Purgatory Is Not for You

Today the Church seems to take a step back from the jubilant celebration of the feast of Christ the King and All Saints Day. All the readings of the Mass are directed towards the two goals of Holy Mother the Church: The remembrance of the Holy Souls in Purgatory and a reminder of our own impending judgment. We remember the dead not in the self-centered way that the world does, but in the way that is best suited for their benefit. We may hope that they are in Heaven, but we pray for them as if we know they still need our assistance. This has been the custom of Catholics from the very beginning.

The slightest suffering of Purgatory surpasses all suffering on Earth. The Holy Souls wish for us to avoid that suffering by faithfully offering up the trials we must endure during our life. In doing so, we make up for temporal punishment due to our sins and gain additional merit, bringing us ever closer to divine union. Today is a reminder for every practicing Catholic to definitively convert his life to God. Our goal is perfection in this life and an immediate journey to Heaven after death.