Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

Random Term from the Dictionary:

DIVINE JUDGMENT

An act of God affecting the life or destiny of his rational creatures. It is called judgment by analogy with the function of a human judge who weighs the pros and cons of a situation and makes his authoritative decision accordingly. During life it often refers to what are considered divine acts of retribution, such as some natural disaster. More properly, it is the decision that God renders to each human being at death, and his final judgment of mankind at the end of time.