CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES NOV. 8
WHAT IS PURGATORY?

November is dedicated to the Holy Souls!

Why is it good to know about purgatory?
Most of us will probably spend time there!!

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 1030-1032) explains...
Those who die in God's grace
but are not yet perfectly purified
are guaranteed eternal salvation.
They undergo purification after death
to gain the holiness needed to enter heaven.

This is a Biblical teaching derived from multiple passages!

Consider: Radiation treatment is awful to receive BUT.
it a good thing — because it gets rid of the disease!
Purgatory is not pleasant to endure, but...

Purgatory IS a positive thing - a GIFT!
The fire of God's love purifies souls from their attachment to sin
- which keeps them from entering heaven.
The purification cleans away the dross - every impure thing
- so that souls may enter into Heaven.

Some saints have shared that people choose to stay in Purgatory longer
to become fully clean - they want to be
completely perfect before they are completely with God.

Click below to hear Fr. Mike Schmitz explain purgatory:
Saints, including St. Faustina, St.Catherine of Genoa, St. Stanislaus Papczynski,
St. Padre Pio and more, were given glimpses of souls in purgatory.
God did not reveal the state of the souls in Purgatory
to these saints in order to frighten them.
Rather, He did so in order to fill us with hope
that Heaven awaits those who die in His friendship.

On Oct. 23, the Vatican extended the grace God permits it to give and decreed
plenary indulgences for the souls in Purgatory,
amid concerns about large gatherings.
Normally at Mass, the souls in purgatory receive graces
that help them move more quickly to heaven.

Certain indulgenced acts,
(which can help remit temporal punishment due to sin for those who died in a state of grace)
can be obtained throughout November 2020.


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A plenary indulgence can be gained once daily
by the faithful who are in a state of grace:
AND
  •  Are interiorly disposed of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin
  •  Have confessed their sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
  •  Receive the Holy Eucharist
(ideally in Holy Mass, although this indulgence permits for other occasions)
  •  Pray for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions

One Plenary Indulgence can be obtained for those who visit a cemetery
and pray for the deceased, even if only mentally, especially during this pandemic.
8 WAYS TO HONOR THE HOLY SOULS

Those suffering but hopeful souls in purgatory whom our prayers assist
will someday be in heaven and will pray for us as we journey.
November is the ideal time to help the Holy Souls through prayer
and acts of love and charity.

One simple way is a prayer many say with the meal blessing:
May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Recall, we are sinners and must strengthen our own souls to enter heaven.
Click below for 8 ways you can honor the Holy Souls in Purgatory:



WHAT DOES PURGATORY LOOK LIKE?

Purgatory is a mysterious state.

“What does purgatory look like?”

Only those who have experienced it can explain its attributes.
Most of us have not had near-death experiences
where is given a glimpse of what awaits us.
We rely on what God has told us through the Bible and his teaching through the Church.

Purgatory does not have any “physical” characteristics,
but the Church does explain our experience there.

Click below to learn more:
There is growing legitimate research around
Near Death Experience (NDE) reports
and
peer-reviewed scientific journals published a number of medical studies on the subject.

Click below to explore common elements of near death experience stories,
what it means when a near death experience can be verified,
and five credible near death experience short stories.
More ways to grow close to God,
at our STM Parish Faith Formation Website:


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