A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
On recent Sundays, we've been talking about the Communion of Saints. We focused our thoughts on how the saints can be our friends, as well as how we might approach them in true, lasting, meaningful friendship. But lest we forget, the month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. So today we shift our thoughts to them.
First of all, the Holy Souls can be our friends as well. Indeed, there may very well be some who were friends of ours in this world who now suffer in Purgatory. Family too. Yes, I realize that many of our priests at most of funeral Masses these days imply - or outright declare - that the deceased is now in Heaven. How exactly would they know that? Didn't they study their catechism? Well, if you did, you know better. Not that you know they're not in Heaven, of course. They may be. But it's not unreasonable to assume that at least some of the folks you've said good-bye to in this life may be spending some time in Purgatory. (We won't dwell at all on the third alternative - Hell - since it's just such an awful, frightening thought. But it's there nonetheless.)
So for our friends in Purgatory, here's something we've mentioned in the past that deserves repeating. It's called the Heroic Vow or, alternately, the Heroic Act of charity towards the souls in purgatory. You really don't hear much about this these days, but it's been an esteemed practice that a few hardy souls have undertaken out of love for those who have died and not gone straight to Heaven. While it's not for everyone, for those of you who might consider it, we'll let Fr. F.X Schouppe, S.J (1823-1904) take us through the particulars.
“It remains for us to make known an act which comprises all works and means, whereby we can most effectually assist the poor souls; it is the Heroic Vow, or, as others call it, the Heroic Act of Charity towards the souls in purgatory. This act consists in ceding to them all our works of satisfaction, that is to say, the satisfactory value of all the works of our life and of all the suffrages which shall be given to us after our death, without reserving anything wherewith to discharge our own debts. We deposit them in the hands of the Blessed Virgin, that she may distribute them, according to her good pleasure, to those souls which she desires to deliver from purgatory. It is an absolute donation in favor of the souls of all that we can give them; we offer to God in their behalf all the good we do, of any kind whatsoever, either in thought, word or works, all that we suffer meritoriously during this life, without excepting anything that we may reasonably give them, and adding even those suffrages which we may receive for ourselves after death. It must be well understood that the matter of this holy donation is the satisfactory value of our works, and not the merit, which has a corresponding degree of glory in heaven; for merit is strictly personal, and cannot be transferred to another."
If you're so inclined to take up the gauntlet and be a hero to the Holy Souls, Father proposes a formula you can use to dedicate your efforts:
“O Holy and Adorable Trinity, desiring to co-operate in the deliverance of the souls in Purgatory, and to testify my devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I cede and renounce in behalf of those holy souls all the satisfactory part of my works, and all the suffrages which may be given to me after my death, consigning them entirely into the hands of the most Blessed Virgin, that she may apply them according to her good pleasure to those souls of the faithful departed whom she desires to deliver from their sufferings. Deign, O my God, to accept and bless this offering which I make to Thee at this moment. Amen.”
Before you charge in here, remember you're, in a sense, "giving away" any satisfaction derived from your good deeds and penitential acts done to satisfy for sins you've committed. In fact you're offering any prayers and penance done on your behalf after your own death as well. Instead of that satisfaction for sin being applied to you, you're offering it Our Lady to dispense as she sees fit. And so you'll have to rely on her and, of course, God's mercy, if, when your time comes, you need to spend time in Purgatory. With all that in mind, if you're going to go this route, think before you leap.
As I've considered this, another rather daunting thought occurred to me. Back in Father Schouppe's day, and in the centuries before when this practice arose, Catholics were taught to pray for the Holy Souls. They were taught to "offer" up any sufferings for their sake. It's just what we Catholics did second nature. That's not really the case these days. Many Catholics wouldn't even know what the phrase "offer up" means, never mind actually put it into daily practice. Those facts seem to imply an urgent need for some of us to consider the Heroic Vow.
In any case, do your own prayer thinking here and see if you want to be take the Heroic Vow. And remember that you're not obligating yourself to this forever. You can change your mind at any time. It's not a permanent vow. Rather it's something you make and then, from time to time, renew, in your own time, in your own way.
Oh, and here's another version of the formula I found that, frankly, I prefer. (You can use either or even make up your own. It's your intention that counts here, not the specific words you use.)
“O my God, in union with the merits of Jesus and Mary, I offer Thee, for the souls in purgatory, all my propitiatory works, and all those which others may apply to me during life or after my death. I beseech Thee, O my God, to accept this offering, for Thy honor and for the salvation of my soul. Amen.”
Whether or not you're considering the Heroic Vow, let's all of us pray for the Holy Souls right now as Catholics have prayed for centuries:
"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine up on them. May they rest in peace. Amen. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
First of all, the Holy Souls can be our friends as well. Indeed, there may very well be some who were friends of ours in this world who now suffer in Purgatory. Family too. Yes, I realize that many of our priests at most of funeral Masses these days imply - or outright declare - that the deceased is now in Heaven. How exactly would they know that? Didn't they study their catechism? Well, if you did, you know better. Not that you know they're not in Heaven, of course. They may be. But it's not unreasonable to assume that at least some of the folks you've said good-bye to in this life may be spending some time in Purgatory. (We won't dwell at all on the third alternative - Hell - since it's just such an awful, frightening thought. But it's there nonetheless.)
So for our friends in Purgatory, here's something we've mentioned in the past that deserves repeating. It's called the Heroic Vow or, alternately, the Heroic Act of charity towards the souls in purgatory. You really don't hear much about this these days, but it's been an esteemed practice that a few hardy souls have undertaken out of love for those who have died and not gone straight to Heaven. While it's not for everyone, for those of you who might consider it, we'll let Fr. F.X Schouppe, S.J (1823-1904) take us through the particulars.
“It remains for us to make known an act which comprises all works and means, whereby we can most effectually assist the poor souls; it is the Heroic Vow, or, as others call it, the Heroic Act of Charity towards the souls in purgatory. This act consists in ceding to them all our works of satisfaction, that is to say, the satisfactory value of all the works of our life and of all the suffrages which shall be given to us after our death, without reserving anything wherewith to discharge our own debts. We deposit them in the hands of the Blessed Virgin, that she may distribute them, according to her good pleasure, to those souls which she desires to deliver from purgatory. It is an absolute donation in favor of the souls of all that we can give them; we offer to God in their behalf all the good we do, of any kind whatsoever, either in thought, word or works, all that we suffer meritoriously during this life, without excepting anything that we may reasonably give them, and adding even those suffrages which we may receive for ourselves after death. It must be well understood that the matter of this holy donation is the satisfactory value of our works, and not the merit, which has a corresponding degree of glory in heaven; for merit is strictly personal, and cannot be transferred to another."
If you're so inclined to take up the gauntlet and be a hero to the Holy Souls, Father proposes a formula you can use to dedicate your efforts:
“O Holy and Adorable Trinity, desiring to co-operate in the deliverance of the souls in Purgatory, and to testify my devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I cede and renounce in behalf of those holy souls all the satisfactory part of my works, and all the suffrages which may be given to me after my death, consigning them entirely into the hands of the most Blessed Virgin, that she may apply them according to her good pleasure to those souls of the faithful departed whom she desires to deliver from their sufferings. Deign, O my God, to accept and bless this offering which I make to Thee at this moment. Amen.”
Before you charge in here, remember you're, in a sense, "giving away" any satisfaction derived from your good deeds and penitential acts done to satisfy for sins you've committed. In fact you're offering any prayers and penance done on your behalf after your own death as well. Instead of that satisfaction for sin being applied to you, you're offering it Our Lady to dispense as she sees fit. And so you'll have to rely on her and, of course, God's mercy, if, when your time comes, you need to spend time in Purgatory. With all that in mind, if you're going to go this route, think before you leap.
As I've considered this, another rather daunting thought occurred to me. Back in Father Schouppe's day, and in the centuries before when this practice arose, Catholics were taught to pray for the Holy Souls. They were taught to "offer" up any sufferings for their sake. It's just what we Catholics did second nature. That's not really the case these days. Many Catholics wouldn't even know what the phrase "offer up" means, never mind actually put it into daily practice. Those facts seem to imply an urgent need for some of us to consider the Heroic Vow.
In any case, do your own prayer thinking here and see if you want to be take the Heroic Vow. And remember that you're not obligating yourself to this forever. You can change your mind at any time. It's not a permanent vow. Rather it's something you make and then, from time to time, renew, in your own time, in your own way.
Oh, and here's another version of the formula I found that, frankly, I prefer. (You can use either or even make up your own. It's your intention that counts here, not the specific words you use.)
“O my God, in union with the merits of Jesus and Mary, I offer Thee, for the souls in purgatory, all my propitiatory works, and all those which others may apply to me during life or after my death. I beseech Thee, O my God, to accept this offering, for Thy honor and for the salvation of my soul. Amen.”
Whether or not you're considering the Heroic Vow, let's all of us pray for the Holy Souls right now as Catholics have prayed for centuries:
"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine up on them. May they rest in peace. Amen. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
Happy Sunday!
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