Many times I have attended a funeral only to hear, “Well, at
least he is not suffering anymore,” or “She is in a better place now.” Before I
reverted to my Catholic faith when I fancied myself an Evangelical Protestant,
I felt a bit uneasy when I heard these statements. My childhood Catholic roots
would gnaw at me even though I tried my best to dismiss them.
I now recognize that my discomfort with those well-meaning
words, intended to console the living, suggest that the departed ones no longer need us when they may need us most!
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (which is
my second favorite book after the Bible), purgatory is not so much a place but
a state of the soul. In purgatory any remaining attachment to or needed reparation
for sin is purged from the soul so that it may enjoy the full beatific
vision:
“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, to achieve the holiness
necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” [1030]
I think of purgatory as the final preparation of the soul
for its wedding to the Lamb. This wedding (or divine union) is the eternal
vocation of each person. It is why God created us. I like to call purgatory the
“Divine Beauty Parlor” of the soul.
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| Purgatory by Peter Paul Rubens [Public domain] |
The primary cause of the suffering of those in purgatory is
their separation from God. The purifying love of God mercifully removes the
rust of sin that would interfere with our perfect union with God. Souls in purgatory
happily submit to this great blessing, although there is great suffering, too.
The souls in purgatory can no longer make reparation for
their sins or intercede for themselves; that possibility ended with their
bodily death. St
Catherine of Genoa and St. Maria
Faustina have much to say about the souls in purgatory their need for
us to pray for them.
The tradition of praying for the dead did not begin with the
Catholics; it began with the Jews as recorded in the book of Second Maccabees [
2 Macc 12:46]. The Councils
of Florence and Trent reaffirmed this tradition based on the New Testament
Scriptures. [1 Cor 3:15;
1 Pet 1:7]
The month of November is specifically designated
to pray for the souls in purgatory. A wonderful way to intercede for our
deceased loved ones, and all the souls in purgatory, is to pray the Rosary. A fervently
prayed Rosary placed in the hands of Mother Mary supercharges our prayers for
the dead. I love the image of Purgatory by Rubens because it shows Mary interceding for the souls in purgatory.
If you have tried to the Rosary and struggle with it,
perhaps my book can help
you.
