In Catholic theology, the Particular Judgment of each individual soul occurs immediately after its separation from the body. This is prior to and quite distinct from the General Judgment on the last day.
In the 1336 bull Benedictus Deus Pope Benedict XII upheld the teaching that the Particular Judgment admits the soul at once either to the beatific vision, to hell, or to purgatory, thus excluding an intermediate state of sleep or partial happiness between the day of death and the final resurrection of the body, as had been envisaged by older theologians such as St. Justin, Tertullian, and St. Ambrose.
The chief scriptural evidence for this doctrine is founded in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus: “Once there was a rich man who dressed in purple and linen and feasted splendidly every day. At his gate lay a beggar named Lazarus who was covered with sores. Lazarus longed to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. The dogs even came and licked his sores. Eventually the beggar died and was carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man likewise died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he called out ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to refresh my tongue, for I am tortured in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you were well off in your lifetime, while Lazarus was in misery. Now he has found consolation here but you have found torment’” (Lk 16:19).
Likewise, Christ himself distinguishes the penitent thief from the other: “One of the criminals hanging in crucifixion blasphemed him: ‘Are you the Messiah? Then save yourself and us.’ But the other rebuked him: ‘Have you not fear of God? We deserve it. We are only paying the price for what we’ve done …’ And Jesus replied: ‘I assure you, this day you will be with me in paradise’” (Lk 23:29-43).
It is the common and traditional theological tradition that this Particular Judgment occurs at the time of death and consists of an interior illumination which makes known to the separated soul its state in relation with God – a reward or a penalty.
In contrast with the Particular Judgment on souls immediately after death, the General Judgment is held to be the occasion of God’s final sentence on humanity as a whole, as well as his verdict on both the soul and the body of each individual.
The concept of God as a judge, imposing divine decisions upon men, is an idea that the Israelite religion shared with surrounding pagans. All religions attribute to their gods power that can be illustrated by the prerogative of judging and of issuing decrees from which there is no appeal.
The biblical concept of judgment, however, can be clearly understood only in relation to the idea of justice, for it was the primary duty of a judge “to do justice.” A man is just if he is in a right relationship with God and his fellow men.
In the Old Testament, conduct was measured not by an ideal norm but by the fulfillment of various obligations in specific relationships with other men.
However, there is a special relationship of man with God, and the just man is the one who fulfills the claims placed upon him by this relationship. In turn, God shows forth his justice and his righteous acts, faithful to the role which he himself established with Israel.
And so the Particular Judgment is performed immediately when death separates the soul from the body. It is in this instant that God judges what a soul deserves – a triumphal verdict to enter paradise for good actions done during earthly life, or hell for having mortally offended the Creator in the bad deeds committed and without repentance.
The third possibility is temporary exile in purgatory as punishment for venial faults that must be purified.
We must consider the effects of the Particular Judgment by the Supreme Judge. For those who are saved, his glorious greeting: “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34) and the joyful welcome by the victorious holy men and women who also died in the grace of God.
Then will come the horrendous cry of desperation from those who died in mortal sin, condemned to hell with “Depart from me to everlasting fire” (Mt 25:41).
And finally, the hope of those who wait to be purified but will, in all certitude, enter heaven one day.