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It is God, then, Who will pronounce judgment on
the souls of men at the moment of death.
But, in another sense, it is men who will pass judgment on
themselves. At the moment of judgment,
the soul which has left its body in death will see clearly its own merits and
demerits, its own love or lack of love for God.
In a moment of blinding clarity, God will infuse this perfect
self-knowledge into the soul which has left the world of time and space. The soul will see the absolute justice of the
judgment of God. In that very instant, the soul will ascend to the heights of
heaven, fall to the fires of purgatory for a time, or descend forever into
hell. In that “Hour of truth” each soul
will know itself perfectly and see the truth of its own judgment.
Walter
Farrell, O.P., S.TM. and Martin J. Healy, S.T.D.