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Spiritual GPS
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REST IN PEACE
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The leaves are falling, the snow is about to descend upon God's earth and November is with us
shortly. Things just seem to slow down at this time of the month. Flowers have to be brought in,
grass no longer grows, the days get shorter. It is wonderful that just as our lives continue and
comes to fruition, so too nature comes to fruition every fall. At some time in our lives, we slow
down, we have a more hesitant step, eye grow dim and slowly we begin to show our age, and then
- death approaches us on cat's paws, not letting know just when the time comes. And eternity
comes upon us.
For some this the end of everything, the last straw, the finale, beyond which only lurks darkness
and endless blackness for all eternity. We in the Catholic Faith have a much different approach
toward death and after life. In the creed we say each Sunday we mention the Communion of
Saints, very beautiful doctrine in the Church that sorry to say, many do not really understand.
Strange, because we pray for a happy death where we shall see God as He is - that is not total
darkness!
Within the Communion of Saints, we have three distinct divisions - the Church Glorious, the
Church Suffering, and the Church Militant. We will think about the Church Militant later, but since
this is the time when all things start slowing down, we are going to take a look at what happens
after death
We know the soul will be judged immediately after death in a particular judgment. If we have
serious sin on our souls we will go straight to Hell for all eternity - the place of eternal punishment.
If we have small sins on our souls, we must suffer to get rid of the remnants of sin and thereby be
able to enter heaven. Just how long we would be in this place of preparation for Heaven only God
knows. Since the Latin word for cleaning is purgare we call this place Purgatory or a place of
purgation.
Now, as you might realize, when we die we no longer have the use of reason, can no longer pray
or do anything for ourselves. We are utterly dependent upon others to do things for us, to pray for
us etc. so when we say, may they rest in peace, we are saying a prayer for that particular soul who
cannot do anything for them.
The Church thinks so much of these deceased persons that they have a particular day set aside
for them so we can remember them as we can all the souls in Purgatory. On that day, even the
priest may say three Masses when he can ordinarily say only one. We offer prayers for the Poor
Souls, offer up our merits and good deeds for their benefit since they have no way of paying their
debt to God for the sins they have committed in life. Since they cannot do anything for themselves,
they are completely depended on you and me to get their release from Purgatory.
So, just as you place this year's bulbs on the shelf until next year, our souls sort of are put on the
shelf in Purgatory until with the mercy of God and our good works and prayers they get released
for all eternity into heaven. These are the Church Suffering, souls dependent on us to get their
release.
When you have some extra time for prayers, indulgences and good works think of them. Hopefully,
you too will be in that place of purgation and will wait for your friend and strangers to get you into
heaven.
©2009 Fr. Louis Schlangen
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