Last week we talked about All Saints’ Day. In particular, what happens after we die, that we do not become angels, but remain human. This weekend we are talking about All Souls’ Day.
      On All Souls’ Day we remember all the dead, both our loved ones who have passed, and every other human being who has died. The day before we remember those in Heaven. On this day, we are specifically praying for those in Purgatory. We don’t pray for those in Heaven, since they are enjoying their eternal reward. We pray and ask for their help. Also, those in hell cannot be helped anymore. So by this logic we know that our prayers on All Souls’ Day are for those in Purgatory, who are those souls who have died, but can still be helped by their prayers.
  It is a good and noble thing to pray for the dead. It is one of the spiritual works of mercy. The souls in Purgatory do need our prayers. In Purgatory, souls are completing their final detachment from this world, so that they become pure enough to enter God’s presence in Heaven. This detachment is experienced in the form of suffering. It is a place of spiritual suffering, since their soul is detached from their body. Our prayers for them helps to hasten their time in Purgatory.
  All Souls’ Day is also good for us because we are reminded of our mortality. All of us will die. Even though we, who are Christians, have nothing to fear, it still can be scary. Meditating on this is good for us, that we might be spiritually prepared now for when that day comes because none of us know when we will die. The day of our death is uncertain, so heeding Jesus’ warning to be prepared is the prudent thing to do.
  Also, where we end up after our death is uncertain as well. Going to Heaven is not guaranteed. Salvation is never guaranteed by Jesus. All of this is being worked out here on earth. Our soul is judged by Jesus after our death, so the state of our soul at that moment dictates where we go, which is either Heaven or hell. Essentially, for us Catholics, if we are in the state of grace at our death we are worthy of Heaven, but if we are not in the state of grace, that is having mortal sin on our soul, we deserve hell. This is what the Church teaches. This is also what we are reminded of on All Souls’ Day when contemplating our death.
  There is good news though. Jesus has died for us on the Cross, and has blazed the trail for us that leads to Heaven. That trail is living a life of the sacraments. The sacraments are the ordinary means for salvation. If we are receiving the sacraments often, especially the Eucharist and Confession, praying daily, and sincerely trying to do the good and avoid evil in our moral lives, we have the best chance of getting to Heaven. All Souls’ Day can be a little scary for us, which can be good for our soul, if it leads us to becoming real authentic Christians, who bring the joy of the risen Christ to the world.