Praying for Souls

We are about half way through the month and I am sure the candy from Halloween has at least a substantial dent in it. Stores, ads, and talk has already turned to Christmas (we always skip Thanksgiving!). It seems to be a rushed time of the year with many thoughts that flood the brain with holidays and the semester ending. It is easy to keep moving on and get busy but I would like to remind us of our mission for November: to pray for souls in purgatory.
      It was easy on November 2 to go to Mass and pray for the souls in purgatory. It is a true reflection of our culture: fascinated or absorbed in one minute, but then the next minute back to normal. We see it through social media mass movements and everytime a tragedy hits, but this would be a real tragedy to miss the prayers for the souls in purgatory. We must not forget that we have a duty to pray for them at all times and especially in November. The complacency sweeps us over, but it is important to think of those we know who have died, whether recently or from time ago, and pray for them. It is also a time for us to be reminded of the faith we have and the end that is to come. We need to be living for something, for someone-God. We should not settle for making it to purgatory but run straight towards heaven.
      The reality of heaven, hell, and purgatory has been made present through visions to different saints. One of which was St. Catherine of Genoa who was taken to purgatory by her guardian angel. She says:
“No tongue can tell nor explain, no mind understand, the grievousness of purgatory. But I, though I see that there is in purgatory as much pain as in hell, yet see the soul which has the least stain of imperfection accepting purgatory, as I have said, as though it were a mercy”
      Purgatory is not desirable. It is painful and consists of great suffering. But there is one thing to cling to. It is the hope of being with God one day. So as members of the Church and people of goodwill we should help these souls through our prayers. Just like so much of our faith there is the unseen mysteriousness about it, but it is important to become childlike in these moments and have great trust and faith. We must not overlook the importance of prayer. It should be a part of our daily life and in a intentional way we should remember the holy souls in purgatory.
      And surely we all know someone who has died. Whether it is a family member, friend, acquaintance, or whomever it may be, we each know someone who has gone before us. We certainly want what is best for them so we should pray for their eternal rest and salvation.
So let us pray for those souls to have that chance.Whether it is through our simple prayers, formal prayers, Mass, or the Divine Mercy Chaplet, there are many ways to keep in them in mind as we pray. In return, we will have those we help get to heaven praying for us from heaven.
 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon them. And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.