By John Petty, Catholic Editor
In the Catholic Church, the three day period of Hallowtide concludes Nov. 2, with the Feast of All Souls.
Prayer for the dead – Photo by John Petty
In the United States, many Americans are familiar with All Hallows Eve (Halloween), and All Saints Day. However, many Americans, and even many Catholics do not recognize the importance of the Feast of All Souls.
Unlike Halloween and All Saints Day, All Souls Day focuses particularly on the souls of those who are in purgatory, and in need of prayers.
“The souls in purgatory are suffering,” Tomas Rampe said. “They need our help to be in full communion with God in heaven.
Carraci’s Purgatory – Photo by wikipedia
When any person dies, that person faces the particular judgment, where the individual is judged by God according to that person’s conduct in life. That soul will either join the damned in hell, the saints in heaven or the penitent-elect in purgatory.
Those who are in purgatory are guaranteed heaven, but–due to either unremitted venial sin or unremitted temporal punishment–do not immediately go to heaven.. While purgatory is speculated to entail great suffering, some argue that it will also contain great joy, due to the fact that one is guaranteed eternal communion with God.
Catholics have long understood the importance of praying for the dead. This practice is rooted in 2 Maccabees, as well as Tradition. Through prayer and intercession of the Church Militant on Earth, the Church Penitent in Purgatory may see their purifications remitted early.
“I love my brothers and sisters in Christ,” Logan License said. “I pray for souls to get out of Purgatory.”
Some common practices for All Souls Day include praying at cemeteries for those who have passed, remembering that all people will soon die and stand before God. Furthermore, masses can be said for the souls of the faithful departed, as well as rosaries and other devotions.
It is a great practice for the faithful to remember all of their dead loved ones, particularly deceased relatives, when prayers are offered. Intercessory prayer of righteous people, according to the Epistle of James in the New Testament, is very effective. Therefore, Christians ought to act out of charity in praying for all the souls in purgatory, keeping in mind especially those close to them who have passed.
