“And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.” (Jn. 6:39-40)
One of the more obvious jobs of a pastor is presiding over liturgical events, whether it’s Sunday Masses, weddings or funerals. We are currently in the fall New Orleans wedding season, during which I have at least one wedding every weekend. But I’ve also provided over a few funerals recently. Although most people understand the purpose of a funeral, some people don’t. They might call it a “celebration of a life.” While I am always happy that someone led a holy, exemplary life, what that person had a difficult or troubled life? Or what happens if the person even took his or her own life?
We have to remember that there are three purposes to a funeral: (1) to mourn together; (2) to be consoled by the Gospel message of hope; and (3) to pray for the soul of the deceased person. The biggest problem with a “celebration of a life” is that it tends to focus on past, earthly events. And if the person’s life was so good, why should we worry that they might be in Purgatory?
The Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a specific devotion. In November, that devotion is the Poor Souls in Purgatory – those faithful Christians who have died but who still must atone for their sins. Purgatory cleanses them so that they may enter Heaven free from all of the effects of sin.
Praying for the dead, especially for deceased friends and relatives, is a necessary part of Christian charity. Our own prayers and sacrifices can relieve their suffering.
In the past, one of the most commonly recited Catholic prayers was the Requiem aeternam, a prayer that has fallen into disuse in the last few decades. In English the prayer goes: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
Look, I hope my Dad went straight to Heaven when he died in 2009. And I remember so many great stories about his life, too. But what kind of a son would I be if I arrived in Purgatory to find that he was still there because I didn’t help him out with my own prayers?
Prayer for the dead is one of the greatest acts of charity we can perform. Use the month of November to pray for your deceased relatives and friends. We want to help them enter more quickly into the fullness of Heaven. And when they get there, they can pray that we will join them!
(Very Rev. Msgr.) Christopher H. Nalty
msgr.nalty@gmail.com
