A Sunday Thought About Purgatory During This Month of The Holy Souls

We're more than halfway through November. Lest we forget, it's the month dedicated to the Holy Souls. We don't hear much about these folks anymore, the Holy Souls. Oh, occasionally you'll hear the word "Purgatory"; but it's not likely to have anyone's name associated with it. Instead, we play a game where it's assumed everyone who isn't an ax murderer goes straight to Heaven upon dying. At least that's been my experience when attending Novus Ordo funeral Masses.

But we Catholics who bother to study the teachings of our Holy Church know that, for the most part, it's not a sure thing that a loved one immediately enters Paradise when they die. Indeed, that was the steady teaching of Holy Mother Church for centuries prior to sometime around the 1960s/1970s (post-Vatican II). As a result of our understanding, we made it a habit to pray for the Holy Souls on a regular basis. And we were acutely in tune with the special nature of the month of November, which begins with the feasts of All Saints and All Souls.

Because hardly anyone, even priests and Bishops, breathe a word about Purgatory, it might do us good to hear from St. Francis de Sales about exactly how we should approach and understand Purgatory. It's really really a loving and generous gift from Our Heavenly Father. Here's what our saint has to say:

   “We may draw from the thought of Purgatory more consolation than apprehension. The greater part of those who dread Purgatory so much think more of their own interests than of the interests of God’s glory; this proceeds from the fact that they think only of the sufferings without considering the peace and happiness which are there enjoyed by the holy souls. It is true that the torments are so great that the most acute sufferings of this life bear no comparison to them; but the interior satisfaction which is there enjoyed is such that no prosperity nor contentment upon earth can equal it.

    “The souls are in continual union with God. They are perfectly resigned to His will, or rather their will is so transformed into that of God that they cannot will but what God wills; so that if Paradise were to be opened to them, they would precipitate themselves into Hell rather than appear before God with the stains with which they see themselves disfigured. They purify themselves willingly and lovingly, because such is the Divine good pleasure. They wish to be there in the state wherein God pleases, and as long as it shall please Him. They cannot sin, nor can they experience the least movement of impatience, nor commit the slightest imperfection. They love God more than they love themselves, and more than all things else; they love Him with a perfect, pure, and disinterested love. They are consoled by angels. They are assured of their eternal salvation, and filled with a hope that can never be disappointed in its expectations. Their bitterest anguish is soothed by a certain profound peace. It is a species of Hell as regards the suffering; it is a Paradise as regards the delight infused into their hearts by charity – Charity, stronger than death and more powerful than Hell; Charity, whose lamps are all fire and flame. Happy state! More desirable than appalling, since its flames are flames of love and charity.”

We need not shun or fear Purgatory. After reading St. Francis's words, we might even spend some time meditating on it, even talking about it with loved ones. It's such a fundamental part of our lives and ought not be consigned to a dust bin. After all, some of us will likely spend a bit of time there after Sister Death accompanies us to our Particular Judgment.

What's particularly striking is how our saint transforms the dreaded purification by fire into an act of love. Then again, that's exactly what it is. And if we face the prospect of a time suffering in Purgatory, we'll know exactly what's going on.

Think of it this way: If our Particular Judgment makes it clear we're not ready to Heaven yet, you don't think Our Lord will leave us hanging as to the particulars of what comes next. He is a just God, but also a Merciful One. He loved us from the moment we were conceived. He continued to beckon to us throughout our lives, even when we ignored or offended Him. He never abandoned us. Indeed, He suffered and died for us. So He'll make sure we're aware of the need for purification, and the exact nature of how that will be accomplished. Part of that awareness will include the absolute certainty that, once cleansed, we will be welcomed into eternal happiness. Won't that knowledge alone effectively begin our eternal happiness, despite the pain of purification?

So while we're still here on earth, let's do what we can to increase our chances of going straight to Heaven, or, at the very least, minimizing our time in Purgatory. One of the best ways to do that during this month of November is to spend as much time as we can praying for and offering up any and all our difficulties, temptations, and suffering for the Holy Souls.

We can start with our deceased loved ones and work our way through any and all we know who have died within our memory. We might consider praying for those whom we didn't particularly care for while they were here on earth, or who might have actively disliked, even oppressed us. We might extend our charity as far as those who, to all appearances, might very well have been dancing on the rim of the dark pit of hell - at least in our best estimation. (Death bed confessions aren't unheard of.) 

If we're as generous as we can be with those who need our prayers, perhaps they will return the favor if we some day share that need. And while we don't want to aim for Purgatory but rather aim for Heaven, like all other endeavors in life, we may fall short of our target. Won't it be a great relief, a real boost to our spirits, to know that some of those we prayed for who have reached the Promised Land may be actively working to bring us along forthwith?

Pray for the Holy Souls.

Happy Sunday!