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Weeks 751-760
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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 752: A meditation upon Purgatory and praying for the dead. (Wisdom 3 : 1-9 & John 6 : 39-40)
 

[Wisdom]

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.

 

[John]

Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 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.”

 

 

Fellow pilgrims, instead of the 31st Sunday we celebrate this Sunday the Commemoration of All Faithful departed, usually called All Souls’ Day (Nov.2) We recall here the important aspects of our faith expressed in the 4 final articles of the Creed: that the Church recognizes three states of her members - those who are pilgrims on earth (Church pilgrim), those who have died and are being purified (Church suffering), and those who have entered God’s presence contemplating him in glory (Church triumphant). This includes our belief in the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and in life everlasting.

 

Now, November is the month we remember the dead and pray for the faithful departed in a special way. Today, we are reminded that it is a good and noble thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins (2 Macc 12:44-45). As the scripture says, the faithful are called to live love and life worthy of ones’ call, in preparation for the day of the Eternal Judge of the living and dead (2 Thes 1:11). Those who fail a little in this call prior to death will be purified in purgatory (cf. Lk 12:47-48; Lk 16:19-31), for nothing imperfect will enter the kingdom of God (Rev 21:27). The Church helps these faithful by offering her suffrages for them; meaning that we assist them with our Masses, sacrifices and prayers, to gain indulgences for them (cf. CCC

nn.1471-1479).

 

Here we recall that “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints…An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin”; (CCC n.1471). The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead (cf. CCC n.1471), knowing that “since the faithful departed now being purified are also members of the same communion of the saints, one way we can help them is to obtain indulgencies for them, so that the temporal punishments due to their sins may

be remitted” (CCC n.1479). Here, one applies the satisfaction performed by others based on 3 realities: the communion of saints, the fact of vicarious satisfaction, and the abundant treasury of the Church.

 

Usually, to gain a plenary indulgence on Nov.2, one visits the cemetery or a church, makes a sacramental confession, receives Holy Communion, and prays for the Holy Father’s intentions (one Our Father and one Hail Mary, or any other suitable prayer). The conditions may be met several days after performing the work of the indulgence. So, let us remember our departed loved ones, parishioners, and others, through prayers and Masses, for the repose of their souls, not only today but throughout the month. As usual, remember to write their names in the Book Of the Dead. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace – Amen!

 

By Fr. Francis Chukwuma

 

 Prayer: “O gentle Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on them. Be not severe in Your judgments, but let some drops of Your Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames. And, Merciful Savior, send Your angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint:  "We must empty Purgatory with our prayers.” – St. Pio of Pietrelcina

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Questions for reflection:

  1. Do you have a devotion to the Holy Souls in Purgatory? Why or why not?

  2. Do you regularly visit cemeteries in order to pray for the dead? If you do not, would you consider starting to do so?

  3. Do you think that you will need to experience Purgatory after you die?

  4. Has the concept of Purgatory ever been an issue for you in relations to your faith?

  5. Are there people who will pray for you after your death? If not, ask people to do so and make sure they know that you would like them to pray for your soul. Arrange for it to be mentioned at your funeral or during the homily of your funeral Mass.

  6. Are you in the habit of gaining indulgences when you can?

  7. Have you ever applied the indulgences that you have gained to the dead?

  8. While reading this meditation did you remember anyone who has died that you have not been praying for? If so, stop and pray for them now and try to keep them in your prayers.

 

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 751: Pray with humility (Sirach 25 : 12-14, 16-18 ; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18  & Luke 18: 9-14)

 

[Sirach]

The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.  The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint. The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.
 

[Timothy]

Beloved: I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

[Luke]

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity -- greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

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Fellow pilgrims, we read about the prayer of the poor, oppressed and vulnerable, in the 1st reading (Sir 35:12-14, 16-18), where Ben Sirach wisely stated “…For he is a God of justice, who shows no partiality. He shows no partiality to the weak but hears the grievance of the oppressed. He does not forsake the cry of the orphan, nor the widow when she pours out her complaint…The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal. Nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right. God indeed will not delay…” (Sirach 35:15-17,21,22).

 

The gospel also talks about humility in prayer (Lk 18:9-14), and the Psalm says: “This poor one cried out, and the Lord heard…” (Ps 34:7). In other words, God does not answer the prayer of the proud, or prideful prayer as the Pharisees prayed in the gospel. Thus, today we are invited to reflect on pride, and prideful traits and behaviors which hurts our prayer. We know that pride is actually a mask that covers our weakness and fear of vulnerability. This mask is like a tool one employs to protect oneself from any pain that would come from rejection, or from being hurt or humiliated. This is not good for any relationship especially our relationship with God.

 

We must try to remove the mask of pride and self-righteousness, accept our vulnerability and weakness, and humbly pray to God who hears the prayer of the weak and wipes the tears of the oppressed, which was the grace and healing that eluded the proud Pharisee (Lk 18:14). We are also reminded that although we face challenges of faith fighting the good fight of faith, as pilgrim journeying to heaven, we are made holy and righteous by God’s grace and not just by our own power, as St Paul noted (2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18); a tendency seen with prideful people (Lk 18:11,12).

 

Now, this ties into the solemnity of All Saints we celebrate this Saturday (Nov.1), when the Church celebrates with those who have entered God’s presence contemplating him in glory (Church triumphant). Although it is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year, we thank God for the numerous wonderful and blessed men and women who have be washed in the Blood of Christ and are now united with him in heavenly bliss (Rev 7:2-4, 9-14), as we read: “After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.” (Rev 7:9). And these include people of all professions and vocations, the rich and the poor, the healthy, the sickly, the religious, the reformed sinners, Queens, Kings, the worldly intelligent and the worldly dumb, officials, the kitchen servants, etc., but each still lived humbly.

 

So, heaven is for the humble, and it has room for each of us, who lived as God’s humble sons and daughters, who St John noted must make ourselves pure to truly see God as he is and become like him: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God… Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be, has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure” (1Jn 3:1-3). God wants us to strive humbly to reach out for the glory he has prepared for us. This is what makes

saints, as Jesus reiterated at his sermon on the mount (Matt 5:1-12). To practice the beatitudes is challenging, but those who persevere, have washed their cloth in the Blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:13-14). Peace!

 

By Fr. Francis Chukwuma

 

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I thank You for showing me the true meaning of humility. Please remove any arrogance or pride within me, and replace it with a heart of gentleness and humility. Guide my actions so they may reflect the grace You have bestowed upon me. Let my life be an example of humility to others, always seeking to serve rather than be served. Help me, Lord, to put others before myself and seek Your approval above all else. Amen."

 

Quote from a Saint: "There is something in humility which strangely exalts the heart.” --Saint Augustine

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Questions for reflection:

  1. Have you ever found pride getting in the way of your prayer? What did that look like?

  2. Have you ever considered that your prayer could be hampered by pride?

  3. What are some ways that you can “remove the mask of pride and self-righteousness”?

  4. Do you think of yourself as being a humble person? Would those closest to you say that you are humble?

  5. Do you find it easy to pray the Litany of Humility? If you have not prayed it before, look it up and give it a try.

  6. What is it about humility that is so important?

  7. “…we are made holy and righteous by God’s grace and not just by our own power.” If we realize this, how does it change our prayer life? Our relationship with God?

  8. “And these include people of all professions and vocations, the rich and the poor...” Does this description of who is in Heaven comfort you?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

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