In the Catholic tradition, we celebrate All Souls Day by remembering our dearly departed in prayer, for the repose of their noble souls, and to assist them in-and-through our prayers on their journey to Eternal Life.

It is common belief today that once someone dies they go straight into the Kingdom—no questions asked, and while that is our hope, we know that Christ and His Church teaches that for some, there may be a “place” which provides time and grace to purify the soul. Why? Perhaps we leave this world with a stain of sin on our soul, perhaps we leave while in a broken relationship—and we need a time of purification in order to stand before God in the Kingdom of Heaven. That place is called Purgatory. Yes—the Church believes in Purgatory.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines purgatory as a “purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven,” which is experienced by those “who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified” (CCC 1030). It notes that “this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned” (CCC 1031). The purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) and, while we may die with our mortal sins forgiven, there can still be many impurities in us, specifically venial sins and the temporal
punishment due to sins already forgiven.

What Happens in Purgatory?
When we die, we undergo what is called the particular, or individual, judgment. Scripture says that “it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Heb. 9:27). We are judged instantly and receive our reward, for good or ill. We know at once what our final destiny will be. At the end of time, when Jesus returns, there will come the general judgment to which the Bible refers, for example, in Matthew 25:31-32: “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

In this general judgment all our sins will be publicly revealed (Luke 12:2–5). Augustine
said in The City of God that “temporary punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by others after death, by others both now and then; but all of them before that last and strictest judgment” (21:13). It is between the particular and general judgments, then, that the soul is purified of the remaining consequences of sin: “I tell you, you will never get out till you have
paid the very last copper” (Luke 12:59).

The entirety of purgatory cannot be addressed in this limited space or by me alone. But suffice it to say that as Roman Catholics we pray for the souls of the dead at Mass and in our personal prayers, a good thing for the deceased and for us—it retai ns a connection with the ones we loved in this world—and provides for the hope of a tradition that others will pray for us too. This has been happening in our Church since the first century. Augustine said in The City of God that “temporary punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by others after death, by others both now and then; but all of them before that last and strictest judgment” (21:13). It is between the particular and general judgments, then, that the soul is purified of the remaining consequences of sin: “I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper” (Luke 12:59). On November 1st we will shall continue that Catholic tradition and with your
help, we shall remember those who have “not only gone before us”, but who gave us life and faith. At the Sunday Masses on the weekend of November 1st we shall offer a brief and powerful ceremony within the context of the Mass. Please use your All Souls’ Envelopes to list the names of those you wish to be remembered at those Masses, sending them into the parish office before October 26th.