Purgatory & The Pandemic

Purgatory & The Pandemic
 

Written by Thomas Stidl

         This is a very sensitive subject to approach as many readers may have lost loved ones during the pandemic.  The common practices of saying good-bye to our family members were greatly curtailed.  Funeral services were restricted and cemeteries were closed to the general public and even the number of family members was limited at the graveside service.  My heart has deep feelings of sympathy for all who went through this nightmare.  Now that a certain sense of normalcy has returned, Catholics can have Masses said for their deceased relatives and friends. 

         During the pandemic while I was looking for more meditations, I rediscovered an old p prayer book about Saint Padre Pio.  This extraordinary man wore the Stigmata, the wounds of Jesus Christ on his body for many years.  In this prayer book, I found a prayer once taught to me by my seventh grade teacher.  Sister had a class of about 33 students recite this prayer.  After reciting this prayer, Sister mentioned that approximately 30,000 souls were released from Purgatory.  As I understand the legend of this prayer, Our Lord Jesus dictated it to Saint Gertrude.  The prayer releases 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time it is recited.  It is as follows:

Eternal Father, I offer you the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family.  Amen.

         Saying this prayer not only puts all our loved ones in Heaven, but also many people we do not know including those who have no one to pray for them.  Once in Heaven, they are saints, unnamed ones of course, that can intercede for us at God’s Throne.  Their feast day is November 1, The Feast Of All Saints.  When we do this, we, the Church Militant, apply the Blood of Jesus Christ to the Church Suffering in Purgatory and allow them to join the Church Triumphant in Heaven.  Is there a better way to say, “I love you and forgive you” than what I just described?  I hope that someone says this prayer for me when I die.

         So come be a prayer warrior.  Let’s empty Purgatory.  I recite this prayer about twenty times a day.  Think of how many people passed during the pandemic.  I need assistance to continuously release souls from Purgatory.  Remember, we must be hot in our Love for the Lord.  Do not be lukewarm.  The Book of Revelations says that the Lord will “vomit you out of his mouth” if you are lukewarm.

         Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe.  Deo Gratias.  Praise be to God.  See you in Paradise.