The month of November is dedicated to our departed brothers and sisters. First we rejoice at the celestial glory of those who have already entered the heavenly kingdom and then we pray for those who are waiting for admittance. Therefore, we can hear that the faithful throughout the Universal Church pray for the souls in Purgatory. According to our Catholic faith we believe in four stages of the end of our earthly lives: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1005, 1013) reminds us that to rise in Christ we must die with Christ and that death is the end of man’s earthly pilgrimage. (…) When the single course of our earthly life is completed we shall not return to other earthly lives: “It is appointed for men to die once.” There is no “reincarnation” after death.

 

Catholic theology regards Purgatory is a state of cleansing and preparation for heaven. Only those with unremitted venial sins may enter Purgatory. Unconfessed or unrepented mortal sin is considered damnable. Until we are pilgrims on this earth we may pray for ourselves and for others both the living and the dead. Yet, when the course of our earthly life is completed we can’t help ourselves with prayers and we are in need of prayerful help of others. Our faith in the everlasting life, which we profess each Sunday during a Mass, encourages us to pray for our departed brothers and sisters so that they may be admitted to the kingdom of God. The prayer for the deceased has been in the core of the liturgy of the Church since her beginning. During each Mass in the Eucharistic Prayer the priest on behalf of the whole congregation prays for those who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection. Let us keep our love ones in our prayers!

 

This Friday, November 9th, we observe the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. This feast reminds us of our unity with the Holy Father as the Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church marking the day of the dedication of his cathedral. Many mistakenly think that the St. Peter’s Basilica is the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome but actually it is the Lateran Basilica that officially is named The Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the Lateran.

Let us keep Pope Francis in our prayers!

 

 

God bless,

Fr. Peter