Yesterday, we commemorated all the saints in Heaven. Today, we remember and pray for the holy souls in Purgatory. When we think of the saints, we reflect that they loved God and all people. So, many of them gave up their freedom and possessions in order to care for the poor and the sick. They saw Jesus in each person they tended. The souls in Purgatory loved God too, although imperfectly. They died with God’s Life in them; however, they still had unforgiven venial sins and perhaps did not make sufficient reparation for forgiven mortal sins. Nevertheless, they love God and are happy to do his will. They know that they will be in Heaven and see God after their time of cleansing.
Our prayers for these souls shows our love for them. We can offer up the merits gained by our prayers and sacrifices for them; they can no longer gain merit for themselves. We love them because they are God’s children. We and everyone here on earth are God’s children too, whether we are born or not yet born, sick or weak. So, all of us together, with God’s children in Heaven, make up the Communion of Saints.
May we continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Purgatory. May they soon be celebrating their All Saints’ Day in Heaven.
Let us pray, also, for our country as most of us go to the polls this Tuesday. We need leaders who are truly honest and will serve selflessly. They have much to do: work for peace, help and protect the unborn, the poor, the oppressed, the sick and defenseless. May we cast our votes prayerfully with all of this in mind.
Fr. Stanley
