Each November our hearts and minds are drawn to what I like to think of as “the vast horizon.” The first two days of this month are feast days that remind us that the world we are living in is not all that exists. Instead, this world is a place of pilgrimage toward the vast horizon that points us to our heavenly homeland, the Kingdom of Heaven.
On November 1, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. Saints are those who have given themselves over to the Will of God and, by doing so, have been sanctified and have become more and more like Christ, Our Lord, Himself. They are men and women of every time and place, of every vocation, of every walk of life, who cooperated with God’s grace so as to become shining lights of God’s merciful love in the world. Now they shine forth for us from the Kingdom. They are not far off or far above us. Rather, they are our exemplars on whom we model our life. They are our companions on our pilgrim way. They are powerful intercessors who pray for us and for our intentions before God’s throne of mercy. The word “companion” is comprised of two Latin words, “cum” and “pane,” meaning “with bread.” The saints as our “companions” remind us that they are just that to us, because we have shared with them the Bread of Life, the Body and Blood of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.
The Feast of All Saints opens up the horizon of faith before us to enable us to see that we who mourn and weep in this valley of our life on earth have a real and vibrant relationship with our dear brothers and sisters in heaven. We give our love and honor to them and they pray for us. Why? Because we are bound together in Christ’s Body the Church. They are the Church Triumphant and we are the Church Militant, fighting the good fight and running the race.
On November 2, we celebrate the Feast of All Souls. It is a day of relationship, bonding and love. On that day, the Church reminds us to pray for all those who have died. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us, “All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned” (CCC 1030-1031).
For us, the Church’s teaching on Purgatory and praying for our departed brothers and sisters is a great source of clarity of vision for our life and a tender call to charity.
We believe that death is not the end for us. It is only the beginning of eternal life for those who love God. Our pilgrimage on earth is the preparation of coming to be in communion with God and one another in eternal bliss. It is to behold God face to face forever. That is what our life is all about.
When a person dies but is not yet ready to enter into the Presence of God, that person must be purged of all sin and its effects. The process of purification is called “purgatory.” We, while still on earth, can come to the aid of those souls in this process of purgation by praying for them, by making sacrifices for them, by acts of penance, and by requesting Masses to be offered for them. Praying for them is a great act of charity and it strengthens our bond with them. It is the Church Militant on earth praying for and loving the Church Suffering in Purgatory.
Dear friends, we should pray to our brothers and sisters the saints asking for their intercession each day. Likewise, we should pray for our brothers and sisters, the souls in purgatory, asking our Merciful God to take them into His heavenly Kingdom! It is time to open up our view on the eternal horizon and to love those whom we cannot see with bodily eyes.
Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh