Spirituality of the Last Things

The topic of this column can also be worded as, The Spirituality of Remembering, which in turn can likewise be stated as, The Daily Need of Good Reminders.

We all want to be with God in Heaven after death. But we have to work for it in order to deserve it. Reminders help on this matter. They help us remember what to do.

Our daily, weekly and monthly Masses, novenas, recollections, retreats, feasts, and many religious practices are helpful reminders. But practices are external, visible, tangible, observable signs of the internal and spiritual reality which is the Faith. They don’t and cannot fully and truly tell us about one’s faith life or personal relationship with the mysterious Reality of the Almighty.

This seems to be true, and I think it is, generally speaking. So the reminders, if they ever make us remember, do not seem to have been effective in transforming our peoples’ lives. Our people’s so called popular religiosity has tended to produce an enslaving materialism instead of a freeing spirituality. Excessive materialism stifles the spirit, numbs the conscience and prevents us to hear the inner voice telling us to do good and avoid evil.

So I think we need a strong, powerful, and transforming set of reminders; reminders so vivid, glaring, heartening and soul-stirring that can change our lives into images of the presence of a loving Creator/Father, beautiful and touching images, real reminders of Heaven! These reminders should also sharpen our conscience thus deepening our faith.

These effective reminders are the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. To remember these daily, or at least often, understanding them and reflecting deeply will make us ready for the final departure to the next life.