Pray for the Holy Souls

Today is All Souls Day, a beautiful tradition in the Church where we pray for all the souls in a state of  purgation, awaiting entry into the beatific vision.

Scripture for meditation: 2 Maccabees 12:43-46
Judas [the ruler of Israel] then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas,which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this, he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view, for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

Christ says: John 14:1-6
Jesus said to His disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and faith in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? I am indeed going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with me, that where I am you also may be. You know the way that leads where I go." "Lord," said Thomas, "we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus told him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven (1031). This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture (Maccabees). From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance on behalf of the dead: "Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice (Job1:5), why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them (St. John Chrysostom)(1032).

Prayer: St. Gertrude's Prayer for the poor souls, given to her in prayer by Our Lord:
"Eternal Father, I offer thee the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.”

 My thoughts: When she was a little girl, my daughter Lauren would always pray, " Dear Lord, please bless the poor souls in purgatory, and please let them remember me and how I prayed for them." At a very young age she perceived a truth of the Church, that the souls we (the Church militant) pray for in purgatory (the Church suffering) will pray for us when they are saints in heaven (the Church triumphant). This is the circle of life in our faith: one family in God, praying for each other. I recommend a wonderful book for anyone confused about purgatory, written by Susan Tassone, titled Praying With the Saints for the Souls in Purgatory. Please remember those who have gone before you: And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.

I have an extra excerpt for us today. It was written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, author of Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov:
Remember also, every day and whenever you can, repeat to yourself,
Lord have mercy on all who come before Thee today." For every hour and every moment thousands of people leave their life on this earth, and their souls appear before God. And so many of them depart alone, unknown, in sadness and sorrow that no one will mourn them, or even know whether they had lived or not. And so, perhaps from the other end of the earth, your prayer for their repose will rise up to God, though you did not know them, nor they you. How touching it must be to a soul, coming in fear before the Lord, to feel  at that moment, that someone is praying for him, too, that there is still a fellow creature on earth who loves him. And God will look upon you both with more mercy, for if you have so pitied him, how much more will He who is infinitely more merciful and loving than you. And He will forgive him for your sake. (The Book of Uncommon Prayer).