God.  We see Almighty God seated on His throne; our angel and patron saint giving their testimony about us—­good or bad—­and then we hear the Judge pronounce sentence.  This takes place, but not in the way we imagine, for God needs no witnesses:  He knows all.  An example will probably make you understand better what really takes place.  If you are walking over a very muddy road on a dark night, you cannot see the spattered condition of your clothing; but if you come suddenly into a strong light you will see at a glance the state in which you are.  In the same way the soul during our earthly life does not see its own condition; but when it comes into the bright light of God’s presence, it sees in an instant its own state and knows what its sentence will be.  It goes immediately to its reward or punishment.  This judgment at the moment of our death will settle our fate forever.  The general judgment will not change, but only repeat, the sentence before the whole world.  Oh, how we should prepare for that awful moment!  See that poor sick man slowly breathing away his life.  All his friends are kneeling around him praying; now he becomes unconscious; now the death rattle sounds in his throat; now the eyes are fixed and glassy.  A few minutes more and that poor soul will stand in the awful presence of God, to give an account of that man’s whole life—­of every thought, word, and deed.  All he has done on earth will be spread out before him like a great picture.  He will, towards the end of his life, have altogether forgotten perhaps what he thought, said, or did on a certain day and hour—­the place he was in and the sin committed, etc.; but at that moment of judgment he will remember all.  How he will wish he had been good!  How, then, can we be so careless now about a matter of such importance, when we are absolutely certain that we too shall be judged, and how soon we know not.  When you are about to be examined on what you have learned in school or instructions in six months or a year, how anxious you are in making the necessary preparation, and how you fear you might not pass, but be kept back for a while!  How delighted you would be to hear that a very dear friend, and one who knew you well, was to be your examiner!  Prepare in the same way for the examination you have to stand at the end of your life.  Every day you can make a preparation by examining your conscience on the sins you have committed; by making an act of contrition for them, and resolving to avoid them for the future.  You should never go to sleep without some preparation for judgment.  But above all, try to become better acquainted with your Examiner—­Our Lord Jesus Christ; try by your prayers and good works to become His special friend, and when your judgment comes you will be pleased rather than afraid to meet Him.

409 Q. What is the judgment called which we have to undergo immediately after death?  A. The judgment we have to undergo immediately after death is called the Particular Judgment.