They believe that at the time of death, the soul leaves the body and goes to either heaven, purgatory, or hell, depending on the individual’s relationship with God and how they lived their life.
According to Catholic belief, a heaven is a place of eternal happiness and union with God, and it is the ultimate goal for Catholics. Purgatory is a place of purification where the souls of those who die in God’s grace but are not yet fully purified are prepared for heaven. Hell is a place of eternal separation from God and the source of all suffering.
Catholics also believe in the resurrection of the body, which they understand as the belief that the souls of the faithful will be reunited with their bodies on the last day when Jesus returns, and the dead are raised to new life. Until then, Catholics believe that the souls of the deceased are in a state of rest and can pray for the living and assist them in their spiritual journey.
Funerals and other rituals surrounding death are an important part of Catholic tradition. Catholics believe that they can help bring comfort to the living and honor the memory of the deceased.
