r, who is a very bad man, is wealthy and prosperous,
and seems to have every pleasure. Why this is so we cannot understand
now, but God's reason for it will be made known to us on the Day of
Judgment. Sometimes the wicked do good actions here on earth--help the
poor, or contribute to some charity, for instance; and as God on account
of their wickedness cannot reward them in the next world, He rewards
them chiefly in this world by temporal goods and pleasures. For all
their good deeds they get their reward in this world, and for the evil
their punishment in the next. The good man who suffers gets all his
reward in the next world, that even his sufferings here atone partly for
the evil he has done.

A second reason for a general judgment is to show the crimes of sinners
and the justice of their punishment; also that the saints may have all
their good works made known before the world and receive the glory they
deserve. On earth these saints were sometimes considered fools and
treated as criminals, falsely accused, etc., and now the whole truth
will stand out before the world. But above all, the general judgment is
for the honor and glory of Our Lord. At His first coming into the world
He was poor and weak; many would not believe Him the Son of God, and
insulted Him as an impostor. He was falsely accused, treated shamefully,
and was put to death, many believing Him guilty of some crime. Now He
will appear before all as He really is--their Lord and Master, their
Creator and Judge. How they will tremble to look upon Him whom they have
crucified! How all those who have denied Him, blasphemed Him, persecuted
His Church, and the like, will fear when they see Him there as Judge!
How they will realize the terrible mistake worldlings made!

417 Q. Will our bodies share in the reward or punishment of our souls?
A. Our bodies will share in the reward or punishment of our souls,
because through the Resurrection they will again be united to them.

*418 Q. In what state will the bodies of the just rise?
A. The bodies of the just will rise glorious and immortal.

We honor the dead body and treat it with great respect because it was
the dwelling place of the soul and was often nourished with the
Sacraments; also because it will rise in glory and be united with the
soul in the presence of God forever. For these reasons we use incense
and holy water when the body is to be buried, and even bless the ground
in which it is laid. "Faithful