Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

MASS READINGS

A Gospel according to Jn 6:37-40

Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

REFLECTION

What or Who is the Suffering Church?

The Catholic Church teaches that there are three states of the Church and they are: the Triumphant Church, the Militant Church, and the Suffering Church. The Triumphant is Heaven and those souls who are with God. The Militant Church are the souls here on earth still fighting temptation and sin.

The Suffering Church are the souls in purgatory. These souls need, "To be cleansed, for “nothing unclean shall enter [heaven]” (Rev. 21:27).

Catholic theology takes seriously the notion that “nothing unclean shall enter heaven.” From this it is inferred that a less than cleansed soul isn’t fit for heaven. It needs to be cleansed or “purged” of its remaining imperfections. Sanctification is thus not an option, something that may or may not happen before one gets into heaven. It is an absolute requirement, as Hebrews 12:14 states that we must strive “for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (https://www.catholic.com/tract/purgatory)

In November the Catholic Church remembers our deceased loved ones and the Souls in Purgatory. We pray for the souls in purgatory because they can not pray for themselves. Catholics can receive indulgences which are special graces which we can offer up for the release of the souls in purgatory.

How can we help the Holy Souls in purgatory?

We can earn plenary indulgences for the Holy Souls from Nov. 1-8th:

MANUAL OF INDULGENCES No. 29 FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

§1 A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who,

1° on any and each day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the departed;

2° on All Souls’ Day (or, according to the judgment judgment of the ordinary, on the Sunday preceding or following it, or on the solemnity of All Saints), devoutly visit a church or an oratory and recite an Our Father and the Creed.

§2 A partial indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who

1° devoutly visit a cemetery and at least mentally pray for the dead;

2° devoutly recite lauds or vespers from the Office of the Dead or the prayer Eternal rest. Requiem aeternam Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. (Order of Christian Funerals)

(Manual of Indulgences, Catholic Bishops of the USA)

Besides earning plenary indulgences, another way to help souls in purgatory is by having a Mass offered for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

According to Sister Charles Borromeo, O.S.D. "You free a soul from dire woe, from inexpressible suffering; you add a citizen to heaven; you give joy to the angels and saints; you comfort and delight Jesus and Mother Mary."

(The Way of the Cross for the Holy Souls in Purgatory , by Susan Tassone)

As Jesus says in the Gospel, " For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory this month.