neapun

The Church is composed of the faithful living upon the earth and those who have gone before us. The latter includes the saints in Heaven and the faithful souls being purified in Purgatory. Just as on November 1 we honor those who are with God, on November 2 Catholics celebrate a Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Also known as All Souls’ Day, on this day we honor them for their fidelity in life, as well as pray for them since they are being purified before entering the All Holy Presence of God. As Revelation 21:27 says of the Heavenly Jerusalem, “… nothing unclean shall enter in.” From the earliest days of the Church, Catholics have believed in a place of final purification for the faithful who died. Those who died a martyr were recognized as already with God since they were perfectly conformed to Christ and His Cross by their martyrdom. For the many believers who never had the opportunity to give such a public witness, the Church offered prayers, especially the Mass, that, having been purified from every imperfection, they would enter into Heaven. This can be found in many ancient texts, as well as the witness of the catacombs and tombs. In the Middle Ages, the theological explanation was developed and the name Purgatory began to be used since it aptly describes the belief of the Church from the beginning up until today. More: ewtnmission.com/seasonsandfe…