Purgatory and The Holy Souls

All Souls Day Mass Homily
November 2, 2004
By Fr. David Michael Engo

One of the greatest neglected doctrines since the Second Vatican Council has been the teaching of the doctrine on Purgatory. Every funeral has been turned into a canonization ceremony. Homilies turn into eulogies, and the eulogies turn into a reading of the life of a saint. I certainly don’t want to infer that people are not good or that they all go to Hell. But certainly, not all souls go directly to Heaven. As a matter of fact, it is the wisdom of the saints that tells us that most souls who die in the state of grace go first to Purgatory.

There are some who falsely believe that the Second Vatican Council did away with the doctrine of Purgatory. This statement is not only untrue, but I would dare to say that it is a moral evil to teach such a thing. How cruel it is to the souls in Purgatory to deny their situation and deprive them of prayer! How many souls are lingering in Purgatory because their loved ones were told that Purgatory no longer exists? This is unjust to those souls who are in need of our prayers.

The Second Vatican Council, in the Document “Lumen Gentium,” reaffirmed the doctrine of Purgatory: “Until the Lord comes in all His glory and the Angels with Him and death is destroyed, and until everything is submitted to Him, some of His disciples are pilgrims on earth. Others who have left this life are purifying themselves, and others are enjoying glory, …” (L.G. no. 49) Various talks by Pope John Paul II and the New Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is considered the final document of the Second Vatican Council, both uphold the Dogma of Purgatory (C.C.C. 1030-1032). All these documents build on the Divine Truth dogmatically, and undeniably, defined by the Ecumenical Councils of Florence and Trent. Even the earliest Fathers of the Church, among them Saint Augustine and St. Ambrose, taught and confirmed the existence of Purgatory.

Although the word “Purgatory” is not found in Scripture, Scripture consistently affirms the existence of an after death “place” or “state of being” where one must be purified and restitution is made for one’s sins. The fact that the word Purgatory is not found is not a real issue. (The words Trinity and Sacraments among others are also not found.) The book of Maccabees relates how Judas offered sacrifice for his fallen soldiers; Job did the same for his children. If they were in Hell, there would be no need to offer sacrifice for them. It would do them no good. One cannot be redeemed from Hell. If they were in Heaven, it would also be fruitless. Why offer a sacrifice for sin if they stand before the face of God? Can a sacrifice of animals increase their glory?

Jesus tells us that only the pure of heart will see God. Over and over again in parables, Jesus makes clear references to Purgatory. How often did Jesus speak of those who will “pay back every last penny?"

The goal of our life here on earth is sanctity. Anything less misses the very purpose of our existence. Sanctity is living a life of perfect virtue that is obtained through a life of prayer that brings one into union with God. To grow in virtue, we need to overcome our inclination to sin and break from committing it. There is also the need to break from the attachment to sin. In order to express true repentance from sin, there must be the act of restitution. It is all summed up by the two-fold commandment of Love of God and neighbor. To put it plainly, I repeat the words of St. Augustine: “The God who made us without us, will not save us without us.”

It is a truth of the faith that if we die in the State of Grace, without a mortal sin on our souls, but have not reached that union with God that we call “Sanctity,” then we will endure the purgation prior to receiving the Glory of Heaven. This purgation, purging that takes place after death, is the preparation place for Heaven. Before seeing God face to face, we need to make reparation for our sins that we did not make reparation for on earth. We need to break from our attachment to sin and our desire for sin. Purgatory gives the souls a deep desire for Heaven and, more importantly, a deep desire for God and God alone.

When we speak of the “Catholic” Church we speak of the Church being “Universal." Although it does apply to the Church throughout the globe, it more importantly refers to the Church that exists in Heaven, on Earth and in Purgatory. We call the Church on earth “the Church Militant” because we are fighting to get to Heaven. We call the Church in Heaven “The Church in Glory” because the souls there have received the glory of that Kingdom that we all hope to achieve. We call the Church in Purgatory “The Church Suffering."
We call the souls in Purgatory “poor souls” or “suffering souls” because they are now completely dependent upon our prayers. They are poor because they can no longer merit grace for themselves. Having had every opportunity to receive Mercy through penance, prayer and works of Mercy during their life on earth, and not taking advantage of it, they now must endure God's justice. More importantly, in this way, they will learn perfect charity by enduring penance for their sins and making intercession for us. In enduring suffering in the praise of God, they slowly break from their attachment to sin and see sin for what it really is. Here they begin to detest sin because they come to understand just how detestable sin is to God, even the smallest sin.

The pains of Purgatory are similar to those of Hell. Purgatory is not a pleasant place. But, in a strange sort of way, it is a joyful place. It differs from Hell in several ways. First, Purgatory is not eternal. Purgatory will last until the Second Coming of Christ. At the Final Judgment, Purgatory will cease to exist. Those that are in Purgatory at that time will be brought into the Kingdom of Heaven. Some souls may very well be in Purgatory until the Final Judgment. Recall that Lucia in Fatima was told by the Blessed Mother that her friend who had died would be in Purgatory until the Second Coming. But some may leave Purgatory in a minute, some in a day and others in a week or month. Each person will spend the time according to their sins, punishment due to them and their attachment to them. The length of one's stay in Purgatory will also depend on who is praying for that person, if anyone, and Masses being offered for him or her.

Secondly, unlike Hell, in Purgatory there are the three theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Love. The souls in Purgatory have great faith in God and in His promises. Their faith grows deeper constantly. Their Hope is sure because they know that their next and last stop is Heaven. Their eyes are fixed on attaining that Glory. The Love they have for each other, us, and the Lord is ever increasing and growing in their hearts. They are daily being purified by the all-consuming fire of God’s love. The fire of God’s love for them is painful, but at the same time, it is fills them with the desire to endure all things for love of Him.

As we briefly reflect on the reality and truth of Purgatory, we must do two things. First, we ourselves must take warning and strive to avoid Purgatory by seeking to reach Heaven with all our strength. It would be wrong to strive to just get to Purgatory. We need to strive for Heaven by seeking spiritual perfection. To do less would be a sin against religion. Secondly, we must develop a deep devotion to and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. By our appealing to them for help and intercession, they receive the opportunity to do acts of love and charity for us. Also, by praying for them, they receive more grace and can more rapidly find their way home to Heaven. Two of the greatest things we can do for the "poor souls" are to pray the Rosary for them and to offer Masses for them. The Sacrifice of the Holy Mass is their surest way of receiving reparation for their sins.

My Brothers and Sisters, on this All Souls Day we are asked to remember that we have members of our Church who are in need of our prayers, who are dependent upon our prayers, who are waiting for our prayers. We have an obligation to them to assist them. In these our days when Purgatory is being denied, let us renew and redouble our efforts to bring our deceased brothers and sisters home to Heaven, especially those that are most forgotten and have no one to pray for them. God forbid that we should abandon them.

May God bless you and may Mary keep you.



 

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