In the month of November, we traditionally commemorate our faithful departed. How come that we remember those who died?

Faith has its reasons and proofs. The Christian faith relies on two sources, the Word of God (the Bible), and Tradition (or the handing down of faith by the Church throughout the ages). The Bible openly asserts that going to purgatory is a must if we want to enter heaven, as we must be pure. Revelations 21: 27 says: "But nothing unclean shall enter it [the heavenly Jerusalem], nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood."

The idea of an after-death purification from sin and its effects can also be detected in other New Testament passages like those found in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 and Matthew 5:25-26, 12:31-32. Moreover, the Bible has prayers for the dead. 2 Maccabees 12:43-45 recounts such a custom. "In doing this he acted very well and honourably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead that they might be delivered from their sin."

Fortified by the scriptural data, the early Church Fathers showed that purgatory has been part of the Christian faith from the earliest days of Christianity. Some clear examples may suffice.

Saint John Chrysostom (349-407), in his homilies on First Corinthians, writes: "Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice [Job 1:5], 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" (Homilies on First Corinthians 41:5).

In his book on Christian philosophy, City of God, Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430), teaches: "Temporal punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by some after death, by some both here and hereafter, but all of them before that last and strictest judgment. But not all who suffer temporal punishments after death will come to eternal punishments, which are to follow after that judgment" (21:13).

Drawing from biblical evidence and various patristic contributions, the Church teaches in her Catechism that "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. The Church gives the name purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned" (Catechism of the Catholic Church no 1030-1).

But why do we offer Masses for the dead? Pope Leo XIII's encyclical on the Holy Eucharist, Mirae Caritatis, explains why.

"Besides all this, the grace of mutual charity among the living, which derives from the Sacrament of the Eucharist so great an increase of strength, is further extended by virtue of the Sacrifice to all those who are numbered in the Communion of Saints. For the Communion of Saints, as everyone knows, is nothing but the mutual communication of help, expiation, prayers, blessings, among all the faithful, who, whether they have already attained the heavenly country, or are detained in the purgatorial fire, or are yet exiles here on earth, all enjoy the common franchise of that city whereof Christ is the head, and the constitution is charity. For faith teaches us, that although the venerable Sacrifice may be lawfully offered to God alone, yet it may be celebrated in honour of the saints reigning in heaven with God Who has crowned them, in order that we may gain for ourselves their patronage. And it may also be offered - in accordance with an apostolic tradition - for the purpose of expiating the sins of those of the brethren who, having died in the Lord, have not yet fully paid the penalty of their transgressions" (no 12).

Do you really love and respect your departedloved ones? Why not offer Masses for their soul's eternal repose?

 

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

Paola