Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 138.  Wed  9-11-91 13:42
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Martin Van
 Subject: Saints

³ I've had a long standing question as it relates to Saints.
³ Philosophically, I think that when one dies the soul and the body are
³ seperated.  One cannot experience anything without a body.  Thus until
³ judgement day, when we have a new body we will have no experiences at all.
³ The passing of time until the end of the world would be for one who dies
³ now, almost instantanious. With the notable exception of the Virgin Mary
³ who was assumed to heaven, all the other Saints have died...and are
³ awaiting judgment like the rest of us.
³ This seems to fly in the face of the ability of Saints to assist us in
³ prayer...how can they hear the prayer if they are disenbodied.  How can
³ Saints assist us beyond being excellent role models?
³ I welcome your response in guiding me in this problem.
 
Dear Martin,
 
We don't need a philosophy to tell us that at death soul and body are
separated.  All we have to do is to visit a mortuary.
 
"One cannot experience anything without a body."  This statement
rests on no scientific proof because no scientific method or
observation can study the human soul after death.  It rests on no
philosophic proof because philosophy must begin with OUR experience,
and we have no direct experience of a disembodied soul.  So your
statement cannot be verified by any human means.  Therefore, I deny
it.
 
We depend on God's revelation alone for what we know of the life and
activity of human beings after death and before the General
Resurrection.  That they are alive and active on our behalf is clear
from Scripture (e.g. Hebrews 12:1--a cloud of witnesses is surely
doing some witnessing!).  Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelations (and other
passages in that book) show us angels and human souls in Heaven
engaging in conscious and voluntary activity.
 
The Church is the Pillar and Foundation of religious truth (1st
Timothy 3:15).  Her doctrine and practice are the measure of our
belief and action.  In her liturgy, the Church addresses the Saints,
prays to them, and urges us to pray to them in our public and private
acts of devotion.  Therefore, we do so.
 
One small detail:  particular judgment awaits each of us immediately
upon death.  No one in Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell is awaiting
judgment, except that God will hold a General Judgment at the end of
the world.
 
If we ask, "Why are there these two judgments?"  I don't know.  He
has said so.
 
                                     Sincerely in Christ,
                                     Father Mateo