Remembering Our Beloved Dead: The Gift of Prayer and Purgatory

November is the last month of the Church's liturgical year. It is a time in which the readings at Mass and the observances of the liturgical calendar call to mind the Last Things.

The Solemnity of All Saints (November 1) reminds us of Heaven, the goal of us all. The Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time (November 15) reminds us of death, the fate of us all. The Feast of Christ the King (November 22) reminds us of the Last Judgment, the reckoning we will all face when Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe will judge each one of us in light of the hope of Heaven and the possibility of Hell. The Commemoration of All Souls (November 2) reminds us of Purgatory.

Death and Judgment, Heaven, Hell and Purgatory, or at least four of them, are rather sober topics for our reflection as the days grow shorter, the temperatures drop and darkness claims more of the day. But because of God's love and mercy, because of His Son, our Savior, whose birth we observe when darkness lays its greatest claim to the length of day, these important realities should not paralyze us. Nor should they prompt denial and discourage reflection. Rather, the Last Things should keep us alert, prepared and even grateful, because in Christ, love has conquered death. By His Cross, mercy has triumphed over sin. Through His resurrection, life overcomes death for all who believe in Him and strive to follow Him.

Death still has its sting. Grief rightly prompts tears, loneliness, and longing. Death frustrates love which wants union with the beloved. Many times, the death of a loved one catches us unprepared. There is more that we wish we could have said. There is more that we would like to do for them. We grieve, in part, because we think we can no longer express our love and help them. But we can.

Jesus challenges us to "be perfect...as your Father in Heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). The Scriptures tell us that "nothing unclean shall enter Heaven" (Revelation 21:27). Jesus speaks of "sins that will not be forgiven in this world, or in the world to come" (Matthew 12:32). By implication of His words, there are some sins that can be forgiven in the world to come.

Purgatory is "a state of final purification after death and before entrance into Heaven for those who died in God's friendship, but were only imperfectly purified; a final cleansing of human imperfection before one is able to enter the joy of Heaven" (Glossary, Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC]). The idea of Purgatory is, I think, a rather comforting thought both from the point of view of the deceased and those left behind. As Saint Augustine realistically observed, “some are not so bad as to be deemed unworthy of mercy nor so good as to be entitled to immediate happiness" (City of God Book XXI, Chapter 24).

The teaching on Purgatory also allows us an outlet for our grief, a way to continue to love and to help our deceased family members, friends and even strangers who may have no one to pray for them. The Second Book of Maccabees praises prayers and works for the dead, "that they might be loosed from their sins" (2 Maccabees 12:45). We can offer up prayers, litanies and Masses for our beloved deceased along with almsgiving, indulgences and works of penance (CCC 1032).

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasure of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints... An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.” (CCC 1471).

From November 1 through November 8, a plenary indulgence (the forgiveness of all temporal punishment of sin), applicable only to the souls in Purgatory, is granted to the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the dead. A plenary indulgence can be granted on each of those days.

Indulgences are not magic. They are based upon the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. There are conditions to their grant which assure they are not abused or undertaken superstitiously. The conditions for a plenary indulgence associated with visiting a cemetery from November 1-8 are: a) sacramental confession; b) Eucharistic communion; c) prayers for the pope's intentions; and d) a complete exclusion of all attachment to sin, even venial sin. The confession, communion and prayer for the pope's intentions may be carried out on the day of the visit or several days before or after. One Our Father and one Hail Mary prayed for the pope's intentions are sufficient. One sacramental confession may satisfy the plenary indulgence for visits on the different days from November 1-8. Mass and communion and the prayers for the pope must be done for each visit seeking a plenary indulgence.

As we approach the month of November, let us heed the reminder of Saint Ambrose speaking of the dead. “We have loved them in life, let us not forget them in death.” Through Masses, prayers, penances, charitable works and indulgences, the Church offers many ways for us to continue to show and express our love for those who have gone before us in faith.