A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off

Last week's Sunday thought was light and "spring-y." This week, we turn to Purgatory.

The last few funeral masses I attended studiously avoided any mention of this blessed place. Heck, the way the priest talked during his sermon, you'd think he had some private message from the Almighty that the deceased was most definitely in Heaven.

Purgatory's not brought up in general "polite" conversation. But it's hardly brought up in "Catholic" conversation anymore either. When was the last time you heard the priest talk about it during his sermon? Ever try talking about it to Catholic friends or acquaintances? How about your own family?

(We'll set aside the question of whether anyone goes to Hell for the time being, Hell being consigned, along with Purgatory, to the dustbin of history by some Catholics - even priests.)

These "happy-time" funeral masses and our aversion to any thought that might imply we're not all going straight to Heaven when we die puts those who die (which means us someday) at a bit of a disadvantage. If none of us even consider that these souls might be spending some time in Purgatory, I suspect we're not going to pray for them the same way we would if we understood they might be entering a period of suffering, or purification. (I'm saying "might": just as Father doesn't know that the deceased is in Heaven, I'm not saying I know they're headed for Purgatory.) 

Meanwhile, this week, in my spiritual reading, I came across these excellent comments on Purgatory written by Father Edward Leen, which is why I'm sharing these thoughts today:

"Purgatory if a loving invention of God which pursues man, for his own good, beyond the gates of death...Were there no Purgatory, souls that leave this earth unpurified, though not entirely estranged from God, could never enjoy the Beatific Vision."

Father even has some tips for us who this secular culture and may be subjected to this sort of watered-down Catholicism:

"So bitter is the process of purification in the world to come, as compared with the same process as wrought out on earth, that God in his love, gives largely of the cross to His friends in order to save them from the fate of quitting the world unpurified, and consequently inapt for the Beatific Vision."

After reading Father's words, I can't help but wonder why we don't talk about Purgatory anymore. Can you see the hope that a belief and understanding of Purgatory brings to our lives? On a practical and immediate level, can you see why spiritual and doctrinal reading, done each day in a serious way, can spur us to change our lives in meaningful ways so that we may draw closer of Our Lord, and to Heaven, even in this life?

Take time this week to learn your Faith, no matter how busy your work week may be.