Dear Parishioners,

This month of November is dedicated to praying for the dead. This is a practice that can easily be misunderstood by even Catholics. So, here is a brief summary of why we pray for the dead.

As Catholics, we believe that there is an afterlife. We hope to someday go to Heaven and be happy with God forever. However, we recognize that any sin on our souls creates a barrier between us and God. When we sin, we are rejecting God’s plans for us and wound our relationship with the Almighty. It is not that God gives up on us, but, He has given us free will to make the choices we have made in this life.

The Church also teaches that it is only mortal sin that can completely break this relationship with God. A mortal sin is a major sin (e.g., breaking one of the Ten Commandments) which one does with full knowledge and with the intention of committing that sin. If someone dies with a mortal sin on their soul, they are choosing to be eternally separated by God. (If you think you have committed a mortal sin, then I urge you to please go to confession!) Now, since we cannot assume to know the state of someone’s soul, the Church presumes that when someone dies they are in Purgatory instead.

A soul in Purgatory knows that it will someday be in Heaven. It is where a soul that has not committed a mortal sin but has not perfected itself in this life waits to be healed by God. As Catholics, we should take advantage of the sacraments and try to overcome our own faults so that we do not go to Purgatory. It is a place of healing. But, so is a hospital and you would not want to be there unless you are sick. Healing can be a painful process and that is why souls in purgatory are often portrayed as being in a state of agony. Though, on the upside, this agony is temporary.

Some people do not like to hear that the Church still teaches that Purgatory is real because they think that if God is merciful, He should just allow people to go directly to Heaven. This attitude, however, puts words in God’s mouth. Salvation is possible and every person on earth has an opportunity to become a saint (and those are the people who go directly to Heaven). However, it should be obvious to even the casual observer that we are not all taking advantage of those abundant graces. Like I said before, God does not overcome your own free will to make you come to Heaven. Instead, Purgatory is a manifestation of God’s mercy. It is a place where we can go even if we are slow to act and follow Our Lord.

That is why we pray for the souls of the dead during this month, and at every Mass. We are praying that they may overcome their sins and be healed so that they can enter the glory of God. They are there waiting helplessly. They need our prayers. Maybe if we pray for them, it will help us become saints ourselves.

God bless!

Fr. Carter