November 2nd is the day the church pauses to remember and pray for the souls of the faithful departed.
As a protestant, the doctrine of purgatory was something I didn’t understand at all, but the earliest hints that I might be inching toward the Tiber came when I read the short but profoundly beautiful story, Leaf by Niggle. The process of my conversion took place over the course of many years of study, reading stacks of books, years worth of online dialogues between both Protestant and Catholic theologians, pastors, priests and philosophers. The discussions from which I benefited most took place at Called to Communion: Reformation Meets Rome. I also purchased shelves of conversion stories, apologetic works, and everything I could by Dr. Scott Hahn. Books like Catholic For A Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God helped clinch my acceptance the doctrine of purgatory, not with grudging, but with gratitude.
(Amazon helpfully reminded me that I last purchased this book in May of 2009… about 1 month after my father passed away, and 2 years before our entrance into the Church!)
This Easter was the ten year anniversary of our family, and mother, coming into full communion with the Catholic Church, and we are still growing in our understanding of the mysteries and beauty of our faith. One of the most beautiful and mysterious of all is the communion of the saints. How blessed are we, that while death can separate us physically, we are spiritually united with those who have gone before us! That we can pray for our loved ones, and ask for the prayers of the saints who are in Heaven! That we are not left alone, bereft and orphaned, to travel this life on earth, but are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, cheering us on to finish the race with perseverance!1
Today I am praying for my parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts who have finished their race.
May the souls of the departed, through the mercies of God, rest in peace.
All you holy Saints in heaven, pray for us.
