All Souls Day 2020 "The more one longs for a thing, the more painful does deprivation of it become. And because after this life, the desire for God, the Supreme Good, is intense in the souls of the just (because this impetus toward him is not hampered by the weight of the body, and that time of enjoyment of the Perfect Good would have come) had there been no obstacle; the soul suffers enormously from the delay."-Saint Thomas Aquinas, The Angelic Doctor ++++++++++. There are many aspects of life that many do not wish to think about. One of them is about the healing that many of us will go through after we die. Healing, and suffering, seem to go together. The healing of moral wounds can also be even more painful. Moral healing can only come through clarity, insight, and the experiencing of how our ethical failings have not only hurt our souls but done damage to others as well. The healing of the soul can only come through a re-experiencing in the first-person, the depth of our wrongdoing. This can seem fearful, but in reality, it is a mercy. For to not go through this healing purification is to be left in a state of deep self-alienation. The saying “The truth will set you free”, is correct. There are no distractions in the experience of purgatorial healing and purification. We cannot evade what needs to be done. The truth stares us in the face demanding that we return the gaze and accept whatever needs to be done. There is mercy, which blots out the consequences of sin, which is eternal death and is given freely to all who ask. Yet the wounds that are brought into existence still need healing. There is no way to escape this reality. The pain comes from our own woundedness, not from God. The grace of this life is that we can face the truth here and now. Healing can start today this moment, all we need do is to be still before the loving gaze of God and allow the Fire of the Holy Spirit to do its work. Jesus died for us so that we could become like Him. We may have to go through our own passion while in this world, or if not, it may be needed in the next. In the Body of Christ, we are all one. Those who pass on are simply deeper in, and understand their lives in the light of God’s gaze. Souls in need of healing, place themselves where they need to go. While there is suffering, there is also great happiness, since they are on the road to union with God. Prayer is the healing ointment we can pour onto their souls. In prayer, we unite ourselves with Christ Jesus and seek to grow in the love of all, so that we can with God’s help be part of the healing for others. We are called to do this because all Christians belong to the Priesthood of the Faithful.—Br.MD
It was beautiful to see Fr Larry Richards vested in black today. This is not something you see in the US, a tradition long gone.
Thank you, Mark. Yes, I've had a similar understanding concerning the purging after death. Traditional Catholicism listed indulgences in terms of "years," but I think it is fine to understand our personal purging not in terms of years but in terms of intensity. It provides motivation to strive to live my Faith more out of Love than fear, because, "Love covers a multitude of sins." Thank you, Jesus, not only for Forgiveness, but for purifying Love! Come Holy Spirit!
Can anyone tell me definitively whether or not Catholics are permitted to have Masses said for (and may pray for the souls of) deceased non-Catholics and those of no religion? I have searched the net and have read various opinions. Some say yes, definitely, and say that a priest has confirmed that it is so. Others say that the priest celebrating the Mass should be told because the name of the non-Catholic beneficiary of a Mass may not be mentioned during the Mass under Canon Law. Some say that as there is no salvation outside the Church, there is no point in having such a Mass (!!!). Some also say that having such a Mass said was banned until the 60's (Vat II?) but is now allowed. I am confused, does anyone have clear information from a totally reliable (traditional) source?
We can p[ray for anyone after they die. In the 50's, I was told that a monk wrote to Rome to see if he could say a mass for Judas. The answer he got was 'yes', but it had to be done in private to avoid scandal. I have never seen a document that has stated that we can pray only for departed Catholics. https://catholicphilly.com/2019/10/...-memorial-mass-can-be-said-for-non-catholics/ Peace mark
Yes, he is. To pray for the departed, no matter who they are is a great act of love for God's children. Peace mark
I don't think that the "years" of indulgences mean years in purgatory. My understanding is that the "years" would be whatever benefit would have been derived had the recipient of the indulgence done that many years' penance (fasting, etc.) while alive.
Yearly we (during the Holy Mass) pray for the Jewish people I believe on Good Friday...and we have been asked continuously to pray for unbelievers ...it makes perfect sense that we continue to pray for their souls even after death. We don't decide who God saves and I'm certain it's not just catholics who go to purgatory.
A beautiful thing I remember reading about praying for the souls in purgatory. When we pray for souls in purgatory, we help them get to a higher level of purgatory. Their sufferings are decreased, and we benefit when our time comes. There is a beautiful short prayer where Jesus promises to give relief to suffering souls in purgatory. We are storing up mercy for our own souls when we offer alms of the spirit for others. Merciful Jesus, please cover the holy souls in purgatory with Your most Precious Blood, That You may cool down their scorching flames.
Well it is a kind act to offer mass for any dead person. Even if the soul were in hell, it is still a kind act and kind acts never go to waste. The graces obtained will go to someone else who needs them. So the kindness is not wasted. Padre Pio used to say (and this goes along with what St Faustina said) that at the point of death Jesus appears to each soul and gives them a final chance of choice. This opens the door to many possibilities of Salvation and Mercy for all Souls, whoever and whatever they may be. God is kindess of all because He is most loving of all. He is all Mercy.
It is true true to say to set the balance straight that while God is very Merciful , He is also very Just and from what we know from scripture and the Teaching of Holy Mother Church and the Revelations of the Saints and Mystics that many , many souls do indeed got to hell for all Eternity. That is the reality.
