessary to deprive oneself of as many lawful pleasures as we had the misfortune to indulge in unlawful ones.---ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.

 

As to the Blessed Virgin, we see her in the body. She comes to Purgatory on her feasts and she goes back to Heaven with many souls. While she is with us we do not suffer. St. Michael accompanies her. When he comes alone, we suffer as usual.---AN UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT ON PURGATORY.

FLL 愛的恩泉 Radio Recordings

Today (November 12) FLL Vancouver Radio Team did recordings at studio. I was the one who did the talking. I recorded 4 talks on Guardian Angel, St. John Vianney, Pope John Paul II, and Mother Teresa. It was a wonderful experience.

Starting on December 5, 愛的恩泉 Chinese Catholic radio program will be broadcasted every Saturday from 8 PM to 9 PM at AM1470 Fairchild Radio 温哥華中文電台. The one hour program will be in Cantonese, produced by Chinese Catholics from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. My talk will be about 10 minutes.   

One Day Trip with my Prayer Groups Members

Yesterday was Remembrance Day. I spent the day with members from my 3 prayer groups.

We used the big bus from St. Pat’s Elementary, and the small bus from St. Pat’s Secondary. We were blessed to pray all 20 decades rosaries on the buses.

Our 1st stop was Garden of Gethsemani (Catholic cemetery). We had Mass there.

 

After eating lunch at a mall, we went to St. Joachim and St. Ann at Aldergrove. I blessed the members with the relic of St. Ann.

 

Then we went to St. James at Abbotsford. They do not have a church building yet. There is a chapel in a portable, and we prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy there.

We took a group photo at the High School next door.

Finally, we went to St. Ann at Abbotsford. We prayed 7 Hail Mary’s in honor of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. I also gave Mary Help of Christians Blessing.

  

Thanks be to God for such a prayerful day and for such prayerful members!!!

Please visit my personal site for past activities of prayer groups

Saintly Quote of the Day (2009年11月11、12、13日)

A resolute will triumphs over everything with the help of God, which is never wanting.---ST. ALPHONSUS.

If humble souls are contradicted, they remain calm; if they are calumniated, they suffer with patience; if they are little esteemed, neglected, or forgotten, they consider that their due; if they are weighed down with occupations, they perform them cheerfully.---ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.

When we have to reply to some one who speaks harshly to us, we must always do it with gentleness. If we are angry, it is better to keep silence.---ST. ALPHONSUS.

 

We see St. Michael as we see the angels. He has no body. He comes to get the souls that have finished their purification. It is he who conducts them to Heaven….He is the highest angel in Heaven. Our own Guardian Angels come to see us but St. Michael is far more beautiful than they are.---AN UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT ON PURGATORY.

Pax Sinica Article (Nov. 9): 審判 What to expect on Judgement Day

審判

本月「煉靈月」，我們繼續探討「萬民四末」 —— 其中第二項是「審判」；是指每個人都要面對天主的審判，接受永恆生命的定案。「審判」分「私審判」和「公審判」。

審判的要理

我們普遍相信，人的靈魂離開肉身的一刻，要單獨面對基督的審判 —— 「私審判」。當下，基督作為最高權威的審判元首，會對該靈魂作出一個决定性及無可推翻的永恆判斷：如靈魂是純潔的，要被賞天堂永福；不完全純潔的靈魂，要到煉獄接受暫罸的煉淨；有大罪的靈魂，則會被判在地獄中受永罰。

在世界末日，全人類都要面對「公審判」 —— 最後審判。「公審判」是為顯示對天主、基督、善人和惡人的公義。

對天主的公義: 在世上人們公開質疑天主的計劃; 屆時，天主對每一個人曾賦予的蔭庇，祂那涵蓋宇宙上智的安排，將要被完全公開披露和顯揚。

對基督 的公義: 主耶穌個人及祂的肢體(教會的成員) 曾受蔑視和傷害, 祂 屆時將以至尊判官及萬王之王的身份出現。

對善人的公義: 他們像基督一樣忍受了蔑視和傷害, 屆時 也會和基督一起受榮耀。

對惡人的公義: 有些惡人因作惡而自豪, 另一些惡人卻隱密地犯罪; 前者要被貶抑, 後者要受蒙羞。

「公審判」的判詞，無異於「私審判」; 但由於「公審判」是在世界末日，眾生一起復活之後，所以，靈魂連同肉身一齊接受審判，兩者一同承受永福或永罰。

自我省察

準備面對天主審判的最好方法，就是先坦誠地面對自己良心的檢討。在世上，良心的聲音幫助我們判斷善惡好壞。

良心的聲音不是來自個人: 即使我們願意, 也無法埋沒這聲音。這聲音也不是來自父母和老師，他們和我們一樣感受到良心之聲。這聲音是來自天主。故此，每天的省察神修，能幫助我們摯誠地順從天主，妥善準備靈魂，穩步踏入永生。省察可分兩種：總省察和私省察。

「總省察」故名思義，是把當天的思、言、行為，作整體的檢討，分辨對與錯，又細想曾否竭能致力，或敷衍塞責；同時省察犯錯的動機和誘引，祈求天主的寬恕，尋找賠補或改過的良策。

「私省察」是針對自己某些特定的過失或德行的反省。聖依納爵提議我們每天早上，定志改過特定一種陋習或言行規範，或矢志當天虔修一種德行，午時暮辰都作坦然的反省，記下得失的次數，比對昨天的記錄，以清楚確定自己的進度，甚至定下犯錯的補贖，探索持久改進的方法。

讓我們先「自我審判」，以善備接受天主的審判。

 

---

What to expect on Judgement Day

.

In this month of All Souls we are exploring the four last things to be ever remembered. Last week it was death. The second last thing is judgement, which is the sentence God pronounces upon each person for eternity. There are two judgements: particular judgement and general judgement.

Teachings on judgement

Particular judgement is pronounced at the moment of death. It is called particular because the soul appears alone before Christ. It is commonly believed that particular judgement occurs at the place and time of death.

Christ, the Sovereign Judge, pronounces a definitive and irrevocable sentence of life or death on the soul. If the soul is absolutely pure, it goes to heaven; if the soul has something to expiate, it goes to purgatory; if the soul is stained with mortal sin, it goes to hell.

General judgement will take place at the end time. All people will be judged so that full and entire justice will be done to God, to Christ, and to all people, whether just or sinners.

Justice will be done to God because His providence is being questioned on earth. It is proper that it be publicly justified, and that His wisdom in ordering the events of the world be manifested. Justice will be done to Christ because He was despised and condemned in His own Person and in the members of His Church. It is fitting that He appears then as Sovereign Judge and King of Kings.

Justice will be done to the just because they, like Christ, have been despised and mistreated; it is fitting that they be glorified. Justice will be done to sinners because some of them have been insolent in their crimes and others have concealed their crimes; it is fitting that the former should be humbled and the latter be covered with shame.

The sentence pronounced at the general judgement will be the solemn confirmation of that of the particular judgement, and will not differ from it. Since the general judgement will take place after the general resurrection, sentence will be pronounced on the whole person, body and soul. The body will share the everlasting reward or punishment of the soul.

Examination of conscience

The best way to prepare to face God in judgement is to face one’s own conscience truthfully. Here on earth, conscience is the voice that helps us to judge what is right and what is wrong.

This voice is not just our own: we cannot stop it even if we want to. This voice is not just from our parents and teachers: they too, like us, perceive the same voice. God gives this voice. Examination of conscience is a good daily spiritual exercise to conform our heart to God and to prepare our soul for eternity.

Examination of conscience can be divided into general and particular. General examination of conscience aims at the correction of all kinds of faults. We pass in review the successive hours of the day, noting what faults we have committed in thought, word, deed, and omission. It is very helpful also to examine our motives and reasons for committing faults. We then ask God’s pardon with a firm purpose of amendment.

Particular examination of conscience aims at the correction of one particular kind of fault or the practice of one particular virtue. St. Ignatius Loyola suggested we resolve to avoid a certain fault or to practise a particular virtue in the morning. At noon and at night we examine how often we have committed the fault or have practised the virtue.

We can mark down the number of success or failure, compare numbers with the preceding day, impose penance for each failure, and make concrete resolutions for the future.

Let us judge ourselves now, so that we may be ready for the judgement of God.

Here is a talk I gave to the students at the High School on “Death & Judgement” base on this article and my last article:

Download

Here is the page of all my articles for Pax Sinica:

http://fatheranthonyho.ca/4522.html