Dolly

Are you a Dolly fan? I was and I think most would agree she was a kind, caring, and talented woman. I have heard many say she’s gone straight to heaven. I want to say that, but I can’t. I think a lot of us want to say that because we want to believe that good people go to heaven. Otherwise referred to as: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. But that is not exactly what Jesus taught is it? Matthew 7:21-23 is just one verse that points to this along with Luke 6:46 and John 14:15.

Wait…what? Don’t good people just go immediately to heaven? I mean Dolly seemed pretty sinless to me!! But walking through those pearly gates means more than being a good person, what Jesus tells is “if any man would come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” That I understand to mean (1) Do God’s will, (2) As He wills it, (3) Because of who He is. I don’t know what God’s will for Dolly’s life was so I cannot judge Dolly, or anyone else for that matter. Even Saint Paul says “I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” 1 Corinthians 4:4

Here’s an example. Last summer, I had cancerous cells removed from my face. The doctor had to cut deep and it left a nasty scar that eventually healed. But I didn’t do the damage last summer. I did it over the last 40 years beginning when I was a teenager. Being careless. Not wearing sunscreen. Choosing to “get a little color” because it seemed harmless enough. Our choices work the same way. The culture tells us things are harmless, but they’re really against God’s will for our lives. We don’t see the damage right away. But it’s there. And eventually, it has to be dealt with. 

St. Bridget of Sweden—a 14th-century wife, mother of eight, widow, mystic and eventually canonized saint—reported extraordinary visions of Christ, Mary, Heaven, Hell and souls undergoing purification after death. In her Revelations, she described souls who belonged to God but still needed purification, and the help they received through the prayers and good works of the living.

If you’re like me then you wonder, but isn’t that Confession? No, it’s not because when I receive the sacrament of confession, I’m essentially approaching God with a contrite heart and saying, even though You already know everything in my heart Lord, I don’t want to be separated from you by the sins I have committed. I know I have committed a mortal sin and I don’t want anything separating me from You—here on earth or in eternal life. Please forgive me. Soften my heart. Give me the grace to turn away from sin and grow in holiness.

But forgiveness doesn’t necessarily erase every consequence of what we’ve done.

God is infinitely merciful. But He is also perfectly just. For the Lord loves justice…Psalms 37:28

The choices we make every day materially affect the lives of others even when we can’t see it, because if we aren’t living in accordance with God’s perfect will the pieces of all of our lives won’t fit into the puzzle the way he designed.

This is why it makes sense that there is purgatory. We can die in friendship with God, striving to be who he created us to be by following his laws, destined for Heaven, but we didn’t reach perfection like Jesus or Mary.

The Catechism says:

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” — CCC 1030

Notice those words:

Assured of their eternal salvation.

Purgatory isn’t a second chance to avoid Hell.

Everyone in purgatory is going to Heaven.

And this brings me to something else Catholics profess every Sunday:

“I believe in…the communion of saints.”

Catholic tradition describes the one Church in three states:

The Church Militant — those of us still living our earthly lives and striving to follow Christ.

The Church Suffering — those who have died in God’s friendship and are undergoing their final purification.

The Church Triumphant — those already in Heaven, enjoying the presence of God.

We are ONE Body of Christ.

The Church Triumphant intercedes for us.

We likewise offer prayers for the Church Suffering.

Death does not suddenly end Christian charity.

That’s why Catholics have prayed for the dead from the earliest centuries.

The Catechism specifically tells us that the Church commends almsgiving, indulgences and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead and teaches that, from the beginning, the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers for them, “above all the Eucharistic sacrifice.” — CCC 1032

St. John Vianney—the Curé of Ars, a 19th-century parish priest who spent 16-18 hours a day hearing confessions—was also shown visions of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. He said, “The fire of Purgatory is the same as the fire of Hell; the difference between them is that the fire of Purgatory is not everlasting.” He also said, “If it were but known how great is the power of the good souls in Purgatory with the Heart of God, and if we knew all the graces we can obtain through their intercession, they would not be so much forgotten. We must, therefore, pray much for them, that they may pray much for us.”

Do you have someone you love who has died?

I do.

So why wouldn’t I pray for them?

Why wouldn’t I go to Mass and, when the priest remembers those who have died, whisper their names to God?

Why wouldn’t I offer my prayers, sacrifices and Mass for them?

Maybe nobody ever explained this to you, because nobody ever explained it to me either.

So the next time you’re thinking of a loved one or someone you’ve lost, that just might be them asking for your prayers.  When you go to Mass and when the priest prays for the faithful departed, think of those people.

Say their name.

Pray a Rosary for them or have a Mass offered for them.

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