1. DOES THE BIBLE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PRAYING FOR THE DEAD?
While the word “purgatory” never appears in the Bible, the concept is present both implicitly and explicitly. Implicitly, the idea of praying for the dead – as when Job prays for his sons and daughters, or when Judas Maccabeus, "sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifices to be offered for the sins of the dead." (2 Maccabees 12:43), or when St. Paul encourages the Corinthians to pray for the dead (cf. 1 Corinthians 15) – necessitates belief in purgatory. If the dead are in hell, our prayers could do no good; if they are in heaven, then they have no need of prayer. Therefore, there must be some third place (neither in heaven nor in hell) where the souls of the dead can benefit from our prayers.
The concept of purgatory is also explicitly presented in the Bible. Consider when Jesus says that the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven in this life or in the next (cf. Matthew 12:31) – thus, it is clear that some sins can be forgiven in the next life (i.e. the punishment of sin, not the guilt of sin).
Likewise, St. Paul states that some who have died will be purified as by fire: If any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3: 11 - 15)
Purgatory is that purification which they must undergo who have died in God’s grace and friendship, but are still imperfect. Purgatory is “this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.” (CCC 1031) Purgatory is a great and extremely generous gift from the LORD. It is a place in which the souls of the deceased faithful, who though dying in the grace of God, are yet burdened with some small sins not yet atoned for, suffer temporal punishment, and become purified from all sin. It is called the place of purification or purgatory, because in it those souls, which are not perfectly unsullied, are purified by fire as gold in the furnace. St. Paul writes to the Corinthians: And the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he had built thereupon, he shall receive a reward; if any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. (i. Cor.iii.23.) "And when St. Paul," says St. Ambrose (Serm. 20. in Ps. cxviii.), "says, yet so as by fire, he shows that such a man indeed becomes happy, having suffered the punishment of fire, having been cleansed by the blessed fire, but not being, like the wicked, continually tormented in eternal fire." St. Paul's words, then, can only be understood to refer to the fire of purification, as the infallible Church has always explained them.
3. HOW IS PURGATORY DIFFERENT FROM HELL?
Purgatory is essentially different from hell insofar as the souls there still possess grace. The souls in purgatory have faith, hope and love. Their punishment and suffering is of a purifying nature and prepares them for heaven. Moreover, purgatory is only a temporary purgation and all the souls in purgatory will eventually gain entrance to heaven.
Hell, on the other hand, is eternal. The sufferings of hell do not purify but only torture and punish. The souls in hell have no grace, neither have they any (true) faith, hope or love. The souls in hell will never attain to salvation.
4. HOW IS PURGATORY DIFFERENT FROM HEAVEN?
Purgatory is a sort of ante-chamber to heaven, a preparatory purgation for heaven. The souls in purgatory suffer intensely and are not yet perfectly happy. The souls in purgatory still have hope (rather than the fulfilment of hope in heaven), since they are not yet perfectly possessed by God. Likewise they still have faith, since they do not yet see God.
5. HOW DOES COMMON SENSE INDICATE THE EXISTENCE OF PURGATORY?
Only people with mortal sin go to Hell, and on the other hand, no one can enter Heaven with even the smallest sin. Therefore, there must be a place in the next world where lesser sins can be taken off the soul.
6. WHO WILL GO TO PURGATORY?
People who die with Sanctifying Grace in their souls, but —who die with venial sin on their souls, or who have not completed (satisfied for) the punishment still due to their already forgiven sins.
7. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE "PUNISHMENT STILL DUE TO SIN"?
This means that, even though God forgives your sins, He still requires that you repair the damage which your sin has caused (i.e. "pay" for them), either in this life or in the next.
For example: A boy playing ball in his yard breaks his neighbour's window. He goes and tells the lady he is sorry, and she forgives him but she tells him he will still have to pay for the window.
8. DO YOU SUFFER IN PURGATORY?
Yes. Besides not being allowed to see God face to face, the souls in Purgatory suffer a great deal. "The fire of Purgatory" says St. Augustine, "is more terrible than man can suffer in this life."
9. HOW LONG WILL YOU HAVE TO SUFFER IN PURGATORY?
That depends on the number and seriousness of the sins to be atoned for. "My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God." (Psalm 42:2).
Concerning this the Church has made no decision, though much has been written by the fathers of the Church on the subject. Concerning the severity of the punishment in purgatory, St. Augustine writes: "This fire is more painful than any that man can suffer in this life." This should urge us to continual sanctification and atonement, so that we may escape the fearful judgment of God.
The Catholic Church speaks sparingly about the final state of preparation that leads to eternal life in Heaven.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect … As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come” (CCC 1031).
Furthermore, “[E]very sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory” (CCC 1472).
The Church does not give a specific amount of “time” to this final place of purification.
On one hand, this is because to speak of an amount of time in Purgatory, it matters what we mean by “time.” In tradition, purgatory is what supplies the temporal punishment due to our personal sins. We can say that purgatory has time in the sense that souls begin and end periods of demarcated purification there. However it is not, so far as we know, the way we measure time in this life.
Another chief consideration is that purgatory is different for everyone. God, being a just Judge, deals out a “punishment” according to our attachment to sin. Each person will have a different attachment at the moment of death and so each person’s experience of purgatory will be vastly different. Some people might spend “minutes” in purgatory, while others could be there for “years.” For this reason there is no possible way to give a general “time” period to a person’s “residence” in purgatory.
10. WILL PURGATORY GO ON FOREVER?
No, Purgatory will be completed at the time of the final judgment. All the souls in purgatory at that time will be purified instantaneously and will be caught up with the saints in glory. Those who have been purified earlier will go to Heaven to see God and enjoy Him forever. "Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not come out from thence till thou repay the last farthing." (Matthew 5:26)
What is true and immensely important is that purgatory is not eternal.
As the book Purgatory Surveyed explains, “it is most certain, that these pains are not eternal; otherwise it were not Purgatory, but hell itself: for in this chiefly lies the difference between hell and Purgatory, that the pains of Purgatory last but for a time; those of hell, for an eternity.”
At the end of time, when Our Lord comes again, purgatory will cease to exist, for all the souls within it will have been purified and its purpose will be completed. All the souls in purgatory will enter Heaven and when they do, purgatory will be no more.
If you are to enter purgatory some day, rejoice, for you can only go up!
11. HOW CAN I HELP THE SOULS IN PURGATORY?
You can help the poor souls by praying for them, offering up works of mercy, gaining indulgences for them, mortifying yourself on their behalf, and completing other spiritual works for their sake. [Be sure that no prayer will be wasted; since, if the soul is not in purgatory (for one reason or another), Our Blessed Mother will certainly make good use of the graces for another]. Most especially, we consider the importance of praying for the holy souls when at Mass (especially during the Eucharistic prayer), and having Masses offered for the deceased.
Of this St. Augustine writes: "It is not to be doubted, that we can aid the souls of the departed by the prayers of the Church, by the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and by the alms which we offer for them." The Church has always taught, that prayers for the faithful departed are useful and good, and she has always offered Masses for them.
12. WHAT SHOULD URGE US TO AID THE SUFFERING SOULS IN PURGATORY?
1. The consideration of the belief of the Church in the communion of saints, by which all the members of the Church upon earth, in heaven, and in purgatory are joined together by the bonds of love, like the members of one body, and as the healthy members of a body sympathize with the suffering members, seeking to aid them, so should we assist our suffering brothers in purgatory.
2. The remembrance that it is God's will, that we should practise charity towards one another, and that fearful judgments are threatened those who show no charity to a brother in need, together with the recollection of God's love which desires, that all men should be happy in heaven.
3. We should be urged to it by love for ourselves, for if we should be condemned to the pains of purification, we would assuredly desire our living brothers to pray for us and perform good works for our sake, while the souls who through our prayers have perhaps found redemption, will not fail to reward our aid by interceding for us.
13. CAN WE AID THE SOULS IN PURGATORY BY GAINING INDULGENCES?
Yes, for as indulgences, as explained in the Instruction for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, are a complete or a partial remittance of the temporal punishment due to sin, bestowed by the Church to penitent sinners from the treasury of the merits of Christ and His saints. If we gain such a remittance, we can apply it to the souls in purgatory. But it is to be remembered, that such an indulgence can be transferred only to one soul.
14. HOW CAN YOU AVOID PURGATORY?
It’s a place to avoid. Nevertheless, it can be avoided, and the saints have repeatedly encouraged us to make our Purgatory on earth.
Fr. Paul O’Sullivan gives the following advice for avoiding Purgatory (How to Avoid Purgatory):
A - avoid sin even small faults
B - do penance for sins forgiven
C - accept suffering
D - frequent confession and Communion
E - pray with faith and perseverance
F - prepare for death by receiving the sacraments, especially anointing of the sick or extreme unction.
G - gain indulgences
It’s advice that makes saints … even in this life. As Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange reminds us: Attaining sanctity on earth is possible—and normal—for everyone.
15. ARE THE HERETIC RIGHT IN DENYING, THAT THERE IS SUCH A PLACE OF PURIFICATION AS PURGATORY?
By no means, for by such denial they oppose the holy Scriptures, tradition, and reason. The holy Scriptures teach, that there is a purgatory: it is related in the Second Book of the Machabees, that Judas Machabeus sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem, to be used in the temple to obtain prayers for those who fell in battle, for he believed it: a good and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins. But for what dead shall we pray? Those in heaven do not require our prayers; to those in hell they are of no avail; we must then pray for those who are in the place of purification. Christ speaks of a prison in the future life, from which no man comes out until he has paid the last farthing. (Matt. v. 25, 26.) This prison cannot be hell, because from hell there is never any release; it must be, then, a place of purification. Again Christ speaks of sin which shall be forgiven neither in this world nor in the next (Matt. xii. 32.), from which it follows, there is remittance of some sins in the next world; but this can be neither in heaven nor in hell, consequently in purgatory.
As the Consistory of Trent says (Sess. 6. c. 30.), the Church has always taught, according to the old tradition of the fathers, in all her councils, that there is a purgatory, and all centuries show proofs of the continual belief of all true Christians in a purgatory. Finally, man's unblinded reason must accept a purgatory; for how many depart this earth before having accomplished the great work of their own purification? They cannot enter heaven; for St. John tells us: There shall not enter into it any thing defiled. (Apoc. xxi. 27.) The simple separation of the soul from the body does not make the sinful soul pure, and yet God cannot reject them as the hardened sinners in hell; there must then be a middle place, a purgatory, where those who have departed not free from stain, must be purified. See how the doctrine of the Church, reason, and the holy Scriptures all agree, and do not let yourself be led away by false arguments from those who not only believe in no purgatory, but even in no hell, so that they may sin with so much more impunity.
16. WHAT IS ALL SOULS ' DAY?
It is the day set apart by the Catholic Church for the special devout commemoration of those of its members, who have departed this life in the grace and friendship of God, for whom we pray, that they may soon be released by God from the prison of purgatory.
17. FOR WHICH SOULS SHOULD WE PRAY?
We should certainly, especially on this day, offer prayers and good works for all the faithful departed, and since we are more under obligation to some, some are more pleasing to God, some need assistance more, some deserve it more than others, we should strive to pray most earnestly for our parents, relations, friends, and benefactors; for those who are most acceptable to God; for those who have suffered the longest, or who have the longest yet to suffer; for those who are most painfully tormented; for those who are the most forsaken; for those who are nearest redemption; for those who are suffering on account of us; for those who hope in our prayers; for those who during life have injured us, or been injured by us; for our spiritual brothers and sisters.
18. WHEN AND BY WHICH MEANS WAS THIS YEARLY COMMEMORATION OF THE DEPARTED INTRODUCED INTO THE CHURCH?
The precise time of its introduction cannot be told. Tertullian (A. D. 160) writes, that the early Christians held a yearly commemoration of the faithful departed. Towards the end of the tenth century St. Odilo, Abbot of the Benedictines at Cluny, directed that the yearly commemoration of the faithful departed, should be observed on the Second of November with prayers, alms, and the Sacrifice of the Mass, which time and manner of celebration spread through various dioceses, and was officially, confirmed by Pope John XIX. And this day was appointed, that, having the day previously rejoiced at the glory of the saints in heaven, we might on this day most properly pray for those who are yet doing penance for their sins and sigh in purgatory for their redemption.
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The Introit of this day's Mass as for all Masses of the deads reads: Grant them eternal rest, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine on them. (Ps. lxiv.)
19. WHY CATHOLICS BELIEVE IN PURGATORY?
Anti-catholic protestant's most frequently misunderstood teaching of the Church concerns Purgatory. They even accused the Catholic Church inventing that doctrine and alleged it as unbiblical. Is the concept of "purgatory" really not in the bible?
Eventhough the exact word "Purgatory" is not written in the Bible, its meaning is clearly stated there. Just like the words "Inacarnation", "Trinity" or "Rapture" and "Bible" are not to be found in the Bible, yet the meaning are there. We can't read in the Bible that "Jesus Urinated", yet we believe that He did. Because not all things were written in the Bible (Jn.21:25). Likewise, Purgatory is not explicitly referred to by name, but the Bible does allude to it, especially in terms of purging fire.
It is not true that the Catholic Church invented Purgatory. In fact, before the Catholic Church existed in 33AD, many jews in the Old Testament had already believed in state of atonement of sins after a person died (2Mac.12:42-46). It is not a second-chance for damned souls to repent. Instead it is a state of cleansing and purification for souls destined for heaven. Also, Purgatory is not a means to earn our way to heaven, but a gift from God preparing us to see Him face to face.
The word "Purgatory" is derived from Latin word "Purgationem" and is related to the verb - to purge - which means to cleanse or purify. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):
"All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. [CCC 1030-1031]
20. WHY PURGATORY IS NECESSARY?
Purgatory is God's way of showing justice for being a "Just God". Because God is a righteous and "good judge" (Ps.7:11, 2Tim.4:8).
Since God is a "good judge", He will punish every sinners according to the gravity of sins committed (Mat.5:22).
In the Bible, there are two kinds of sin: sins that cannot lead to death (i.e. venial) and sins that can lead to death (i.e. mortal) (1Jn. 5:16-17).
Those who have committed grave sins (mortal) will be punished (if not reconciled with God) through eternal suffering in hell. But, those who committed only small sins (venial) cannot enter Heaven, because nobody with small sins can enter Heaven (Rev.21:27). Those souls tainted with venial sins will then be washed or cleansed first through a purifying fire, before they can enter heaven.
The Catholic Church call that state of cleansing or purification as "Purgatory", as the word emplies "purging". You may call it with other name/s if you like, but Catholics call it "Purgatory". Where is it implied in the Bible?
Jesus in the Gospel talks about this correction and indirectly Purgatory at the end of His parable on forgiveness in Mat.18:34-35 as it says: 
"And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers (torturers), 'till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." [Matt 18:34-35]
In the above passage there is no mention of God punishing very serious sinners but only those who sin by not forgiving others. Also the punishment referred to here is not eternal as in hell (Mark 9:47- 48), but only temporary - "till he should pay all his debt."
Purgatory is a temporary state for souls in friendship with God (i.e. saved) who need cleansing from the bad effects, mess, scandals and attachments (attraction to sin) still remaining from forgiven mortal sins and less serious venial sins. Such tainted souls, though saved, cannot enter heaven directly.
As stated in the Bible: "But nothing unclean shall enter Heaven..." [Rev 21:27]. These souls need to be purged of all "uncleanness", no matter how slight before seeing God face to face (Rev 22:3-5). Eventually all souls in Purgatory will go to heaven.
In addition, St. Paul makes allusions to this in terms of fire in his Epistle to the Corinthians: "If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is BURNED up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be SAVED, but only as THROUGH FIRE. [1 Cor 3:12-15]
Our works built on Christ will be tested. Inferior works - "wood, hay and stubble" - will be purged by "fire", while only the "gold, silver and precious stones" will survive for heaven.
The clause, "he will suffer loss," implies temporary hardship and punishment, even though he will be saved. This state of purification is not Hell, because in hell you will no longer be saved there. It is not also Heaven because heaven is not a burning fire. Catholic Church calls it "Purgatory".
St. Peter in his Epistle also reminds us that the genuineness of our faith "is tested by fire." [1 Peter 1:7]
The Church encourages us to pray for the dead since they may be in Purgatory needing our prayers. That is why the Catholic Church dedicates "All Souls Day" which is intended for those forgotten souls in Purgatory, that needs our prayer.
Praying for the dead is clearly biblical. In the Book of Maccabees, Judas Maccabees took a collection for a sin offering for his men who died in battle: "For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead... Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin" . [2 Macc 12:44-45]
St. Paul offers a short prayer for Onesiphorus and his family in 2Tim.1:16 it says: "May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus... may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day..."
Whether dead or alive, St. Paul intercedes (mediates) for him to God (1 Tim 2:1-5).
21. IF GOD IS NOT A "JUST GOD", THEN HE IS NOT THE "TRUE GOD".
Take this example, there were two (2) men who died simultaneously without being reconciled with God. The first man had committed small sin (venial) when he lied to his mother, the other man committed grave sin (mortal) when he raped and killed a girl. Then, the 2 men face judgment before God.
The "Good and Just God" will not condemned the 2 sinners into hell. Because the one with small sin is not worthy to be dumped in eternal suffering. But, he is also not worthy to be directly rewarded Heaven (since no one can enter heaven even with small sins Rev. 21:28).
Thus, the most logical way for a good judge in rendering good judgment is to punish the one with small sin according to the gravity of his sin. This is possible through Purgatory. Even in our imperfect government justice system, it is absolutely not "just & fair" if a person who commits a "petty crime" will be punished the penalty of that who committed a "heinous crime". How much more it is "fair" when the "good judge" God will make judgment after we died.
In the Bible St. Paul writes about a "purging fire" that will purify our works "for the Day."
St. Peter reminds us that our faith will be refined and tested by fire. Elsewhere in the Bible, the action of the Holy Spirit is described as fire. "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." [Luke 3:16]
According to the Spanish mystic, St. John of the Cross, the fire of Purgatory is God's Love purifying our soul in preparation for the final beatific vision - the heavenly union with God. (Rev 22:3-5) "For indeed our God is a consuming fire." [Heb 12:29]
"So that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire." (1 Peter 1:7)
22. WHAT IS PURGATORY LIKE?
More painful than anything on earth, and yet more peaceful than anywhere but Heaven.
In her official teaching, the Church doesn’t say much about what Purgatory is actually like, but from the writings of saints and theologians, there’s much we can learn.
1- It’s a place of intense suffering and joy.
St. Catherine of Genoa, who is said to have suffered the pain of purgatory on earth, claimed “there is in purgatory as much pain as in hell” (Treatise on Purgatory). Like the damned, souls there suffer hunger for the God they don’t yet see—like a man who could live without eating, hungering more and more for the bread he doesn’t have (to use St. Catherine’s image). And they suffer from fire that “will be more painful than anything man can suffer in the present life” (St. Augustine, On Psalm 37:3).
Once St. Catherine of Ricci is said to have suffered 40 days for a soul in Purgatory—when a novice touched her hand, she remarked, “Mother, you are burning!”
At the same time, St. Catherine of Genoa also taught, “Souls in purgatory unite great joy with great suffering … No peace is comparable to that of the souls in purgatory, except that of the saints in heaven.”
There’s a mysterious ebb and flow of pain and joy in Purgatory, says the Dominican Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, because the suffering is temporary and leads to heaven: The more the soul loves God, the more it suffers not seeing Him; the more if suffers, the more joy and love it has in drawing closer to God.
2- It’s a place of cleansing and mercy.
Remember the parable about the man who came to the king’s marriage feast without a wedding garment? (Matthew 22:1-14) The wedding garment is the life of grace we need to enter the feast of heaven. Now imagine a twist: The man comes wearing his garment, but it’s all soiled. What would the king say? Maybe something like: “Nothing unclean shall enter” (Revelation 21:27).
In the Old Testament, Judas Maccabeus had his men pray for the deceased and requested that a sin offering be made for them: “Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” (2 Maccabees 12:43) This presupposes a place of purification after death—Purgatory.
Many Church Fathers think St. Paul alluded to Purgatory when he wrote about building on the foundation of Jesus with gold or silver, wood or straw: “The fire will test what sort of work each one has done … If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13, 15). Wood and straw didn’t fare well for the three pigs—but God, in His mercy, doesn’t demand gold!
That’s a good thing, because Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange says, “Souls that completely escape all purgatory are probably rather rare. Among the good religious whom St. Teresa knew, only three had completed their purgatory on earth” (Life Everlasting., p. 194).
SEVEN SOUL GROUPS TO PRAY FOR THIS NOVEMBER
The Church dedicates the month of November to praying for the dead.
The month begins by remembering All Saints on November 1st, and All Souls on November 2nd.
As Catholics, we believe that after death there is a period of purification, which occurs in a place called Purgatory.
During this month in which we pray for and remember the dead, I wish to propose seven different souls we could pray for, asking God to be merciful to them and bring them into their eternal reward.
( Knowing the reasons why we should pray for the dead, will be easy for you to pray earnestly)
Praying for our parents is an important task, because it is a way that we can still be connected to them from here below.
Don’t forget about mom and dad, and if you have a chance, perhaps pay a visit to their grave this November.
It is always tragic when a young person dies.
In our day and age, there are many ways young people can fall into sin; temptation surrounds them in many ways, as it does all of us.
This November, when you pray for those who have gone before you, don’t forget those who died in their youth.
3. THOSE WHO DIE UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT THE SACRAMENTS
Do you know someone who died tragically in a car accident or someone who had a heart attack and passed quickly?
It’s possible that if they died suddenly and unexpectedly, the person didn’t die fortified with the sacraments.
It also means they might not have had time to repent and make reparation for their sins in this life.
It’s important for us to remember them in prayer and perhaps even make small sacrifices on their behalf to atone for the sins of their life.
It’s a simple way we can help out those we loved.
It is a great responsibility to have the care of souls.
Perhaps the souls of clergy and religious have things for which they must atone.
Don’t forget your favorite priest or pastor who has passed away.
Say a prayer for them.
5. FOR THOSE WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE
Unfortunately, many people still believe suicide is a mortal sin in all instances, which as mentioned, psychological factors lessen culpability.
This mentality may cause some people to lose hope and never offer prayers for their loved one who died in this manner.
A faithful Catholic woman, June Klins, felt called by God to pray for those lost to suicide.
6. FOR OUR NON CATHOLIC AND NON CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS
I am sure you have had friends who were non Catholics and non Christians pass away.
Don’t forget to pray for their souls.
For the most part, the belief of Purgatory is something believed only by Catholics.
For our Protestant brothers and sisters they don’t have much opportunity, if any, for Masses to be offered for their soul, or for prayers to be prayed for their eternal rest.
As Catholics, this responsibility falls to us.
What a gift you could give your friend, by praying them out of Purgatory and into the kingdom of Heaven.
A while back on social media, a person was seen rejoicing at the death of someone from their past because of the person’s cruelty toward them.
Jesus said in the gospel to do good to those who hate you; love your enemies.
When we hear of the passing of someone whom we did not count as a friend, and instead as a foe, offer a prayer for them.
It’s a kind thing we can do, and an act of mercy.
*Perhaps as we forgive and show mercy, God will do the same for us, and that enemy of our ours might return that favor for us, by interceding for you.*
*_Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord, and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them._*
*May Their Rest In Peace.* Amen.
*PRACTICAL POINTS*
*A.* All Souls' Day is the day set aside by the Church for special prayers and Masses for all the souls suffering in Purgatory. It is celebrated every year on November 2.
*B.* The souls in Purgatory cannot help themselves. We should help them by our prayers and sacrifices. They, in turn, can and do pray for us.
*C.* The souls in Purgatory are known as the Poor Souls.
*D.* Litany for the Poor Souls.
2 Maccabees 12:46
It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.
REQUIEM ÆTERNAM DONA EI, DOMINE
ET LUX PERPETUA LUCEAT EI :
REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
AMEN.
Eternal rest, grant unto them , O LORD,
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.
November 2nd. All Souls Day.
