Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The twelfth article of the Apostle’s Creed is “I believe in everlasting life.” There are ten (10) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 1055.
Our saving faith in the Communion of Saints is not unrelated to our saving faith in life everlasting. We should never forget that God is God of the living, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (cf. Matthew 22:32; Luke 20:37–38). We ourselves long to be with Christ and His saints in Heaven (cf. Philippians 1:23). We should have the same desire for our beloved dead. Regarding those who preceded us in death (loved one or enemy) it is an act of mercy and kindness for us to remember them in our prayers to the merciful God who wills that we all be saved (cf. Romans 11:26; 1 Timothy 2:1–6). Our sins, and those which our loved ones have committed, mock God and thwart His loving plan of salvation. Begging God’s mercy for ourselves and our beloved dead, in view of the resurrection, allows us to participate in God’s providential plan of redemption. Then we are those living stones in the mystical body of Christ, the Church, when we recommend the dead to God’s mercy (cf. 1 Peter 2:5). It would be myopic and short sighted to forget those who have gone before us.
The Church offers suffrages for the dead. The Latin word suffragium has connotations of both “intercessory prayers” as well as “assistance.” While the greatest suffrage which can be offered on behalf of the dead in view of the resurrection of the body on the last day is the Holy Mass, there are other intercessory prayers and assistances we may and should offer regularly on behalf of our beloved dead. To visit the grave, the place of our resurrection and to offer prayers there is strongly encouraged by Mother Church, even to the point of extending plenary indulgences when done during the first week of November each year, following All Souls day (2 November). Of course the penitential practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are not reserved only to Lent as a lead up to Easter, but may also be done throughout the year on behalf of those who have gone before us, as an aid to their salvation. The Holy Rosary of our Lady is fittingly offered as a prayer of suffrage on behalf of our beloved dead, in view of the resurrection on the last day
That the greatest suffrage which can be offered for the dead, in view of everlasting life is the Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice is made clear by many reasons: it is Christ’s one only sacrifice made present sacramentally; as a work of the entire Church it is an intercessory prayer done with others, together, united in the Lord, gathered in His Holy Name … (cf. Matthew 18:20; John 14:13–14; 16:23–26).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr