The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-10-30
We CAN Help

For some reason or other, childs dependence
on its mother takes added significance and
depth in times of trouble. True, the child runs TO
its mother at all times to share its joys and hopes,
IFS failures and sorrows 1t is, however especially
in time of trouble that mothers sympathy. with
her counsel and advice, is most needed and sought
1t is in this role Mother of US ALL that the
Church. in Her teachings death and the state
of The soul after death brings TO her children one
of the most comforting of all her doctrines.
To those who have no knowledge of God and of
the Mystical Body-tha inter-relatonship of Christ
and the Church Triumphant, the Church Militant
and the Church Suffering-death must certainly
be the most terrifying evil that can befa man. To
them it is the end OF everything.
To the follower of Christ though. death is not
the end but rather the very beginning of that more
perfect state of existence for which the souls OF
the Just were created II marks the final reward for
those who have served Christ faithfully on this earth
Death is the separation of the soul from the
body il is part of the punishment that man fell
heir to through the sin OF his first parents. 1t IS
not the Church teaches, the separation Of family
ties or the dissolution of the bond Of friendship
That person who has loved earth is still existing
and those common bonds OF love and friendship
with all the duties OF charity which they impose still
exist
This is the great comfort: the knowledge that
even though the time of meritine is for the
soul of departed loved one, may possibly ten
der him greater service than we ever could have
while He on earth.
Holy Mother Church teaches us that there IS
place or condition called Pugatory in which The
souls OF those who have died in the friendship of
Christ but who have not entirely satisfied for the
temporal punishment due to their sins, are cleansed
or purified of all stain seeing that nothing deilod
may enter the sight Of God, and that we can hep
these souls by our prayers
Both the Council of Florence and the Council
of Trent defined this doctrine. saying: Whereas
the Catholic Church defined this doctrine saying:
Whereas the Catholic Church. instructed by the
Holy Ghost has from the Sacred Scriptures and
the ancient tradition of the Fathers taught IN Conn
ellis and very recently in this Eumenca synod that
there is purgatory and that the souls therein de
tanned are helped by the sufrageS OF the faithful but
principally by the acceptable Sacrifice OF the Altar
the Holy Synod eniolns on the Bishops that they
diligently endeavor to have the sound doctrine of
the Fathers in Councils regarding purgatory every
where taught and preached held and believed by
the faithful"
To the Christian, there is no lasting, bottomless
grief at the time Of death There Is rather, the com
rorting assurance that il his friend loved one is
suffering he can do something to help him-maybe
more than he was ever able to do for him earth
Cardinal Wiseman summed up this doctrine,
which seconds all the purest feelings OF the human
heart when he said: Sweet is the consolation OF
the dying man. who conscious OF impertecuon,
believes that there others to make ntercession
for him when his own time for merit has expired;
soothing TO the afflicted survivors the thought that
they possess powerful means of relieving their
friend"
November is the month dedicated IN a special
way TO the Suffering Souls IN purgatory II should
be the duty and the pleasure OF every Cathohc 10
shorten the suffering of these souls by special de-
votons and prayers for the Poor Souls during this
month A list OF the prayers ard devotions es-
pec.ally indulgenced by the Church for this IN
tention during the month OF November VIII be
found on page Of this edition of your Catholic
Times