Mercy

Mercy

Submitted by Thomas Stidl

         In a previous entitled, “Why Just November?”, I mentioned praying for the souls in purgatory.  I also mentioned that praying for those souls might have the effect of shortening or eliminating a merciful person’s time in purgatory.

         I received this concept while meditating on a prayer dedicated to Saint Faustina and pondering the beatitude that states, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

         When the Church Militant prays for the souls in purgatory especially the ones we do not know or those that have no one to pray for them, we actually become Christ’s hands, feet and voice.  Those souls sent to purgatory have been committed there for a reason known only to themselves and God.  By praying for them we are atoning for their weak inclinations and sins that are still present in the soul after death in the same manner that Jesus did on the cross by atoning for our sins.  We are showing these souls the meaning of love and mercy in our own way.

         Can anyone be more loving or more merciful than God?  No!!  All of us know that God is all-pure and all just and has committed a soul to purgatory for purification.  God is also all-merciful which is why purgatory exists.  Saint Faustina writes about the unfathomable and inexhaustible mercy of God.  No human words can describe the depth of the mercy of God.  Do you remember the question posed to Jesus about forgiving someone seven times?  His response was not just 7 times but 7 times 70 times.  How many times do we go to Confession or examine our consciences and confess the same sins over and over again?  Does Jesus forgive us?  Of course, He does.  He loves us.

         We are all weak human vessels always in need of mercy.  When the church militant prays for the church suffering, humans add to our nature a God-like characteristic.  Showing this great mercy to others allows God to show great mercy to us by either eliminating our time in purgatory or lessening its severity.  So please continue to pray for those souls and for that matte all souls in November and throughout the entire year.  All those prayers may benefit you in some unseen way some day.

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