Particular Judgement

Particular Judgement is the individual judgement of a soul in the period immediately following death.

During the first forty days after death, the soul is judged according to her deeds. In the standard version of events, she must pass through the Aerial Toll-Houses where the demons will confront her with records of her sins and attempt to prove that she rightfully belongs to them while the Holy Angels accompany and advocate for the soul. A soul who successfully defeats the toll-houses will join the ranks of the saints in heaven and if the demons are able to prove their case, the soul will be cast down to hades.

Those who are especially blameless may bypass the toll houses entirely, as the demons will have nothing substantial with which to accuse them. Those who plainly belong to the devil—apostates and suicides, unbaptised heathens, etc.—will likewise possess nothing by which the angels could justify them, allowing the demons to seize the soul and drag her away without the need for extended formalities at the various toll-houses.

Those found lacking may still receive some clemency in that the prayers of the living—most especially commemoration in the Liturgy—may lead to their release. Once Christ returns, this opportunity closes and the Final Judgement will take place.

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