If you follow the rhythm of the church year, you know that November is the month dedicated to praying for the Holy Souls in purgatory. It is the time when the church asks us to renew our vigor, and remember that these suffering souls can benefit by our prayers. Some of you may be wondering, is the doctrine of purgatory sound? Isn't it something the Catholics made up? Well, I'm pleased to inform you that it is not made up. Not only was in mentioned as far back as A.D. 211 (Tertullian, The Crown) but is also clearly mentioned in the bible. This is expertly pointed out by Paul Whitcomb, a former protestant minister, in his book The Catholic Church has the Answer.
The main body of Christians have always believed in the existence of a place between Heaven and Hell where souls go to be punished for lesser sins and to repay the debt of temporal punishment for sins which have been forgiven. Even after Moses was forgiven by God, he was still punished for his sins. (2 kg. or 2 Sam. 12:13-14). The primitive Church Fathers regarded the doctrine of Purgatory as one of the basic tenets of the Christian faith. St. Augustine, one of the greatest doctors of the Church, said the doctrine of Purgatory "has been received from the Fathers and it is observed by the Universal Church." True, the word "Purgatory" does not appear in the Bible, but a place where lesser sins are purged away and the soul is saved "yet so as by fire," is mentioned. (1Cor. 3:15). Also, the Bible distinguishes between those who enter Heaven straightaway, calling them "the church of the firstborn" (Heb. 12:23) and those who enter after having undergone a purgation, calling them "the spirits of the just made perfect." (Heb. 12:23) Christ Himself stated: " Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing." (Matt. 5:26). And: Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment." (Matt. 12:36). These are obviously references to Purgatory. Further, the Second Book of Machabees (which was dropped for the scriptures by the Protestant Reformers) says: "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may beloosed from sins." (2 Mach. 12:46) {even if you discount this as a true book of the Bible, it cannot be ignored as a historical reference} Ancient Christian tomb inscriptions from the second and third centuries frequently contain an appeal for prayers for the dead. In fact, the custom of praying for the dead - which is meaningless if there is no Purgatory - was universal among Christians for the fifteen centuries preceding the Protestant Reformation.
....Also, what Christian is there who, despite his faith in Christ and hes sincere attempts to be Christlike, does not find sin and worldliness still in his heart? Yet " there shall not enter into it [the new Jerusalem, Heaven] anything defiled." (Apoc. or Rev. 21:27).....Christ insists that we be tryly holy and sinless to the core of our souls. "Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt. 5:48). This growth in sinlessness - in Christian virtue and holiness- is of course the work of an entire lifetime (and is possible only through the grace of God). With many this cleansing is completed only in Purgatory. If there is no Purgatory, but only Heaven for the perfect and Hell for the imperfect, then the vast majority of us are hoping in vain for life eternal in Heaven.
I think it is clear now that praying for the souls of the dead is not such a foreign idea afterall. Why not take a moment daily this month to send up a prayer for those suffering in Purgatory. I'm sure they will thank you with their own prayers for you.
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