A Note from Fr. Dan

The Church Triumphant and the Church Purgative

Dear Parish Family,

In addition to the Church on earth (the Pilgrim Church), the Church also consists of those who have gone before us who are in Heaven (the Church Triumphant) and those who have gone before us who will be in Heaven but are not yet there, those Holy Souls in Purgatory (the Church Purgative).  All three are connected by Baptism and all are called to live in the fullness of the Kingdom of our God.  November 1 we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, not just those Saints who are officially recognized as Saints by the Church, but the uncountable number of others who have achieved the beatific Vision, Heaven, and are celebrating the fullness of life with God, the Virgin Mary and all the angels. November 2 we commemorate All Souls Day, the day we specifically pray for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  There is a great deal of confusion about Purgatory; this is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us.  “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 to as 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.  The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory at the Councils of Florence and Trent, The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Sacred Scripture; especially 1 Maccabees 12:46, 1 Corinthian’s 3:15, 1 Peter 1:7.(CCC 1030 – 1031 ff).  We rejoice with those who have gone before us in faith, we pray for those in Purgatory, offer up good words and have Mass celebrated for them.  We acknowledge our brothers and sisters in Heaven and thank them for their intercession of our behalf before the throne of God.

God Bless, Fr. Dan