Read the interview in which a young Catholic speaks about their beliefs about life after death.

Use the highlighters to identify at least four ways in which these beliefs affect a Catholic’s life.

Write How do beliefs about life after death affect the lives of Catholics? as a subheading in your book.

Make a note of at least four ways in your book.

Film Clip

As we watch this film look out for…..

What are the family and friends wearing? Describe the Mood of the ceremony…. What is being said at the ceremony?

‘Everything works out in the end; if it has not yet worked out, then it is not yet the end’.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – Buddhist/Hindu proverb

Jesus is the resurrection and the life and those who believe in Him will never die.

John 11:25New International Version (NIV)25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die

Heaven The idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body.

Hell A place where Catholics believe the soul goes after death to be purified.

Immortality A place of paradise where God rules.

Purgatory The belief that after the death of the body, the body stays in the grave until the end of time when it will be raised.

Resurrection Unexplained things that are thought to have spiritual caused, e.g. ghosts and mediums.

Paranormal A place of horrors where Satan rules.

Jesus rose

from the

dead, so this

proves…

In the Bible

it is taught…

It is the teaching of

the Church in the

Catechism that…

Many Catholics

believe that it doesn’t

make sense to say that life

ends at death. Life after

death , in which the good

are rewarded and the evil

are punished makes sense

of this life. Therefore, life

after death gives life a…

What Is the Purpose of a Funeral?Obj:• To describe the symbols and rituals used in a Christian

funeral.• To explain what beliefs about death these symbols and rituals

express.• To understand how a funeral can offer comfort to the

bereaved.

The End of Life• What happens when we die?• How are actions in this life affected by beliefs about

the next?• How are beliefs about death expressed?• How does religious belief offer comfort and solace?

Why do Christians have funerals?

Christians believe that death is not the end of somebody's existence just somebody’s life on earth.

They have funeral services because they want to celebrate that person’s life on earth and goodbye to them until they meet them again.

Requiem Mass. The word Requiem means “rest”

What happens at a Christian funeral?

When a person dies their body is placed in a coffin. Sometimes this coffin is left open so that relatives can say a final goodbye to the person.

The coffin is then usually taken to a church. Here a priest or vicar will read from the Bible. The priest will also say a few words about the person (eulogy) which are supposed to comfort family and friends and then say prayers, hoping that the person will now be in heaven.

Music At Christian funerals songs will often be

sung. These songs traditionally are religious and called hymns but now people might choose to sing modern songs as well as traditional (something that has meaning).

Some people plan before they die what songs they want to have sung at their funeral.

Family and Friends At the funeral after

the priest/vicar has spoken some members of the family or friends may speak about the person who has died.

Friends and family often wear dark colours at funerals, to show how sad a day it is.

Next the coffin is taken from the church, either for burial or cremation.

Burial Cremation

At a crematorium, more prayers are said and the coffin is then taken away to be cremated. Later the ashes are returned to relatives to be buried or scattered.

At a burial the coffin is lowered into the ground and then covered with earth. Later a gravestone may be placed there.

Committal:Perhaps the most upsetting moment of a funeral; when the coffin is lowered into the grave or at the moment when the curtains are drawn before cremation.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man from

the dust of the ground, and breathed

into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Why do you think at a Christian funeral…

1.Candles are often lit?

2.Flowers are brought?

3.“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust is often said”?

John 8:12  Then Jesus spoke to them again,

saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not

walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Some Clues

Why do you think it is that at a Christian funeral… The answers

1. Candles are often lit

2. Flowers are brought

3. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust is often said”

1. As a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world.

2. To represent new life & the beauty of heaven.

3. The Bible teaches that people were created from the earth and return to this after death

Describe Christian beliefs about funerals [3]

Outnumbered

Who went to the funeral? What are people wearing? Where is the coffin throughout the

ceremony in the church? Who else spoke apart from the vicar? What did he say?

Outnumbered

What did the vicar talk about? Eternal life through Jesus.

…lives forever in God’s love and care. …Help for the family

What book did the Vicar read from when she was being buried?

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust Why do you think soil was thrown onto the coffin?

How Catholic Funerals reflect belief in Life After Death

Preparation for Death The Sacraments of healing:

Penance/Reconciliation and The Sacrament of the sick are intended to strengthen and cleanse a believer.

Catholics believe that hell, and even purgatory can be avoided by receiving these Sacraments.

Vigil The night before the funeral. Requiem/Funeral Mass With hymns and readings about life after death

(resurrection), prayers for the soul of the departed (including absolution) and Holy Communion

Burial / Cremation