Have you ever feared being alone or forgotten? If so, know that this is extremely natural and that over one-third of people feel the same way. Now imagine enduring that loneliness for an indeterminate amount of time. It’s a thought that almost breaks your heart.
But what if you could alleviate that loneliness for someone? The Church teaches that you can.
On November 2, we celebrate All Souls’ Day. As Catholics, we believe that when people die, they go to heaven, hell, or purgatory. Purgatory is a place of purification, as no one who is imperfect and who has not atoned for their sins can enter heaven.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “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.”
Those who first go to purgatory will eventually get to heaven, and through our prayers, we can help them attain the necessary purification. Though we should regularly pray for souls in purgatory, All Souls’ Day is a day to officially remember them.
Some may ask where the teaching about purgatory comes from, and Bible scholars refer to both Old and New Testament books for the basis of this belief. For instance, in II Maccabees, Judas Maccabeus and his men prayed for those who had died in battle while wearing idols around their necks.
We read that
Judas took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. . . . If he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin.
In Matthew, we read that Jesus taught this lesson in a parable: “Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Church fathers have used this to explain the atonement many of us must do after our deaths.
We see further evidence of this in 1 Corinthians, where we read: “The work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.”
This teaching about God’s judgment after death helps us understand the necessity for purification. The work referred to in this passage is our actions—including our sins. And because fire is often used as a form of purification throughout the Bible, we realize that there must be a time after death to purify our souls—atoning for those sinful actions—so that we can spend eternity with God.
Though we don’t know what we may endure in purgatory, its existence is an immense blessing and a sign of God’s mercy, for we do know that those there will ultimately enter heaven. We also know that we can help those who are there waiting, and this should bring us great joy, as we can help in the salvation of our loved ones and even strangers who may be forgotten by those on earth and who have no one to pray for them.
In fact, praying for the dead is one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Praying is such an easy thing to do, and it’s so incredibly powerful. There is even a specific prayer for those in purgatory, and it takes just a few moments to recite.
But prayer isn’t the only way we help those in purgatory reach heaven.
We can also offer a Mass for them. Every time we go to Mass, we have the opportunity to offer it up for someone. We don’t have to make it the official Mass intention read by the lector; it can simply be something we tell God. We can say, “Today, I offer my Mass for a poor soul in purgatory” or “Today, I offer my Mass for my recently departed uncle.” According to the Shrine of Divine Mercy website, “The Church considers the Mass the greatest possible prayer of intercession because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father by making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection.”
We can fast for our loved ones who have died or for those we don’t know in purgatory. Fasting doesn’t necessarily have to be from food. It can be from TV or from social media or from something else we regularly take part in.
We can also offer up our sufferings—large or small or anywhere in between—for someone in purgatory. Next time you have a headache or some kind of physical or even mental pain, tell God that you’re offering up your suffering for someone in purgatory. This is a fantastic way to derive something good from something painful.
In addition to praying for the family and friends we have lost, we should also pray for someone who has been forgotten or who has no one to pray for them.
Adding prayers for souls in purgatory to your daily routine is really quite easy. Make it a point to add the Prayer for Poor Souls in Purgatory during family mealtime, while you’re driving to work, or even when you wash your hands. Let the souls in purgatory know that you have not forgotten them.
Just as we need the saints in heaven to pray for us while we are here on earth, those in purgatory need us to pray for them so they too can become saints in heaven.
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Beautiful! Thank you for the reminder. I hope we all take time today to pray for them.
A significant reminder to pray for those suffering their purification in purgatory. We can help as Ms Ciancio suggests, by strengthening, and even reducing their period of suffering. All comes down to love, it all is a gift of grace.
Christ, through the Church calls us to participation in His redeeming work on Earth. And to deepen our awareness of the suffering of others, and of the depth of His love. All Souls Day has the added significance of inspiring us to intercede now, while there’s still time for sinners living lives that will condemn them to eternal suffering. We have it within our power, since God can do all things within us by His grace to be instruments of His salvation. The willingness to sacrifice now for others, especially by cancelling the debt of those who offend us will assure that when we depart this planet there will be a welcome place for us to stay.
Happy All Souls Day everyone. This is a great article to remind us to pray for those in purgatory. You have given us great resources also for those prayers. Thank you 🙏😊
What verses in 1 Corinthians are you referring to?
The verses she is referring to were placed into this article for all to read. Refer back to the article and the verses are there.
1 Corinthians is 16 chapters. A legitimate and credible author wouldn’t make their readers search for the chapter and verse.
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
To die is gain, NOT torment
She didn’t make you search for them. Here it states below, is exactly what she has in her article so you don’t have to search for it like you claimed. She has written them out for you. There’s also great resources you can tap and refer to. It’s a great article!! ❤️🙏
We see further evidence of this in 1 Corinthians, where we read: “The work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.”
And, yet, we’re glad to see that Old Brine is back in the game. Something about old wine or whines, or whatever. The biblical references would be Mt 9:14-17, Mk 2:18-22, and Lk 5:33-39.
So why, we might ask, would a former Catholic have such a vendetta against the inclusive breadth of the communion saints, and praying with and for one another? Old whine and old whine’s kins?
The legitimate and credible author that you are referring to DID give you the chapter and verses to reflect on. I copied and pasted it below for you to read again. She also gave other links that are easily accessible by tapping the link. There she shares prayers and information about our Catholic Faith. This is well written article that I have enjoyed reading.
We see further evidence of this in 1 Corinthians, where we read: “The work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.”
Do some research about the topic fundamentalist Brian. You might learn a thing or two. It might help to be informed about topics before commenting about them as a general rule.
It is biblically based doctrine, Brian. As an aside, I generally can’t make it past the first sentence or two of your posts. That’s due more to the unengaging prose style rather than the erroneous content. It brings to mind a description I read of how laborious and unrewarding it was to slog one’s way through the works a certain famous intellectual – it’s like trying to fell a tree with a dull saw. However, the rebuttals offered by other commenters are usually quite good in form and substance. You could learn a great deal from them.
Catholics are kept in fear all their lives by the prospects of going to this imaginary place. But Rome teaches that the period of suffering in purgatory can be shortened by gifts of money, prayers by the priests, and masses. Catholicism also stresses that friends and relatives can help lessen the time that loved ones remain in purgatory and even relieve their suffering by financing masses on their behalf. Rome collects millions of dollars each year from grieving individuals who willingly pay to alleviate the agonies of those in purgatory. True?
brian, it’s not AD 1500 anymore. Seriously.
Yo, Brine!
The typical stipend for a Mass intention is set at $10, about the same as for a burger and fries. And, for a funeral Mass the stipend is typically $150 (the same as for Protestant ministers), or less than a plumber’s visit to fix the float valve in the tank you might profitably flush together with your drop-in misinformation.
I am a rather ecumenical Catholic. Protestants are wrong about some things, but I freely recognize that many of them lead better Christian lives than many Catholics do. I believe that they can attain salvation and also align better with them on many political issues. With attacks and challenges coming from all points on the compass – Muslims, Jews, Communists, agnostics, liberal Christians of every denomination, etc. – I don’t pick fights with conservative Protestants.
I wonder about what drives you, however. Do you ever argue with or attack Mormons or Muslims, for example? Or do just reserve that for Catholics? Have you ever thought about re-evangelizing the nations of former heartland of European Protestant like Germany, Scandinavia and England? Or how about the many lapsed Protestants in the United States? You would do a lot more good by focusing your efforts in that direction than you do by trying to undermine the faith of people you should consider allies. That assumes you are really sincere about what you profess to be.
It’s in the Bible Mr. Brian. Depending upon which edition you might have.
Show me
Here you go & you’re welcome.
🙂
2 Maccabees 12:44-45 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. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin. (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:29)
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/25-descriptive-and-clear-bible-passages-about-purgatory