The Church dedicates the month of November to praying for and assisting the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us about the state of purification called purgatory. Nothing evil is allowed in Heaven. Jesus’ sacrifice is all transforming, not just a “cover-up.” What I mean by this is that we believe that Christ’s sacrifice is not just making us appear to be pure, but when we really accept Him wholly, we are transformed. We just need to receive Him.
As imperfect, fallen humans, we might likely not enter into eternal life completely spotless, and that is why His love continues to purify us in the state of purgatory. What’s left of sin is taken away. Traditionally, people ask for 40 Masses to be said for a person who has passed. Forty biblically represents a long time, so people aimed to help someone even if that person was said to be in Purgatory for a long time.
The afterlife doesn’t necessarily have a sense of time, so when someone speaks in manners of time, it’s just us finite humans attempting to understand the afterlife. We should prepare ourselves to be rid of all sin as soon as possible through prayer, the sacraments given by God, and constant conversion. That way, we can enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven where we all belong “sooner”—so to speak.
Until then, it is our duty of brotherhood that we shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and, especially, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
No comments:
Post a Comment