November is devoted to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The month begins with the liturgical Solemnities of All Saints on the 1st, and All Souls on the 2nd.
All Saints Day
Pope Francis has referred to All Saints Day as a “family feast,” He said the saints are our “heavenly family.” "We are united not only with the canonized saints of the liturgical calendar but also with our “next door” saints – our relatives and acquaintances who are now part of that immense multitude. For all of them, are with God and they invite the believers “to the path of happiness.....“It is good for us to let ourselves be motivated by the saints, who never had half measures here on earth and who from there above ‘cheer’ us on, so that we choose God, humility, meekness, mercy and purity, because we are impassioned about heaven rather than earth.”
All Souls Day
Pope Francis has described All Souls Day, the day we remember and pray for all the faithful departed, as a day of hope. He said, “Today is a day of memory that takes us back to our roots. It is also a day of hope. It reminds us of what we can expect: the hope of encountering the love of the Father.”
The Communion of Saints
"The communion of saints goes beyond earthly life, beyond death and endures for ever. This union among us goes beyond and continues in the next life; it is a spiritual communion born in Baptism and not broken by death, but, thanks to the Risen Christ, is destined to find its fullness in eternal life. There is a deep and indissoluble bond between those who are still pilgrims in this world — us — and those who have crossed the threshold of death and entered eternity. All baptized persons here on earth, the souls in Purgatory and all the blessed who are already in Paradise make one great Family. This communion between earth and heaven is realized especially in intercessory prayer."
Pope Francis, General Audience, 30 October 2013
Purgatory; The Last Stop Before Heaven
“That Prison of Suffering” — St. Faustina
In a diary entry, St. Faustina describes one of her visions,
“I saw my guardian angel, who ordered me to follow him. In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid. The flames, which were burning them, did not touch me at all. My guardian angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God.
“I saw Our Lady visiting the souls in purgatory. The souls call her ‘The Star of the Sea.’ She brings them refreshment. I wanted to talk with them some more, but my guardian angel beckoned me to leave. We went out of that prison of suffering. [I heard an interior voice, which said] ‘My mercy does not want this, but justice demands it. Since that time I am in closer communion with the suffering souls.’” (Diary of St. Faustina 20)
Praying for Souls in Purgatory
Pope Benedict XVI said, "In writing about purgatory, the Saint reminds us of a fundamental truth of faith that becomes for us an invitation to pray for the deceased so that they may attain the beatific vision of God in the Communion of Saints." (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1032).
“We must empty Purgatory with our prayers.”
Saint Padre Pio
St. Gertrude Prayer: to release Holy Souls from Purgatory
Eternal Father,
I offer You the most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus,
in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home,
and within my family. Amen.
What is Paradise?
"Paradise is not a fairytale place, much less an enchanted garden. Paradise is the embrace of God, infinite Love, and we enter there thanks to Jesus, who died on the Cross for us. Where there is Jesus there is mercy and happiness; without him there is cold and darkness. At the hour of death, a Christian repeats to Jesus: “Remember me”. And even if there may no longer be anyone who remembers us, Jesus is there, beside us. He wants to take us to the most beautiful place that exists. He wants to take us there with the small or great deal of good that we have done in our life, so that nothing of what he has already redeemed may be lost. And into the Father’s house he will also bring everything in us that still needs redemption: the shortcomings and mistakes of an entire life. This is the aim of our existence: that all be fulfilled, and be transformed into love."
Pope Francis, General Audience, 25 October 2017
Our Journey with Jesus
"A Christian must be joyful, with the joy of having so many baptized brothers and sisters to journey with him; sustained by the help of brothers and sisters who are taking the same path toward heaven; and also by the help of brothers and sisters who are in heaven and are praying to Jesus for us. Go forward on this path with joy!"
Pope Francis, General Audience, 30 October 2013
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