Purgatory and All Souls Day

Hello Everyone:
Today is All Souls Day - when we pray for the dead. Why must souls suffer before they can see the face of God? Doesn’t the Sacrament of Penance sufficiently remove the effects of sin from the soul and pay the debt required for forgiveness? 

The penance imposed by the priest in the Sacrament of Penance – an integral part of that Sacrament – is to make satisfaction for the debt caused by sin. However, often the priest gives a penance for the sin that is much lighter than what is required by Divine Justice. Thus, an amount to be paid still remains, and the person should either do other penances to make expiation or he will go to Purgatory. 

Another means the Church gives to alleviate that debt – which is extra-sacramental and presupposes the effects obtained by confession, that is, contrition – is by means of indulgences.  The word indulgence comes from the Latin indulgentia, a kindness or favor. In the Old Testament it was used to express release from punishment or captivity (Is 61:1). The Church uses the word in an analogous sense, defining indulgence as a remission of the punishment due to sin, where guilt has already been forgiven. A plenary indulgence is the remission of the entire temporal punishment due to sin so that no further expiation is required in Purgatory. A partial indulgence remits only a certain portion of the penalty due to sin.

These are some examples of ways to gain a plenary indulgence:

• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at least one hour;
• Making the Way of the Cross, walking from station to station;
• Vocal recitation of at least five decades of the Rosary said with devout meditation on the mysteries. It can be said in a Church, family group, religious community, or pious association;
• A plenary indulgence is granted on each Friday of Lent to the faithful who after Communion piously recite before an image of Christ crucified the prayer: "Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus." On the other days of the year the indulgence is partial.
• A pious visit to a church on All Souls' Day (November 2) with the prayers of one Our Father and the Creed - this indulgence is applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory;
• A devout visit to a cemetery with a prayer for the departed souls from the first to the eighth day of November.

 There are certain conditions the Church requires to earn a plenary indulgence. They are the following:

• The person must be in the state of grace by the completion of the indulgence.
• The person must have the intention of gaining the indulgence.
• The person must receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion within seven days of the indulgence, but preferably on that day;
• The person must pray for the intention of the Pope (i.e. one Our Father and one Hail Mary suffice).
• The person must be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sins.

 
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

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