Why do we pray for them? Because we believe in purgatory.
In terms of economic functionality, we classify works that we cannot do without as essential services. Purgatory is an essential service of mercy. A week ago, I made a reference to Dante’s Divine Comedy, where in the book called Purgatorio, we have an Angel guarding Purgatory’s gate who dangled his keys while announcing: “I hold these keys from St Peter who bade me err rather in opening that shutting out”.
Contrary to what we think, Dante regards purgatory not as punishment but rather it represents God’s profound mercy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives this succinct statement of the doctrine of Purgatory: “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” (CCC 1030).
Purgatory is more preparation than punishment. It is a state where repentant sinners are readied for their entrance into heaven. The closest we get to a feast remembering this merciful work of God is today. The Church encourages us to pray, especially for our departed ones—spouses, children, family members, friends, and many others—whom we believe and hope are most likely in Purgatory.
A statement like this does not resonate with us. This morning’s liturgical vestment is deliberately black rather than purple. Black jars our sensibility and it may even annoy us because our “immediate fulfilment” perspectives expect the passage from Death to the Resurrection to be instantaneous. We demand that God’s mercy be “forgetful” until we encounter Christ suffering on the Cross and dying in between two thieves. He forgave Dismas but He did not remove the justice that was due to the repentant sinner. Mercy and justice are two sides of a coin and in forgiveness there must be justice. Think also of Zacchaeus on top of the sycamore tree. He made good whatever wrong he had committed through restitution—through restoration.
Contrary to what we think, Dante regards purgatory not as punishment but rather it represents God’s profound mercy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives this succinct statement of the doctrine of Purgatory: “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” (CCC 1030).
Purgatory is more preparation than punishment. It is a state where repentant sinners are readied for their entrance into heaven. The closest we get to a feast remembering this merciful work of God is today. The Church encourages us to pray, especially for our departed ones—spouses, children, family members, friends, and many others—whom we believe and hope are most likely in Purgatory.
A statement like this does not resonate with us. This morning’s liturgical vestment is deliberately black rather than purple. Black jars our sensibility and it may even annoy us because our “immediate fulfilment” perspectives expect the passage from Death to the Resurrection to be instantaneous. We demand that God’s mercy be “forgetful” until we encounter Christ suffering on the Cross and dying in between two thieves. He forgave Dismas but He did not remove the justice that was due to the repentant sinner. Mercy and justice are two sides of a coin and in forgiveness there must be justice. Think also of Zacchaeus on top of the sycamore tree. He made good whatever wrong he had committed through restitution—through restoration.
So, in mercy there is always justice and thus “waiting” belongs to the mercy of preparation. As “waiting” is an “earthly reality”, it is bound by time. Since in God there is no time, the “waiting” has to be different in God. We have to speak of waiting because we want to be careful about the sin of presumption. We presume too much when we apply our standard of mercy without justice to those who have died. Presumption arrogantly makes us more merciful than God.
Cardinal Newman was right to remark that “in one sense, all Christians die with their work unfinished”. Hence, purgatory is where the finishing touches are added. It is a “time of maturing” between death and heaven. If purgatory is preparation and not punishment, then every day should be All Souls’ Day because our prayer is part of the preparation for those “waiting” for heaven. Yesterday and today are days of the Communion of Saints. The Church Triumphant is praying for us. So too the Church Penitent or Suffering. The souls in purgatory are praying for the Church Militant. They know the struggle that we go through. However, they cannot do anything for themselves.
A common epithet on tombstones might help us understand the relationship we have with the Church Suffering. “Where you are, I once was. Where I am, you will be too”. It is a sober reminder that once the portal of death closes, souls can do nothing for themselves. While they can pray for us, they need to depend on us. So, All Souls’ Day prompts us firstly, not be negligent in praying for those who have gone before us and secondly, not to be unrepentant. While we are still on earth, we must make preparation for heaven. Part of the groundwork (earthwork) is to live so that when we die, our purgatory will be hopefully be a breeze.
Cardinal Newman was right to remark that “in one sense, all Christians die with their work unfinished”. Hence, purgatory is where the finishing touches are added. It is a “time of maturing” between death and heaven. If purgatory is preparation and not punishment, then every day should be All Souls’ Day because our prayer is part of the preparation for those “waiting” for heaven. Yesterday and today are days of the Communion of Saints. The Church Triumphant is praying for us. So too the Church Penitent or Suffering. The souls in purgatory are praying for the Church Militant. They know the struggle that we go through. However, they cannot do anything for themselves.
A common epithet on tombstones might help us understand the relationship we have with the Church Suffering. “Where you are, I once was. Where I am, you will be too”. It is a sober reminder that once the portal of death closes, souls can do nothing for themselves. While they can pray for us, they need to depend on us. So, All Souls’ Day prompts us firstly, not be negligent in praying for those who have gone before us and secondly, not to be unrepentant. While we are still on earth, we must make preparation for heaven. Part of the groundwork (earthwork) is to live so that when we die, our purgatory will be hopefully be a breeze.
