The Feast of All Souls and the Doctrine of Merit
Summary of Headings
The Feast of All Souls
Today is the 21st Sunday after Pentecost. There are just a few announcements. Being the first Sunday of the month, there will be catechism in Spanish after this Mass. Siendo el primer domingo del mes hay catechismo en español después de esta Misa para los que quieran participar. The second collection will be for the Building Fund. Generosity is much needed, much appreciated, as everyone I'm sure knows. Things are moving forward very quickly. We have a meeting with the city this week, but it's a formality, it's nothing else. Keep the project in your prayers. Things are moving along very nicely. I just visited the property and it's very quite exciting. Also, today was the first day of classes for catechism. If for some reason you forgot about that and you get your kids here in time, make sure you do so in future. We very much appreciate that. Tomorrow is the Feast of All Souls. Usually it would be today, November the 2nd, but because of it falling on a Sunday, we had to transpose it to tomorrow. So tomorrow is the Feast of All Souls. First and foremost, we will have all three Masses. It's one of the two days where the priests are encouraged to say, not just encouraged, but almost commanded to say three Masses in one day to trinate. So the Masses tomorrow will be at 6.30, 7.30, they'll be back to back to back. The 7.30 Mass will be the one we will distribute Communion for. I'm sorry they're so early, but it's hopefully so more people can attend before they go to work. Please do come and attend for the sake of the poor souls, that they may rest in peace. That being said, there's also the opportunity to win Platonary Indulgences for the poor souls in Purgatory. So an Indulgence is a gift from the Church, from the Treasury of Graces from the Church, which relieves us of some of our time in Purgatory. The punishment which still remains to us to pay after we are forgiven our sins. There's still a residue of the sin, if you will, so to clean all that off, we have Indulgences through prayers and through actions to help us pay off our debt to God. A Platonary Indulgence is when that debt is entirely wiped out in one fell swoop. There are a few opportunities where we get to be able to participate in that action, but November the 2nd and the month of November, the days after November the 2nd, are particular, are special, because we can dedicate a Platonary Indulgence to the Lord. And that's to one of the souls in Purgatory. So it's something we can do, so we can win Platonary Indulgences for the souls in Purgatory. The usual conditions do apply. That within nine days, before or after, we must have gone to Confession and Communion. That we must visit a sanctuary, a church, a cemetery, some kind of a consecrated place to pray for the poor souls, at least in our Father. But we encourage, at least in our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be. But we must offer our prayers. We must offer a prayer for the poor souls. And on top of that, we must also pray for the Catholic intentions of the Holy Father. Not just any intentions, not just His manifestos and actions, but the Catholic intentions, which are for the benefit of the Church, the benefit of souls, and the benefit of the salvation of all of us. So therefore, in the teaching of the Church, we pray for those, at least in our Father, in a Hail Mary. Also, we will have a market day on the 7th of December. So we're getting ready for Christmas. As of that time, not right now, please. But people will be getting ready for Christmas. It will be during Advent. And we're hoping that a market day, where we can sell wares and the like, we can encourage people to prepare themselves well for Christmas. So that will be December 7th, the Sunday, December 7th, here at the Chapel. Like in the other market days. We've had all the proceeds will go to the building fund. But we, of course, need volunteers. Of course, we want people to come and spend their money. But we also want people to bring people in from the outside to come and support the Church through the purchases. But we also need vendors. So people who are willing to sell their wares, whatever it may be. If you are an artist, maybe you could make a few things. If you'd like to help sell food, whatever it is, there's a sign-up sheet in the vestibule to help us. To help us with that situation. To help us with that market day. And if you'd like to be a vendor, please sign up. If you would like more details, you can please speak to people in the bookstore. They will know more about it. Also, please, I announced this yesterday. But I'm going to re-announce it for those who didn't hear it. Maybe who weren't here. But please pray for the Jimenez family. I gave last rites to Margarita Jimenez. And... They're faithful here. And... She's still hanging on, but not by much. So please keep the family in your prayers. They're all here to be with her. But it is important that we have that kind of charity for each other. To make sure that we all participate through the community of saints. In supporting and helping especially those most in need. The Epistle for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost is taken from St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6. Brethren, be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his power. Put you on the armor of God that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the Devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. Against the rulers of the world and of this darkness. Against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore take unto you the armor of God that you may be able to resist. And the Gospel? Take from the Gospel according to St. Matthew, chapter 18. At that time Jesus spoke to his disciples this parable. The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who would take an account of his servants. And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him that owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his Lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. But that servant, falling down, besought him, saying, Have patience with me. And I will pay thee all. And the Lord of that servant, being moved with pity, let him go and forgave him the debt. But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow servants that owed him a hundred pence, and laying a hold of him, he throttled him, saying, Pay what thou owest. And his fellow servant, falling down, besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison, till he paid the debt. Now his fellow servants, seeing what was done, were very much grieved. And they came and told their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord said to them, The Lord called him and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me. Shouldst thou not then also have had compassion also on thy fellow servant, even as I had compassion on thee? And his Lord, being angry, delivered him to the torturers, until he paid all the debt. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. Thus for the gospel, please be seated. Amen. Amen. Amen. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. We get to celebrate such a beautiful feast day, such as the Feast of All Souls tomorrow. Again, should have been today. But it's such a beautiful feast because we are able to consider one of the most important doctrines of our church, and that is that of merit. While we are here on earth, we can earn heaven through our actions, through our prayers, through our participation in the will of God. By letting God actually work through us, we are able to cooperate with him in our salvation. But once we die, that's over. We no longer have that ability. And that's where the question of purgatory comes up. If we still have a debt on our soul, we have to pay it off. If we still have dirt and everything on our clothes, we have to have that cleaned up before we meet the king. And so therefore, God purifies us, purges us. That is what purgatory is. It is a place of cleansing. The sufferings are terrible. According to many fathers of the church, the sufferings between purgatory and hell are actually physically the same, or at least sensorially the same. The difference is, one is a place of absolute despair and hatred. The other place is a place of love and hope. Purgatory has hope because the souls there are not always going to be there. They are going to go to heaven. They have been judged. They have been judged as just, but they still have a debt to pay. They still have to be cleansed of their sins. Actually, there's a very beautiful part in the end of the purgatorio of the divine comedy, where St. Peter meets everybody who finally scales the mount purgatory, and he meets them before they can go into heaven, and he washes them, if you will, baptizes them, so that they are able to enter. But before they can get to that point, they have to scale this terrible mountain, where they suffer terrible things for the sins that they have committed. While we are here on earth, because we do not see things directly, but we only see them through faith, through the eyes of faith, we are not called upon to suffer the same way. We are not called upon to suffer so directly for our sins. But, we are still supposed to pay back the debt that we owe for our sins, whether through indulgence, whether through good actions, whether through prayers, etc. And so therefore, it behooves us to consider what our life may be, if we die and, God forbid, go to purgatory. And hopefully, by considering the sufferings of purgatory, we'll be able to put up with a lot more here on earth. When we consider what the alternative is of purifying our soul now or later, we'll be happy to do so now. When we consider what the alternative is of purifying our soul now or later, the torture and sufferings of the poor souls in purgatory, hopefully we'll be a little more generous with our time and our suffering. This is a very healthy devotion to have, the poor souls. But unfortunately, like most of our devotions, it's seasonal. So, most of the time, we don't think too much about the poor souls. But come November, all of a sudden, they're very present in our mind. And this isn't just. The church puts it on this date, precisely so that we can have always some sort of memory of them. But it is not supposed to be just for the month of November, or just for November 2nd, and then that's it. But it is supposed to be something that we foster within our souls. Actually, several writers say that besides devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and obviously the Mass and the sacraments, but apart from the Mass and the sacraments, the most salutary devotion, apart from that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is to the poor souls in purgatory. Because it reminds us of, of our duties. It reminds us of our own mortality. It reminds us of our sins. It shows us clearly the gravity and the horror of sins. It does so much good to us, but it also gives us an education about what to do and what not to do. There was a funny story that I heard one time. It's funny, but it's also very beautiful. A mother told it to me that she was tending her store, and her youngest daughter, who was about seven or eight, was just reading a book. Having finished her homework, was just sitting there reading a book. Her mother was reading a book on purgatory. Different apparitions and visions of people that had received from souls who were suffering in purgatory. And at one point she commented to her young daughter, potentially traumatizing her maybe, about one of the comments that one soul gave, that the universal regret of every soul in purgatory is wasted time. And then after about five minutes, she looked up and realized her daughter was industriously cleaning the entire shop. She heard that little lesson about wasting time, and she put it to good use. We should also have that sense. We learn from the lessons of the souls in purgatory. If they regret wasting time, maybe we should pay a little bit more attention to how we use our time. Just to make sure. Just one specific example. How much time per day do we spend scrolling on our phone? How much time do we spend watching the news, futilely getting enraged by something or other? Or frustrated? Or gleeful over the downfall of somebody or whatever? How much time do we spend worrying and thinking about celebrities, or whatever else may be the case? How much time do we waste on trivial matters that have nothing to do with us? And how much time do we spend actually laboring for our salvation? Of course we're supposed to have leisure time. Of course we're supposed to have relaxation and recreation and all the like. But everything we do should be productive. There should never be any such thing as passive recreation. And it's supposed to be something that helps us, that forms us, and that guides us. This is what we should learn from the poor souls in purgatory. They didn't use their time well enough. We should have great hope because of them. Because they are able to be saved. We know they're sinners. One of the problems with reading the lives of the saints is we can sometimes get a little discouraged. We read somebody like St. Therese of Lisieux or St. Gemma Galgani, and it seems like they never sin. They talk about their terrible sins and how horrible they are. And you read them and you think, Wow. Well then what am I? But the fact of the matter is, they're supposed to inspire us in a different way. The souls in purgatory can inspire us in the fact that even though they were sinners, they still are going to be saved. They are still going to be in heaven. That is something that is going to inspire and encourage us tremendously. But it also should educate us about how not to fall into the same problems that they did. To put priorities where they need to be. To form virtues in our soul. To make a stronger effort to use our time wisely. To also, very importantly, be merciful. The church is united. The church triumphant in heaven. The church suffering in purgatory. The church militant here on earth. We are all united by the communion of saints. And everything that we do contributes and supports and helps every member of that church. But the ones in purgatory can no longer merit for us. They cannot give for themselves. They cannot give to us or to themselves or to anybody else. They cannot intercede like the souls in heaven can. Like the church triumphant can. They are stuck. And we should be merciful enough with the powers that we have at our disposal. With the ability to go to mass. With the ability to have masses offered. With the ability to be able to go to the cemeteries and pray. With the ability to win plenary indulgences for those most in need. To be able to have a part in the relief of the souls and the suffering that these souls have to go through. That mercy must be shared. We look upon our own sinfulness and rather than get discouraged, maybe we can find a way to try to offer that back to the souls in purgatory. To give a little bit more. It is something so very important that we consider. Like the image of the gospel today. To show mercy when we have been shown so much mercy. To be compassionate because God has had compassion on us. These are our brethren who are in serious pain. It is easy for us to write a check to the poor people who had their homes wrecked in Jamaica or wherever. It is easy enough for us to feel sorry for the person on the street corner asking for money. Or for people who are suffering. Or whose family has a member dying. Or whatever may be the case. It is easy for us to feel mercy then. But we must also look further afield. We must look into purgatory and realize that these are people who are suffering pains unimaginable. Unimaginable. In Rome there is a church that is dedicated to the poor souls in purgatory. That has different memorabilia, if you want to call it that. Relics, I think would be a better word. Of different apparitions of the poor souls in purgatory. Including hand prints that have been charred into stone itself. Again, science has no clue how. Because it is a spiritual, supernatural thing. The suffering that they go through is incomprehensible for us here on earth. And that mercy that we show to each other must be multiplied a hundred fold for the souls in purgatory. We must have compassion on them. And we must be willing to pay them back for their sacrifice. By not falling into the same mistakes. And we must learn from them. And we must try to grow in grace. But most importantly we must try to free them each and every day. We must have a strong devotion to them. Among other things, if we want a little bit of personal interest in why we should do so. Then the more that we do for them. When they get out of purgatory themselves and go to heaven. Imagine how grateful they'll be. They'll know exactly what we did for them. And while we have family members who die. And we do everything we can to help them get into heaven. And make sure that they get into heaven. Imagine how many thousands and maybe even millions of souls are stuck in purgatory. With no family members who look after them. No people who remember them. People who do not pray for them. Imagine how many. And therefore we must give to them especially. Those who are most in need deserve and need most. Our efforts, our generosity, our mercy and our love. So let's learn from these poor souls in purgatory. Let's apply the lessons. Let's also try to have compassion on them. Learn from the mercy that God shows us each and every day. So that we may be able to free these people from the tortures that they are going through. And so that we may be able to avoid these tortures ourselves. Learning not just to try to sneak into heaven through purgatory. But rather to shoot directly for heaven. So that we can avoid the same pitfalls that these people have gone through. And that we may be able to be part of their liberation into heaven. And be eternally happy with them in heaven. Father in the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen. Subtitles by the Amara.org community
Summary
We get to celebrate such a beautiful feast day, such as the Feast of All Souls tomorrow. Again, should have been today. But it's such a beautiful feast because we are able to consider one of the most important doctrines of our church, and that is that of merit. While we are here on earth, we can earn heaven through our actions, through our prayers, through our participation in the will of God. By letting God actually work through us, we are able to cooperate with him in our salvation. But once we die, that's over. We no longer have that ability. And that's where the question of purgatory comes up. If we still have a debt on our soul, we have to pay it off. If we still have dirt and everything on our clothes, we have to have that cleaned up before we meet the king. And so therefore, God purifies us, purges us. That is what purgatory is. It is a place of cleansing. The sufferings are terrible. According to many fathers of the church, the sufferings between purgatory and hell are actually physically the same, or at least sensorially the same. The difference is, one is a place of absolute despair and hatred. The other place is a place of love and hope. Purgatory has hope because the souls there are not always going to be there. They are going to go to heaven. They have been judged. They have been judged as just, but they still have a debt to pay. They still have to be cleansed of their sins. Actually, there's a very beautiful part in the end of the purgatorio of the divine comedy, where St. Peter meets everybody who finally scales the mount purgatory, and he meets them before they can go into heaven, and he washes them, if you will, baptizes them, so that they are able to enter. But before they can get to that point, they have to scale this terrible mountain, where they suffer terrible things for the sins that they have committed. While we are here on earth, because we do not see things directly, but we only see them through faith, through the eyes of faith, we are not called upon to suffer the same way. We are not called upon to suffer so directly for our sins. But, we are still supposed to pay back the debt that we owe for our sins, whether through indulgence, whether through good actions, whether through prayers, etc. And so therefore, it behooves us to consider what our life may be, if we die and, God forbid, go to purgatory. And hopefully, by considering the sufferings of purgatory, we'll be able to put up with a lot more here on earth. When we consider what the alternative is of purifying our soul now or later, we'll be happy to do so now. When we consider what the alternative is of purifying our soul now or later, the torture and sufferings of the poor souls in purgatory, hopefully we'll be a little more generous with our time and our suffering. This is a very healthy devotion to have, the poor souls. But unfortunately, like most of our devotions, it's seasonal. So, most of the time, we don't think too much about the poor souls. But come November, all of a sudden, they're very present in our mind. And this isn't just. The church puts it on this date, precisely so that we can have always some sort of memory of them. But it is not supposed to be just for the month of November, or just for November 2nd, and then that's it. But it is supposed to be something that we foster within our souls. Actually, several writers say that besides devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and obviously the Mass and the sacraments, but apart from the Mass and the sacraments, the most salutary devotion, apart from that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is to the poor souls in purgatory. Because it reminds us of, of our duties. It reminds us of our own mortality. It reminds us of our sins. It shows us clearly the gravity and the horror of sins. It does so much good to us, but it also gives us an education about what to do and what not to do.