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Psychopomp

A guide who conducts souls to the afterlife; in Christian art angels, especially Michael in some traditions, may fulfill this guiding function.

Short Definition

A spiritual guide who conducts souls to the afterlife.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Language Origin

Greek / English

Pronunciation

SY-koh-pomp

A psychopomp is a figure who guides souls from the world of the living toward the afterlife. The term is comparative and is not the name of a specific Catholic angelic order. In Christian art angels may conduct the soul of the deceased, and Michael can assume related eschatological roles.

Etymology

From Greek psychopompos, “conductor of souls,” from psyche, “soul,” + pompos, “guide.”

Sculptor Notes

Funerary sculpture often turns this abstract role into bodily action: an angel receives, lifts, accompanies, or points the soul upward. Directional gesture and the relationship between mortal body and rising soul are more important than decorative wings.

References

https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_one/section_two/chapter_one/article_1/paragraph_5_heaven_and_earth.html; https://www.newadvent.org/summa/1108.htm