One day, I visited the funeral of my friend who died due to overdose of cocaine (yes, he is a drug addict, and a pusher). While comforting his bereaved mother, his friends came to express their condolences and telling her, "Huwag po kayo mag-alala, nasa langit na po siya." Immediately, the mother asked me, "nandoon po kaya siya? Sa langit?" Confidently I told her, "let us offer prayers and Holy Mass for his soul."
When a Christian faithful dies, his or her soul receives what we call 'particular judgment.' The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that:
"1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven through a purification or immediately, -- or immediate and everlasting damnation."
Remember when we played 'Langit, lupa, impyerno?" Yes, our childhood play indirectly teaches us our destiny. If we are good, we go to heaven. If we die in sin, we go to hell. But, because of God's justice and mercy, those who died with venial sins and those good who died must be purified first before entering heaven. That state is what we called 'Purgatory.'
What is Purgatory? The Catechism teaches us:
"1031. As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come."
The souls in purgatory are purified with the fire of justice, love and mercy of God, and of the Holy Spirit before they can enter heaven. But how does this fire of purgatory feel for a soul? Let us read what Jesus said to St. Faustina Kowalska: "Bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice." (Diary of St. Faustina, 1226).
From these words of Jesus Christ and the Catechism, we are, then, invited to pray for the souls not only this month of November but everyday. The November 2 Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed reminds us of three realities: Death, Prayers for the Dead, the souls pray for us. Death is a reality that we need to prepare for. It will come to us anytime, anywhere.
Prayers for the Dead is a devotion that we need to rekindle in today's world.
This devotion has been piled up with so much technology and modern idealogies, that others tend to forget. But the Church continues to remind everyone on the importance of our prayers for them. Of course, the greatest prayer we can give them is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We do this by offering our Pamisa through the Mass intentions, offering a Requiem Mass or a Gregorian Mass for one soul, or including them in the general intentions like the November envelope and alike. Our prayers for our beloved dead will benefit them wherever they may be, and will also benefit us through grace. But always remember, they need our prayers, plus our works of penance and charity, for their salvation.
But did you know that the souls also pray for us? Yes, they do pray for us and we can ask for their prayers. Personally, I always ask for their intercession especially if I need to wake up early, and it works. Their prayers benefit us by helping us to be holy and to help us prepare for our own death that can come anytime. Dear Brothers and Sisters, let this November 2 commemoration be the start of our devotion of saving more souls, including our love ones, for Jesus through our prayers, works, joys, sufferings and sacrifices. Offer a Mass, pray the Rosary and Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, pray your devotions, and do penance and works of charity for the souls of our faithful departed that through the mercy of God, they may rest in his eternal peace. Amen.
Dr. Dave dela Cruz, OP,
Vice-Postulator of the Cause for the Canonization of Blessed Ivan Merz