Christ the King Church
  • Home
    • Staff
    • Links
  • Bulletin
  • Parish Life
    • Homilies
    • Parish Blog
    • Welcome
  • Ministries
    • Ministry Schedules
    • PCCW
    • Homebound Ministry
    • Welcome Ministry
    • Kitchen Ministry
    • Bereavement Ministry
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Reconciliation
    • Holy Communion
    • Confirmation
  • Religious Education
    • RE Classes >
      • Catechist's Corner
      • First Communion prep
    • Prayers
    • Sunday School (4 & 5 yrs)
    • VBS
    • Adult Education >
      • Adult Classes
      • Bible Study
      • CIY Discussion Groups
      • Franciscan at Home
    • MERIT - for Special Needs
    • Columbus Catholic Schools
  • Youth Ministry
    • Serving the Community >
      • Rotary Winter Wonderland

From the Desk of Fr. Jim - November 17, 2019

11/20/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture

PURGATORY
During this month of November, a month dedicated to
saints in heaven and souls in purgatory, let’s take advantage of this time and reflect on one of the more mis-understood teachings of the Church, which is Purgatory. It is not a second- chance hell, or even hell-lite as some claim it to be, but a teaching and a place that reflects the beauty of our Creator. Some things to consider:
  • Taught by the Fathers of the Church: This is not something that was made-up during the middle ages, but has been part of the doctrine of the Church from the earliest days. While it is true that the term ‘purgatory’ may not have been used, the teaching or idea is not new. In The City of God Augustine states, “But of those who suffer temporary punishments after death, all are not doomed to those everlasting pains which are to follow that judgment; for to some, as we have already said, what is not remitted in this world is remitted in the next, that is, they are not punished with the eternal punishment of the world to come.”
  • Souls in purgatory will know their fate. One wonders, if a faithful Christian dies and finds himself suffering in the afterlife, will he be able to tell the difference between hell and purgatory? Will he know that he is heaven-bound? On this issue, the answer seems a decisive yes. The ancient Liturgies and the inscriptions of the catacombs speak of a ‘sleep of peace,’ which would be impossible if there was any doubt of ultimate salvation.”
  • We pray for souls in purgatory, but it is good to ask them for prayers as well. We may not know the effectiveness of these prayers until we leave this world, but as souls closer to God than us, this makes them powerful intercessors.
  • As part of the Church Suffering, the poor souls are united with Christ, and remain a part of the Mystical Body of Christ. Although the poor souls do not yet enjoy the Beatific Vision, they are not in a completely separated state, but are in union with Christ and other poor souls serving God’s purpose.
  • St. Catherine of Genoa, author of a treatise on purgatory, says that once the soul sees what is in store in heaven, it immediately casts itself into purgatory. She also states that there is more to purgatory than the sense of pain and suffering that we tend to focus on. In fact, she sees it as a state of great happiness: ‘I believe no happiness can be found worthy to be compared with that of a soul in purgatory except the saints in Paradise’.
  • Purgatory makes saints: Catholic teaching states that those souls that have reached a state of sanctity that they do not need the purifying fires of purgatory go straight to heaven. These we call saints. Those that have not yet reached this state of sanctification go through a period of purification. Simply put, only saints get into heaven, purgatory makes saints out of all who enter.
    Prayer of St Gertrude: Eternal Father, I offer You the most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for all sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.
    Eternal rest grant unto them, O’ Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them
​God Bless, Fr. Jim 
​
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    MASS SCHEDULE
      Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 AM
      Saturday: 4:00 PM
      Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM

    RECONCILIATION
    ​   Saturday:  3:15 - 3:45 PM
    OFFICE HOURS
    ​   Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
       Friday:  8:30 AM – 12:30 PM​​

    Stay Connected with Our Parish

    Welcome from Our Pastor

    Picture
    Welcome to Christ the King Catholic Church!  Ever since 1938 this parish has been assisting souls in their quest for deeper union with God.  Our mission statement is essentially found in the stained glass window above the main altar:  “For Christ our King.”  Insofar as God made us and we belong to Him, we have come to... Read More

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Catholic News
    Faith Formation
    Homilies
    Parish News
    Pastor's Desk
    Youth Ministry

    RSS Feed

All photos and videos on this site are used with permission. Unauthorized duplication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
​Copyright © 2022 Christ the King Parish. All Rights Reserved.

Mailing address:  306 S. LaSalle St, Spencer, WI 54479
(715) 659-4480