A 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Thought About Helping the Poor Souls in Purgatory

We're going to help the poor souls in Purgatory on this 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. Why "poor" souls? Well, we know what's up with Purgatory, right? These folks are saved - no hell - but not ready for Heaven. They need to make reparation for sins committed during life on earth. They need cleansing.

But the cleansing of Purgatory isn't like taking a shower. It's traditionally taught that the cleansing involves suffering, suffering more painful than anything we might have experienced in this life. No matter your personal experience with pain in this life - and that includes physical and emotional pain - it's an extraordinary amount of pain.

Not only do these souls suffer, but they also can't do anything themselves to alleviate their pain. The time for doing that was before death. Once you die, you are, in this way, literally helpless. Even if it's possible for the souls in Purgatory to pray for their family and friends on earth - and opinions vary here - there's nothing they can do for themselves. They're out of bullets, so to speak, when it comes to their own situation.

That's why we think of souls in Purgatory as "poor" souls. They are bereft of any and all means of helping themselves.

And with that in mind, it makes sense to continue our initial discussion of the Heroic Vow which we posted last Sunday, with the help of Fr. F.X. Schouppe, S.J. (1823-1904). 

This week Father digs a little deeper. And one of the points he makes addresses the whole issue of our giving up our acts of reparation for others, something we briefly hit on last time. His comments will provide reassurance for those of us who would like to help others, but may be holding back based on this concern. There's also a reminder that we can direct our efforts towards specific individuals - for example, family members and/or friends who've to their eternal reward. 

Here are Father Schouppe's remarks:

“‘I advise all true Christians,’ says Father Mumford, ‘to cede with holy disinterestedness to the faithful departed all the fruit of their good works which are at our disposal. I do not believe that they can make a better use of them, since they render them more meritorious and more efficacious, as well for obtaining grace from God as for expiating their own sins and shortening the term of their purgatory, or even of acquiring an entire exemption there from.’ These words express the precious advantages of the Heroic Act; and in order to dissipate all subsequent fear which might arise in the mind, we add three remarks: 1. This act leaves us perfect liberty to pray for those souls in whom we are most interested; the application of these prayers is subject to the disposition of the adorable will of God, which is always infinitely perfect and infinitely loving. 2. It does not oblige under pain of mortal sin, and can at any time be revoked. It may be made without using any particular formula; it suffices to have the intention, and to make it from the heart. Nevertheless it is useful to recite the formula of offering from time to time, in order to stimulate our zeal for the relief of the Holy Souls by prayer, penance, and good works. 3. The Heroic Act does not subject us to the direful consequences of having to undergo a long purgatory ourselves; on the contrary, it allows us to rely with more assured confidence on the mercy of God in our regard, as is shown by the example of St. Gertrude.”

Imagine the relief, even joy, of someone suffering the pains of Purgatory realizing that someone "up there" cares enough to take the time and make the effort to help them shorten their suffering, maybe even give them the pass to Heaven they long for.

It's worth considering, isn't it?

Happy Sunday!