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Basic
Catholic Q and A's
The numbers in parenthese that
follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism
of the Catholic Church.
Why Are We on This
Earth?
1. What is the purpose
of our life on earth?
2. Why can only God make us happy?
3. Will this happiness come to us automatically?
4. How can we know God?
5. How can we love and serve God?
6. When can we share in God's happiness?
7. Does every human being live on after death?
8. Do we have a name for this everlasting happiness
with God?
9. How do we know that heaven exists?
10. Is it important to keep heaven in mind?
1. What is the purpose of our
life on earth?
The purpose of our life on earth is to attain the everlasting
happiness found only in God. (356-358)
God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son (1 Jn 5:11).
2. Why can only God make us happy?
God gave us such a great desire for happiness that nothing less
than union with him can satisfy us.
Blessed is every one who
fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!... You shall be happy, and
it shall be well with you (Ps 128:1-2).
3. Will this happiness come to us
automatically?
No, because we possess intelligence and free will, God asks us
to cooperate with him by knowing, loving and serving him. (27)
Set about accomplishing
your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).
4. How can we know God?
With our reason, we can come to know something about God through
the created world. But this knowledge can be hard to attain, so God
has revealed himself to us. He did this through his saving deeds and
words in the history of Israel, and then by sending his Son, Jesus
Christ, who is the fullness of revelation. Jesus' teaching comes to
us through Scripture and sacred Tradition, as taught and interpreted
by the Church. In Baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who
enables us to believe through faith. (31-38, 50-67)
His invisible attributes
of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and
perceived in what he has made (Rom 1:20).
5. How can we love and serve
God?
We can love and serve God mainly by wanting to love and serve
him, avoiding sin, sharing in the sacraments, especially Penance and
Eucharist, remaining loyal to the teachings and laws of Christ's Church,
drawing others to God by living a Christ-like life, and frequent prayer.
6. When can we share in God's happiness?
We can begin to share in God's happiness now by living good lives,
which bring peace of heart. But by far the greatest happiness will
be enjoyed after death. Then the faithful person will hear:
Well done, good and faithful
servant! You were faithful over a few things, so now I will set you
over many. Come into your master's joy! (Mt 25:23).
7. Does every human being live
on after death?
The human soul is immortal. At the resurrection from the dead
at the end of the world, body and soul will be re-united to live forever.
(997-998, 1022)
...those who did good deeds
to the resurrection of life, but those who wrought evil to the resurrection
of judgment (Jn 5:29).
8. Do we have a name for this everlasting
happiness with God?
"Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human
longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness," states the
Catechism of the Catholic Church. (1024)
Right now we see indistinctly,
as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face (1 Cor 13:12).
9. How do we know that heaven
exists?
God has told us that heaven exists; Jesus spoke many times of
the eternal reward that awaits the just. (1027)
Then the righteous will
shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Mt 13:43).
10. Is it important to keep heaven
in mind?
The thought of heaven gives us hope; it helps us to be happier,
to lead better lives and to do more good.
The more you sow, the more
you reap.... God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to
the blessings which God can send you (2 Cor 9:6-8).
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