My Evening Among the Dead

We did a nighttime cemetery walk at our parish earlier this month (that’s November, for anyone reading in the future) in which people played the roles of certain notable deceased Catholics; some of the portrayed are actually buried in our cemetery, some have close ties to the area.

Included with the luminaries was a lone, unknown soul from Purgatory. I played that role.

Each time I did my lines for a passing group, I became more and more aware of the fact that I may very well be that soul one day, longing for the prayers that would help make my soul suitable for heaven.

I also spent some time wondering if I’ve done enough praying over the years for those who I love who might be among the Church Suffering. My mother. My father. My grandparents. My devoted, childless godparents who treated me like a son. Those are just the major players on the list of departed souls who more than deserve my prayers. And beyond that list is everyone who has left this world in obscurity or has no one left on this side of the veil to pray for them.

Yes, we give the Holy Souls a holy day and an entire month dedicated to their welfare, but how many of us take full advantage of those opportunities? I know I don’t. Every day of November should include considered prayer for the souls in Purgatory. But like the daily rosary I’m committed to, and which I tend to miss on the weekends, my November remembrances of the Holy Souls always fall far short of that daily goal.

Like Pete Rose longing for Cooperstown to absolve his sins, I doubt I’m getting into Heaven on the first ballot. I’m am very likely to rely on the remembrance of loved ones and the kindness of strangers to fire the kiln that cures my soul into shape. All of us should be promoting prayers for the holy souls in our families and communities, in the hope that the tradition will be going strong when we’re on the receiving end of such prayers.

I wrote the song connected to this article, Intercede for Me (audio/video) with a member of the Church Militant in mind, but the sentiment easily applies to the interests of someone in Purgatory. I hope you’ll give it a listen and that you'll find it on some level beneficial, or at least an enjoyable bit of R&B. Thanks for stopping by at Catholic 365!