Traditionally in the Catholic Church the month of November is a special month of prayer for the ‘Holy Souls’  (souls in purgatory) .

As I have been praying over the past few days and weeks I’ve been particularly drawn to these souls.  Firstly there are a few myths in relation to purgatory . . .

The Catholic Church teaches that purgatory is a part of the heavens where many souls go to be fully purified before entering heaven.  As we all know spiritual transformation is a process and so God in His kindness has allowed for there to be a way to complete what may not have been done on earth. A soul that converts at the last minute for example may need to pass some time in purgatory before entering into the eternal bliss of heaven.

Souls in purgatory are a bit like people in hospital who can’t get out of bed!  They are utterly dependent on others to help them!  The soul in purgatory cannot pray for itself as in order for prayer to be effective they need a body. . . . . Mine and yours!

And so just like we can visit the sick in hospital with a bag of apples and a chat,  we can ‘visit’  the Holy Souls by simply thinking of them and by praying for them.

While the sick man in hospital can’t help himself,  if you sit and listen he could give you much wisdom! Similarly the Holy Souls can help us so that we can learn from their lives.  Many if they could live all over would do things differently.

They may not speak to us directly but through their intercession we might just pick up that book or read this blog and say ‘hey,  that makes sense.

When they get to heaven these souls will become our extra special friends and help us in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways.
Perhaps take a moment,  reflect that there may be a soul in your family that God desires to bring to heaven this month. Your prayers can do just this!  Bring that soul or souls to the next Holy Mass you attend,  say a decade of the rosary or make a small sacrifice for the release of that soul.

If you are attentive you will receive ‘signal graces’ and you’ll know when to stop.  I was once praying for a deceased elderly man I knew who wore a cap!  After mass that day an old man dropped his hat and I had to give it to him. . . These little ‘coincidences’ are one of the ways how the saints and angels communicate with us!

God bless all today,  thanks for reading!