"Pain Of Purgatory Before The Gain Of Heaven" - All Souls Day Homily

On All Souls Day, there are several options for the second reading.

Of course, I chose one that's not in the missalette.

So I heard the pages turning, going back for where is it, where is it.

Sorry about that.

That's probably like non-Catholics flipping through the pages of the Bible looking for the word purgatory.

Where is purgatory?

They're not going to find it.

It's not named in the Bible, but...

A reading like the first reading, was in your missalette wisdom, wisdom three, describes the state of purgatory.

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and we hear about the souls of the just.

In all souls day we pray for the souls of the Purgatory throughout the month of November we pray for the souls of the just.

Chastise a little.

God tried them.

He proved them as gold in the furnace.

Gold is purified by fire like in a furnace.

That image of fire is also in the New Testament, though St.

Paul and St.

Peter write about being saved as through fire.

One of the qualities of fire is that it purifies.

It strengthens.

So we have this word, Purgatory, related to a purifying fire.

That's what the souls in purgatory experience.

before they are greatly blessed by entering into heaven.

And it's necessary because when we read in the book of Revelation about heaven, it says that all the saints in heaven are without spot or wrinkle.

They're perfect.

They've had all their spots and wrinkles and imperfections removed.

through this state of purgatory, a state of purification and being perfected.

We know on earth that being perfected or purified is painful.

We might incorporate the image of fire, and kind of burns us personally to learn life lessons.

So in purgatory, it's going through that pain.

But it's also, there's joy, it's like bittersweet.

Because the souls of Purgatory, every last one of them is going to heaven.

And they know that.

It's like, remember the adage, no pain, no gain?

With exercise, I mean, some people do it.

I some of us choose not to work out, so it's just no pain, no pain.

But those who do, they undergo this pain and strain of working out and exercising, knowing there's going to be gain.

There's going be better health, better shape, better fitness.

So it's bittersweet.

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Who is among those who experienced this purification period before going to heaven?

Who are the just?

Jesus says those who see the Son and believe in him will be raised in the last day.

Those who see Him in the Eucharist, in the church, in the poor.

Later in the chapter, John 6, He says, whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.

Those who were close to Him remained in life and in death in a state of grace.

They imitated Him.

We had a beautiful memorial mass last night of parishioners who died in the past year.

And to recall the funerals we did here for them and really extolling their virtues.

Talk about gold.

They had gold in terms of faith and love and virtue.

Virtues of Christ.

But I reminded their family members last night.

Remember at the time of their funeral, they were not perfect.

And there were lot of heads, and we know they're not perfect.

And those of us who die in that state, we're not ready for heaven.

Are kidding me?

I got tons of spots and wrinkles.

I'm just trying to get to Purgatory.

Because again, you know it might be a long sentence for your pastor.

But if we get to Purgatory, we're going to heaven.

That's the joy.

But through this month we pray for them who are suffering.

We call the church suffering in Purgatory.

Church on earth is church militant.

So this month in a special way with your specific intentions on the altar, we encourage you to partake in this.

Write their names down that they're offered in this most holy sacrifice of the mass to the Father with their names on it.

That's going to help open the gates of heaven for them.

Maybe directly, as a result of one mass offer.

But the church militant prays for the church suffering to join the church triumphant in heaven.