8.74. Doesn’t the Church today just emphasize God’s mercy over things like Hell and Judgment because it’s more loving?
The Catholic Church has always taught and preached the Four Last Things—Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell—to remind the faithful that life is short, sin is deadly, and eternity is forever. Saints, popes, and preachers constantly urged Catholics to meditate on these truths, because they inspire repentance, humility, and the pursuit of holiness.
But since Vatican II, this doctrine has been practically erased from catechesis and homilies. Hell is rarely mentioned. Judgment is softened. Heaven is presumed for everyone. Even death is rebranded as a “celebration of life.” The result? Presumption, lukewarmness, and widespread apostasy.
Below is a comparison of the traditional Catholic teaching on the Four Last Things and the distorted version promoted by the Vatican II religion.
| Last Thing | Traditional Catholic Teaching | Vatican II / Modern View | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death | Entrance into eternity; time of trial ends; no second chances | Often called a “celebration of life”; focus on worldly legacy | Death is no longer preached as a call to repentance |
| Judgment | Particular judgment occurs immediately; Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory | Rarely mentioned; replaced with vague “hope” and emotional comfort | Destroys the urgency to prepare one’s soul while alive |
| Heaven | Eternal reward for the just who die in sanctifying grace | Presumed for all; spoken of at nearly every funeral | Leads to presumption, even for public sinners |
| Hell | Everlasting punishment for unrepentant mortal sin | Rarely acknowledged; sometimes even denied or doubted | Contradicts Scripture and Our Lord’s own warnings (e.g., Matt. 25) |
| Preparation | Daily prayer, mortification, Confession, fear of the Lord | Vague “relationship with God” and moral subjectivism | Removes the means of sanctification and true repentance |
| Purgatory | Temporary purification for the saved who die imperfectly purified | Often ignored; replaced by instant canonizations at funerals | Souls in Purgatory are neglected; indulgences forgotten |
| Preaching Focus | Sin, repentance, salvation, eternity | Mercy, feelings, self-fulfillment, worldly justice | The eternal realities are replaced by temporal activism |
| Scriptural Foundation | Matthew 25, Luke 16, Revelation 20–21, Romans 2 | Rarely cited or interpreted symbolically | Denial of clear biblical teaching on judgment and damnation |
| Fruits | Fear of sin, humility, spiritual vigilance | Presumption, laxity, and loss of faith in eternal truths | “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16) |
Summary:
The Four Last Things are essential truths of the Catholic Faith. Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell are not optional topics. They are at the heart of the Gospel message and the mission of the Church. Vatican II’s silence or distortion on these points has led to the destruction of souls.
By replacing eternity with the here and now, justice with mercy, and truth with feeling, the new religion has made men forget that life is short, death is certain, and judgment is coming.
As St. Alphonsus Liguori said:
“He who does not meditate on the Last Things will not persevere in grace.”
To save your soul, you must reject the Vatican II religion’s sentimentalism—and embrace the Catholic Faith which prepares you for eternity.