Don’t aim for Purgatory, the goal is Heaven

On today’s Feast of All Souls, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, Catholic faithful should be conscious that the goal is Heaven.

Archbishop Jason Gordon gave this reminder during Mass on Monday, November 2 at the chapel, Archbishop’s House, Port of Spain. He said there are two things that should be pressing before the minds of Catholics: aim for Heaven and remembering the departed.

“Don’t aim for purgatory….so the first thing is we aim for  Heaven and we live our life for Heaven and we do everything for that”, he said. He recalled his grandmother’s words that he should “aim for the stars, if you fall you can’t fall too much lower than the tree tops”.

Archbishop Gordon said it is important to remember and pray for the dead and ask God’s mercy on them.  He said prayers are offered for the souls in purgatory waiting to see God because they can no longer help themselves but the living can.

Archbishop Gordon explained there were multiple beings populating the “Catholic world”. He identified the angels in Heaven ministering before God and the saints in Heaven called the Church Triumphant, who are remembered on November 1, the Feast of All Saints. There is also the Church Penitent, those waiting to come face to face with God and the Church Militant. The latter he said, are “fighting the good fight” and doing what is needed to be part of the Church Triumphant.

There is an intercommunion between the saints in Heaven, the souls waiting, and persons living on earth.

All Souls’ Day, the Archbishop stressed, is a very important feast in the life of the Church.

“The Feast of All Souls is a feast where we come together as the church on earth to pray for the church that is waiting, just as the Feast of All Saints, the church that is already in Heaven praying for us here on earth”.  He referred to the practice of calling on the intercession of the saints.

“Years from now people who are living will be praying for us,” the Archbishop said.

By Lara Pickford-Gordon

Email: snrwriter.camsel@catholictt.org

Twitter: @gordon_lp