Abstract

An important focus, if not the very heart, of Catholicism is eschatology, or the study of final things. Traditionally, there have been four “final things” pertaining to human lives: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in its universal form, is an authoritative document that clarifies the Church’s teachings regarding these matters. Beyond that, literature, poetry, theology, and private revelation have historically provided images and insights into these realms that, even as they remain mysterious, compel reflection and consideration.