be happy with God forever in heaven. Death is not to be feared as the saints and martyrs, following in Christ’s footsteps, demonstrate. Instead, death is the means by which we enter into eternal life. Nevertheless, contemplating death is a fearful thought for many, and so it is helpful to look at the precise teachings the Church has. Today, you will learn what the Church teaches about death. First, open the Catechism to the section that addresses “the meaning of Christian death” (CCC 1010–1019).