Comments on: Lesson 2 - LIFE AFTER DEATH http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30 Students of the CDR web courses discuss their answers to the e-class questions here Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:16:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Cristina http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-242 Cristina Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:53:19 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-242 God in his infinite love & mercy would not let anyone not experience heaven that is why he sent his son who has opened heaven for us. In due time all even those who are experiencing purging and those who will be purged will join God in heaven. God aims to unite all his children scattered and led astray by sin. This is where the church play an important role, to help Gods people be reconciled to him,although God himself can do this the church still has the obligation to evangelize all peoples. God in his infinite love & mercy would not let anyone not experience heaven that is why he sent his son who has opened heaven for us. In due time all even those who are experiencing purging and those who will be purged will join God in heaven. God aims to unite all his children scattered and led astray by sin. This is where the church play an important role, to help Gods people be reconciled to him,although God himself can do this the church still has the obligation to evangelize all peoples.

]]> By: emiliadimeo http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-229 emiliadimeo Sun, 22 May 2011 21:12:11 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-229 EMILIA DIMEO LESSON II. 1.What helped you most in the discoveries you made for this week's topic? I think what helped me the most is the concept that sin may be purged either in this life or in the life to follow in purgatory. Passage 1954 (The Natural Moral Law) indicates that "Man participates in the wisdom and goodness of the Creator who gives him mastery over his acts and the ability to govern himself with a view to the true and the good. The natural law expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and evil, the truth and the lie." While it is true that we choose and are responsible for our own actions, it is conforting to know that even though I am not living a virtuous life, it is possible for my soul to be saved. I think I should explore returning to Confession and perhaps aim for my spirit to preside in purgatory upon my demise. Other passages also refer to the goodness of almsgiving and charity - perhaps I can get more involved with the activities of the Catholic Church to help purge me of the sinful life I lead though my activities at work. 2.If you have a personal experience of getting help from a Saint or the soul of a deceased friend or relative, please share your story. Recently, I bought my mother a set of St. Therese de Lieseaux rosary beads. I went online to find out a little bit of what she was about. I read that she is referred to as The Little Flower because of the simplicity of her liefe. As I red about her life, I tried to think of ways I can incorporate the simplity of her life and faith the complex and sinful life I have lived and am now living. Although I am inspired by her, it is not easy to think of ways to do so. I have a good stepping stone to start with. I believe in God and Jesus his only Son and I am sure that if I look to the path to salvation that the Church outlines for us, there is a way to incorporate goodness into my life. 3. Why is it possible to look forward to life after death, including the time spent in purgatory? I am 46 years old and have spent most of my adult life in the coprorate world. I have reached the point where I understand that everything in this life in not only passing but fleeting - it is very easy to get caught up in the power of the world's evil in this life in your younger years. However, when you get to midlife, you realize you have all this time behind you and many more years of duty ahead of you but evenutally you die and someone else sits in your seat and no one remembers you. You experience a hunger in your soul that only the Lord can fill. It is this hunger taht enables us to look forward to something better than all the material things on this earth - it enables us to look forward to the completion we will feel upon being reunited with our Creator and our Savior even if it means spending time in purgatory which the passages have indicated enables us to feel the pain of the expulsion of ur sins and the joy of ultimately, through the prayers of others, joining with our Father. EMILIA DIMEO
LESSON II.

1.What helped you most in the discoveries you made for this week’s topic?

I think what helped me the most is the concept that sin may be purged either in this life or in the life to follow in purgatory. Passage 1954 (The Natural Moral Law) indicates that “Man participates in the wisdom and goodness of the Creator who gives him mastery over his acts and the ability to govern himself with a view to the true and the good. The natural law expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and evil, the truth and the lie.” While it is true that we choose and are responsible for our own actions, it is conforting to know that even though I am not living a virtuous life, it is possible for my soul to be saved. I think I should explore returning to Confession and perhaps aim for my spirit to preside in purgatory upon my demise. Other passages also refer to the goodness of almsgiving and charity - perhaps I can get more involved with the activities of the Catholic Church to help purge me of the sinful life I lead though my activities at work.

2.If you have a personal experience of getting help from a Saint or the soul of a deceased friend or relative, please share your story.

Recently, I bought my mother a set of St. Therese de Lieseaux rosary beads. I went online to find out a little bit of what she was about. I read that she is referred to as The Little Flower because of the simplicity of her liefe. As I red about her life, I tried to think of ways I can incorporate the simplity of her life and faith the complex and sinful life I have lived and am now living. Although I am inspired by her, it is not easy to think of ways to do so. I have a good stepping stone to start with. I believe in God and Jesus his only Son and I am sure that if I look to the path to salvation that the Church outlines for us, there is a way to incorporate goodness into my life.

3. Why is it possible to look forward to life after death, including the time spent in purgatory?

I am 46 years old and have spent most of my adult life in the coprorate world. I have reached the point where I understand that everything in this life in not only passing but fleeting - it is very easy to get caught up in the power of the world’s evil in this life in your younger years. However, when you get to midlife, you realize you have all this time behind you and many more years of duty ahead of you but evenutally you die and someone else sits in your seat and no one remembers you. You experience a hunger in your soul that only the Lord can fill. It is this hunger taht enables us to look forward to something better than all the material things on this earth - it enables us to look forward to the completion we will feel upon being reunited with our Creator and our Savior even if it means spending time in purgatory which the passages have indicated enables us to feel the pain of the expulsion of ur sins and the joy of ultimately, through the prayers of others, joining with our Father.

]]> By: vebro4652 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-223 vebro4652 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:19:34 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-223 I felt so much joy while going through the Bible Study program. It was as if scales were lefted from my eyes. As Oprah's says I had soo many light bulb moments. There were things discussed that I totally had missed the point over the years. I have always prayed to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and she has nver failed me. Three years ago I came across a Novena to the Holy Spirit and have begun to understand what it means to receive GRACE from GOD. I pray that I am sanctified each day by the Holy Spirit. I have to believe and i do believe that LORD is waiting for me with open arms and I will find eternal comfort. The world is not a nice place to be in and it is difficult finding comfort in my daily life. I felt so much joy while going through the Bible Study program. It was as if scales were lefted from my eyes. As Oprah’s says I had soo many light bulb moments. There were things discussed that I totally had missed the point over the years.
I have always prayed to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and she has nver failed me. Three years ago I came across a Novena to the Holy Spirit and have begun to understand what it means to receive GRACE from GOD. I pray that I am sanctified each day by the Holy Spirit.

I have to believe and i do believe that LORD is waiting for me with open arms and I will find eternal comfort. The world is not a nice place to be in and it is difficult finding comfort in my daily life.

]]> By: njerufranklin http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-215 njerufranklin Sun, 12 Sep 2010 21:50:42 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-215 1.What I discovered in my second lesson was that when one is in purgatory, he/she is assured of entering heaven. because this is a state of those who die in God's friendship. There is alot of joy knowing that one is assured of eternal salvation. The joy here is that one knows that after purification God will raise you to heaven where you see him face to face. 2. Personally I concur with my fellow students that St. Jude intercedes for us. After losing my job with an oil company, I prayed the novena to St. Jude asking him to help me get another job and he answered me. I had lost friends and even others challenging me not to apply for a job in a hospitality industry owned by non-Catholics but I ignored them. Presently I am working in a Hotel owned by the Methodist Church. 3. I have to look forward to Life after Death because as I profess my faith, I want to be in the presence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. I also want to be in communion of Saints. For me to be able to achieve this I have to follow Jesus as He tells us in Jn 14:6 and I quote "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one goes to the Father except by me". Since there no re-incarnation after death, I have to prepare and get ready for the kingdom of God. 1.What I discovered in my second lesson was that when one is in purgatory, he/she is assured of entering heaven. because this is a state of those who die in God’s friendship. There is alot of joy knowing that one is assured of eternal salvation. The joy here is that one knows that after purification God will raise you to heaven where you see him face to face.
2. Personally I concur with my fellow students that St. Jude intercedes for us. After losing my job with an oil company, I prayed the novena to St. Jude asking him to help me get another job and he answered me. I had lost friends and even others challenging me not to apply for a job in a hospitality industry owned by non-Catholics but I ignored them. Presently I am working in a Hotel owned by the Methodist Church.
3. I have to look forward to Life after Death because as I profess my faith, I want to be in the presence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. I also want to be in communion of Saints. For me to be able to achieve this I have to follow Jesus as He tells us in Jn 14:6 and I quote “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one goes to the Father except by me”. Since there no re-incarnation after death, I have to prepare and get ready for the kingdom of God.

]]> By: b.quaidoo http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-207 b.quaidoo Sat, 01 May 2010 22:30:22 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-207 Jesus himself did not sin. But because of the redeeming love that always united him to the Father, this enabled him to assume us in our waywardness of sin, to the point that he could say in our name from the cross: 'My God , my God, why have you forsaken me?' This is indeed a profound and herioc act on part of Jesus. How often do we not take things for granted. May the Lord give us the grace to appreciate God's unconditional love for us. Jesus himself did not sin. But because of the redeeming love that always united him to the Father, this enabled him to assume us in our waywardness of sin, to the point that he could say in our name from the cross: ‘My God , my God, why have you forsaken me?’ This is indeed a profound and herioc act on part of Jesus. How often do we not take things for granted. May the Lord give us the grace to appreciate God’s unconditional love for us.

]]> By: wdlands787c http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-155 wdlands787c Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:43:12 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-155 1. That Purgatory is a place that we sinners have to be in order for us to be cleansed by the 'fire' before we are received in Heaven. Importantly to note that we are not being punished by God. Am happy to note that there is no sufferings, pain or worries. There is no time frame for us to be in puagatory. We are at last free from the Satan's attacks and all temptations. We who are alive on earth can also find hope that those who we pray for in purgatory, will also be praying for us when they are in heaven. Purgatory is our gateway to Heavan. 3. The thought of knowing that we will eventually be in heaven is tremendous. Here we will be seeing our God face to face. I will then be able to fully understan the Trinity. 1. That Purgatory is a place that we sinners have to be in order for us to be cleansed by the ‘fire’ before we are received in Heaven. Importantly to note that we are not being punished by God. Am happy to note that there is no sufferings, pain or worries. There is no time frame for us to be in puagatory. We are at last free from the Satan’s attacks and all temptations. We who are alive on earth can also find hope that those who we pray for in purgatory, will also be praying for us when they are in heaven. Purgatory is our gateway to Heavan.

3. The thought of knowing that we will eventually be in heaven is tremendous. Here we will be seeing our God face to face. I will then be able to fully understan the Trinity.

]]> By: jazzy-lopez http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-83 jazzy-lopez Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:42:32 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-83 1.What helped you most in the discoveries you made for this weeks topic I believe in life after death but had alot of questions and was uncertain about life after death. Now reading catechism it gave me a sense of security. It was like a comfort to me. Heaven sounds even greater than i originally thought. 2.If you have a personal experiance of getting help from a saint or the soul of a deceased friend or relative,please share your story. It was summer and i was 14 years old,i slept in and was dreming of my deceased grandpa. It didn't feel like a dream i could see him and hear him so clearly. I woke up in tears but it felt like i was never asleep. He told my aunt happy birthday and got to see all of the family he the thing is mself and my grandma were the only one's that could see him. I remember when he had toleave i cried and asked him to stay i will never forget the way he smiled and he just kept tell me that he has to go.In my dream i asked my grandma why he had to go and she told me that he had to go and that he was only here to tell us that he was ok and happy. When i got up in tears i told my mom and then i called my grandma and she told me the exact thing that she said when she was asleep. She told me to pray for him and be thankful that i got to see him. I then told my aunt what he wanted me to tell her.It seemed as if it brought my family closer they all of my aunts and uncles called and we talked about him. we hadn't talked about him till then it was nice. 3.Why is it possible to look forward to life after death,including the time spent in purgatory? It's great to be able to look forward to death even with time spent in purgatory. This life and even some time spent in purgatory would be well worth it. Knowing how great the after life will be. To be in a place surrounded by love and no fears no hate with the peole you love and care about that is truely a heaven. 1.What helped you most in the discoveries you made for this weeks topic I believe in life after death but had alot of questions and was uncertain about life after death. Now reading catechism it gave me a sense of security. It was like a comfort to me. Heaven sounds even greater than i originally thought.

2.If you have a personal experiance of getting help from a saint or the soul of a deceased friend or relative,please share your story.
It was summer and i was 14 years old,i slept in and was dreming of my deceased grandpa. It didn’t feel like a dream i could see him and hear him so clearly. I woke up in tears but it felt like i was never asleep. He told my aunt happy birthday and got to see all of the family he the thing is mself and my grandma were the only one’s that could see him. I remember when he had toleave i cried and asked him to stay i will never forget the way he smiled and he just kept tell me that he has to go.In my dream i asked my grandma why he had to go and she told me that he had to go and that he was only here to tell us that he was ok and happy. When i got up in tears i told my mom and then i called my grandma and she told me the exact thing that she said when she was asleep. She told me to pray for him and be thankful that i got to see him. I then told my aunt what he wanted me to tell her.It seemed as if it brought my family closer they all of my aunts and uncles called and we talked about him. we hadn’t talked about him till then it was nice.
3.Why is it possible to look forward to life after death,including the time spent in purgatory?
It’s great to be able to look forward to death even with time spent in purgatory. This life and even some time spent in purgatory would be well worth it. Knowing how great the after life will be. To be in a place surrounded by love and no fears no hate with the peole you love and care about that is truely a heaven.

]]> By: searcher http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-79 searcher Tue, 27 May 2008 05:10:43 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-79 1. It brings to me tremendous hope that there is life after death. Assured for eternal salvation by faith in Christ and the work He did at the cross, I can have peace of mind that I will live in paradise. 2. There was this named Otto Orvold. He was a Christian. He was not allowed to talk about his precious faith with his grandchildren, Jason and Joanne. I went to school with with his grandchildren for 2 and a half years. Very shortly after my conversion to Christianity, I shared my faith with Jason. Jason did not like it that much and did not want to be my friend after my witnessing. When telling Jason I was not pushy or self righteous. Later on before Otto died and went to heaven, I told Otto that I witnessed to his grandson Jason. Otto was very pleased with me and thanked me from the bottom of his heart. After Otto died, I felt he asked me to pray for his grandchildren, Jason and Joanne. I have and will continue to pray for them until I die or when Jesus comes back to set up His kingdom. I had a sports hero named Pelle Lindbergh. He was a goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League. He died in car accident in 1985. Till this day I think about Him a lot. I watch his short movies about him on you tube. I felt him come to me at different times. I look forward to seeing him on the other side of eternity. 3. It brings me such joy that I will be in the presence of Jesus Christ, His Father, and the Holy Spirit for all eternity. I have 3 disabilities. When I get to heaven, I will be healed by the power of God since I will have a glorified body that will be free from sickness and disease. For those in purgatory, they have hope of being God's presence one day if they are purified. 1. It brings to me tremendous hope that there is life after death. Assured for eternal salvation by faith in Christ and the work He did at the cross, I can have peace of mind that I will live in paradise.

2. There was this named Otto Orvold. He was a Christian. He was not allowed to talk about his precious faith with his grandchildren, Jason and Joanne. I went to school with with his grandchildren for 2 and a half years. Very shortly after my conversion to Christianity, I shared my faith with Jason. Jason did not like it that much and did not want to be my friend after my witnessing. When telling Jason I was not pushy or self righteous. Later on before Otto died and went to heaven, I told Otto that I witnessed to his grandson Jason. Otto was very pleased with me and thanked me from the bottom of his heart. After Otto died, I felt he asked me to pray for his grandchildren, Jason and Joanne. I have and will continue to pray for them until I die or when Jesus comes back to set up His kingdom.
I had a sports hero named Pelle Lindbergh. He was a goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League. He died in car accident in 1985. Till this day I think about Him a lot. I watch his short movies about him on you tube. I felt him come to me at different times. I look forward to seeing him on the other side of eternity.

3. It brings me such joy that I will be in the presence of Jesus Christ, His Father, and the Holy Spirit for all eternity. I have 3 disabilities. When I get to heaven, I will be healed by the power of God since I will have a glorified body that will be free from sickness and disease. For those in purgatory, they have hope of being God’s presence one day if they are purified.

]]> By: rarceneaux http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-74 rarceneaux Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:36:04 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-74 Question #2 Another example of help from a saint is when I prayed a rosary daily for 30 days to Mother Mary to help my husband find a good assignment when we were still in the military service. One evening he got a phone call about his being selected for an assignment to one of the places he was hoping for. This happened while I was praying the rosary at the same time in another part of the house! I prayed an equal number of rosaries in thanksgiving for our the blessing for us all. Question #2

Another example of help from a saint is when I prayed a rosary daily for 30 days to Mother Mary to help my husband find a good assignment when we were still in the military service. One evening he got a phone call about his being selected for an assignment to one of the places he was hoping for. This happened while I was praying the rosary at the same time in another part of the house!
I prayed an equal number of rosaries in thanksgiving for our the blessing for us all.

]]> By: rarceneaux http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-73 rarceneaux Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:29:23 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/30#comment-73 It is possible to look forward to life after death because Jesus has stated it in many ways, and he came back from the dead to prove what he said was true! I thank him for showing us how we can use him as a model for any problems we suffer on earth, because he suffered throughthem too, more than any of us could know. With the grace of God and my ever-striving toward Heaven, I will be there one day. It is possible to look forward to life after death because Jesus has stated it in many ways, and he came back from the dead to prove what he said was true! I thank him for showing us how we can use him as a model for any problems we suffer on earth, because he suffered throughthem too, more than any of us could know. With the grace of God and my ever-striving toward Heaven, I will be there one day.

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