Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 8.djvu/627

 JUDGMENTS

553

JUDICA

erally admitted from the foregoing and other texts that before the Second Coming there will arise a powerful adversary of Christ, who will seduce the nations by his wonders, and persecute the Church (see Antichrist). (6) Extraordinary Perturbations of Nature. — The Scriptures clearly indicate that the judgment wUl be preceded by unwonted and terri- fying disturbances of the physical universe (Matt., xxi V, 29 ; Luke, xxi, 25-26). The wars, pestilences, fam- ines, and earthquakes foretold in Matt., xxiv, 6 sq., are also understood by some writers as among the calam- ities of the last times. (7) The Universal Conflagra- tion. — In the Apostolic writings we are told that the end of the world will be brought about through a general conflagration, which, however, will not anni- hilate the present creation, but wUl change its form and appearance (II Pet., iii, 10-13; cf. I Thess., v, 2; Apoc, iii, 3, and xvi, 15). Natural science shows the possibility of such a catastrophe being produced in the ordinary course of events (cf. Kirvan, " Comment pent finir I'univers", ch. i), but theologians generally in- cline to the belief that its origin will be entirely mirac- ulous. (8) The Trumpet of Resurrection. — Several texts in the New Testament make mention of a voice or trumpet which will awaken the dead to resurrec- tion (I Cor., XV, 52; I Thess., iv, 15; John, v, 28). Ac- cording to St. Thomas (Suppl., Q. Ixxvi, a. 2) there is reference in the.se passages either to the voice or to the apparition of Christ, which will cause the resurrection of the dead. (9) "The Sign of the Son of Man Ap- pearing in the Heavens." — In St. .Mat thru, xxiv, 30, this is indicated as the sign immediately pic •reding the appearance of Clirist to judge the world. By this sifjii I he l^'athers of the Church generally understand the apprarauce in the sky of the Cross on which the Saviour ilieil or else of a wonderful cross of light.

C. Circumstances Accompanying the General Judg- ment. — (1) Time.^As was stated above, the signs that are to precede the judgment give no accurate in- dication of the time when it will occur (Mark, xiii, 32). When the disciples asked the Saviour : " Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? " He answered: "It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power" (.4cts, i, 6, 7). The uncertaint}' of the day of judgment is continually urged by Christ and the Apos- tles as an incentive to vigilance. The day of the Lord will come "as a thief" (Matt., xxiv, 42-43), like lights ning suddenly appearing (ibid., verse 27), like a snare (Luke, xxi, 34), as the Deluge (Matt., xxiv, 37).

(2) Place of the Judgment. — All the texts in which mention is made of the Parusia, or Second Coming, seem to imply clearly enough that the general judg- ment will take place on the earth. Some commen- tators infer from I Thess., iv, 16, that the judgment will be held in the air, the newly risen being carried into the clouds to meet Christ; according to others the prophecy of Joel (iii, 1 sq.) places the last judg- ment in the Valley of Josaphat (q. v.).

(3) The Coming of the Judge. — That this judgment is ascribed to Christ, not only as God, but also as Man, is expressly declared in Scripture; for although the power of judging is common to all the Persons of the Trinity, yet it is specially attributed to the Son, because to Him also in a special manner is ascribed wisdom. But that as Man He will judge the world is confirmed by Christ Himself (John, v, 26, 27). Kt the Second Coming Christ will appear in the heavens, seated on a cloud and surrounded by the angelic hosts (Matt., xvi. 27; xxiv, 30; xxv, 31). The angels will minister to the Judge by bringing all before Him (Matt., xxiv, 31). The elect will aid Christ in a judicial capacity (I Cor., vi, 2). The lives of the just will in themselves be a condemnation of the wicked (Matt., xxi, 41), whose punishment they will publicly approve. But the Apostles will be judges of the world in a sense yet more exact, for the

promise that they shall sit upon twelve thrones judg- ing the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt., xix, 28) seems to imply a real participation in judicial authority. Ac- cording to a very probable opinion, this prerogative is extended to all who have faithfully fulftUed the coun- sels of the Gospel (Matt., xLx, 27, 28). Nothing cer- tain is known as to the manner in which this delegated authority wUl be exercised. St. Thomas conjectures that the greater saints will make known the sentence of Christ to others (Suppl., Q. Ixxxviii, a. 2).

(4) Those to be Judged. — All men, both good and bad, according to the Athanasian Creed, will appear in the judgment to give an account of their deeds. As to children that have personally iloiie neither good nor evil, the baptized must be distinguished from the un- baptized. The former appear in the judgment, not to be judged, but only to behold the glory of Christ (Sunmia Theol., Suppl., Q. l.xxx, a. 5 ad 3 imi), while the latter, ranked with the wicked, although not judged, wUl be enabled to realize the justice of their eternal loss (Suarez). The angels and the demons will not be judged directly, since their eternal destiny has already been fixed; yet, because they have exer- cised a certain influence over the fortunes of men, the sentence pronounced on the latter will have a corre- sponding efi'ect on them also (Siunma Theol., Suppl., Q. Ixxxix, a. 8).

(5) Object of the Judgment.— The judgment will embrace all works, good or bad, forgiven as well as un- forgiven sins, every idle word (Matt., xii, 36), every secret thought (I Cor.,iv, 5). With the exception of Peter Lombard, theologians teach that even the secret sins of the just will be made manifest, in order that the judgment may be made complete and that the justice and mercy of God may be glorified. This will not pain or embarrass the saints, but add to their glory, just as the repentance of St. Peter and St. Mary Mag- dalen is to these saints a source of joy aiul lionour.

(6) Form of the Judgment. — The procedure of the judgment is described in St. Matthew (xxv, 31-46) and in the Apocalypse (xx, 12). Conmientators see in those passages allegorical descriptions intended to convey in a vivid manner the fact that in the last judg- ment the conduct and deserts of each individual will be made plain not only to his ow^n conscience but to the knowledge of the assembled world. It is probable that no words will be spoken in the judg- ment, but that in one instant, through a Divine il- lumination, each creature will thoroughly understand his own moral condition and that of every fellow- creature (Rom.,ii, IS). Many believe, however, that the words of the sentence: "Come, ye blessed", etc. and "Depart from me", etc. will be really addressed by Christ to the multitude of the saved and the lost.

D. Results of the General Judgment. — With the fulfilment of the sentence pronounced in the last judg- ment the relations and the dealings of the Creator with the creature find their culmination, are explained and justified. The Divine purpose being accomplished, the human race will, as a consequence, attain its final destinv. The reign of Christ over mankind will be the sequel of the General Judgment.

St. Thomas, Summa Theologica, .Suppl., De Resnrredionf, QQ. K-ix-xci' JuNGMANN. Tractatus Dc Novtssimis (Ratisbon,1885); HuRTER, Compend. Ttieol. Dogm.. Ill (Innsbruck, 18S5). Tract. X; Billot, Qucsstiones de Novissimis (Rome, 1903); Pohle, Lehrbuch der Dogmalik. Ill (Paderbom, 1906). 656-662 and 722-725; Atzberger, Gescliichte der christlictien Esctiatologte (Freiburg, 1896); Ti.^ceront, Histoire des Dogmes, 1, 11 (Paris,

J. A. McHUGH.

Judgments of God. See Ordeals.

Judica Sunday, name given to the fifth Sunday of Lent, and derived from the firstTvords of the Introit of that day: "Judica me, Deus" — "Judge me, O God" (Ps. xlii). Passion Sunday is the more common name, and in Germany this day is called " Black Sunday", from the custom of veihng the crosses and statues in