Always Remember Them

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS N° 64

Always Remember Them

By

Roger Behra

The word them in this communication title means our loved ones (family members), friends, classmates, and personal acquaintances who were nice to us, who left this temporary physical world. And sooner or later them will become us, as we join them in that eternal spirit world that awaits us all.

In at least one religion, the Catholic religion, and perhaps some others also, there is the belief that the eternal spirit world is made up of three definite existences: haven, purgatory, and hell. Heaven is the existence of everlasting happiness with God, His Mother Mary, the angels, saints, and our loved ones. We should all strive very diligently to end up there. Purgatory is existence where souls, who die in the friendship of the Lord but have unrepented sins, exist for a period of time until they are purified and made ready for their entry into heaven. During their existence in purgatory, souls are totally helpless. That is why we must help them. That is why we must never forget them. The souls in hell are lost forever, and nothing can be done for them.

A few souls go directly to heaven. Many souls go directly to hell. The majority of souls go to purgatory. And they are completely dependent on the help of heavenly patrons and us here. Together that help shortens the stay in purgatory. Now, there are two questions: How do we help? And when do we help?

Without our help souls in purgatory will eventually leave their after much suffering and enter heaven. With help souls can leave much sooner, and the more help they get the more quickly they can leave.

Father Stanislaus (1631-1701), now Blessed Stanislaus, had great love and concern for the souls in purgatory. He called it “the greatest charity to pray to God for the freedom of the souls in purgatory.” So, we and heavenly patrons MUST help. Our deceased loved ones, friends, classmates, and others in general cry out for our help.

We live in a time when terrorism, wars, and sudden loss of life along with the great loss of a sense of God goes on each and everyday. Natural disasters, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, car accidents, terrorist bombings cause people to die quite suddenly and unrepented for sins, and even unaware of their sins. Purgatory is overflowing with helpless souls who endure great “suffering,” “flames,” and “burning” as St. Maria Faustina Kowolska revealed about her visions of purgatory. Blessed Stanislaus called purgatory a great “temporary torture, and the souls cry out for help, those who died in God´s grace but need purification in order to enter heaven.”

Who can we help? We can help specifically or generally by saying the rosary, Hail Marys, and other prayers especially for the poor souls. When can we help? NOW! Anytime! The easiest way is to memorize the following prayer, so that you can say it at will anytime and anyplace at ease. The prayer of St. Gertrude the Great given to her by our Lord will release 1000 souls from purgatory each time it is said, and the Blessed Mother promises that She and Jesus will do that “deliver so many souls, so many souls!” the prayer also includes living sinners as well.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of thy Divine Son Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holly Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen.

When we pray for the souls in purgatory, we also help them and ourselves. And every soul we release will later become a patron, there in heaven, on our behalf, helping us move more quickly out of purgatory. It could not be any nicer for us.

So, everyone, remember the helpless poor souls who suffer unbearably. Pray, pray, pray very often for them, because “them” will be “us” someday. Never forget them. And tell your family and friends to remember to pray often, also.