Celebrating Holy Mass for departed souls those are believed to be in Purgatory is an age old tradition in Catholic church. Purgatory is a place of purification for those who die in grace of God. During our life on earth our souls get stained by sins we commit. Length of days a soul have to spent in purgatory depends on Gods' grace, state of purity of that soul and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead.
Here are some statements from Holy bible that support the Doctrine of purgatory.
Hebrews 12:14 says "Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. ".
i John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Mathew 5:26 says : "Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. "
Isaiah 4:4 says: "When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.""
Revelation 21:27 says:
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Catechism of catholic church CCC (para 1030, 1031 and 1032 )states that:
Will the prayers for dead souls help?
2 Maccabees 12:44-45 says : "For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. [45] But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin. "
The above verses clearly states that jews have custom of doing prayers and pious acts for their dead brethren.
Matthew 12:32 says: "And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."
In the above verse, "Age to come" refers to purgatory as the final judgment has only two results Heaven or Hell.
How can we help souls in purgatory
Souls in purgatory cannot do anything by itself. but we on earth can help them in their suffering by doing the following:
Have a Mass offered for a departed soul
Celebrate Holy mass in remembrance of death soul.
Pray The Way Of The Cross for Souls in Purgatory.
Do penance acts
Pray holy Rosary, Novena to the Holy Souls.
Works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead
Help poor in all the ways you can
The image below beautifully explains the effect of Holy Mass offered for departed souls.
Recite St. Gertrude Prayer for release of souls from purgatory:
“Eternal Father I offer you the most precious blood of your divine son Jesus, in union with all the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.”
Go through Fr. Paul O'Sullivan's book on purgatory READ ME OR RUE IT , it will give you more details aboutPURGATORY, HOW LONG DO SOULS REMAIN IN PURGATORY, WHY PRAY FOR THE POOR SOULS, HOW WE CAN HELP THE HOLY SOULS & WHAT THE HOLY SOULS DO FOR THOSE WHO HELP THEM
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