When Praying for the Souls Gets Real...

My cousin died, very unexpectedly,
last week.  She made her husband's  lunch.  She called her children, then she went to bed and sleep.  The next morning, her husband was not able to wake her.  She was pronounced dead in spite of heroic efforts of her husband to revive her. 

I received a text at morning Mass regarding her death.  The text came in the middle of Mass, so I shut my phone off without looking at the text.  It wasn't until later that I read the message. 

The name on the text was not familiar to me, but it came off of Facebook.  I checked the sender's page to discover that the sender was my second cousin who had been requested by Facebook to use his actual name, instead of the nickname he had chosen.  (No judgment, just frustration.)

I was sitting at breakfast when I realized that it was my 58 year old first cousin how had died in her sleep.  

I quickly said the St. Gertrude Prayer for my cousin.  She was in decent health at the time of her death.  The coroner signed off saying her death was due to a heart attack.   I also went back to church to schedule some Masses for the repose of her soul.  Is she in Purgatory?  I don't know.  Did she go directly to heaven?  Again, I don't know.  Did she go to hell?  I don't know.  I certainly hope and pray that she didn't, but again, we don't know. 

I am going to assume that my cousin is in Heaven or Purgatory.  If she is in Purgatory, there is nothing she can do for herself.  She must endure the purging of her soul, which will bring her to heaven.  The pains of Purgatory are quite real.  Those who are in Purgatory, while suffering greatly,
rejoice in their sufferings and pray for those who are still on earth.  They know they are holy.  They know they are saved, but they have not achieved perfection and must suffer until they do.

We, on earth, can help the dear Souls.  We can pray for the souls daily, hourly.  We can offer our Masses for them.  We can have Masses said for them.  We can pray the Divine Mercy for them.   All of these offerings to God, relieve the Souls in Purgatory and help them gain heaven.  Right now, I am storming heaven with prayers for my cousin.  If she's not in Purgatory, then the prayers I offer will go to someone else.  If she is in Purgatory, then my prayers will help her. 

I hope she is out of Purgatory soon.  If you can see your way to offer a prayer for her, that would be most appreciated.   We want her to be in heaven soon.

When we Die...

    Our hearts stop beating.  Our lungs no longer fill with air.  Our bodies cease to function.  Our immortal souls are released from our bodies.  We enter into eternal life, and our souls leave our physical bodies.  We only take with us, that which we are.
  
Reports from those who have returned include tunnels through which the soul flies at speeds unknown on earth.  Lights are brighter than any here.  Colors are vibrant and living.  Colors that have never been seen are visible to the soul who has left the body.
  
Family and friends who have died come to greet the newly dead.  Many times, souls are sent back because it’s not their time.  Others are given the choice to return to their bodies or not.  Visions of a “being of light” are often reported.  Many identify this being as Jesus, Love personified.
  
Life reviews, with the full knowledge of how one’s actions on earth affected ourselves and others, take place in front of Eternal Love.  Great sorrow or joy can be felt by the soul as the consequences of our actions are seen and felt.  All is truth, but truth with great love. 
  
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that when we die our souls are separated from our bodies and we stand in judgment by God.  We are then sent to Heaven, hell or purgatory.
    Yes, Heaven is real.
    Yes, hell is real.
    Yes, Purgatory is real. 
  
Heaven or hell.  This is what we choose when we live.  God is Love, but the choices we make will affect our life after death.  The gift of free will is given to us by Our Loving God.  We either choose God or not.   Sin is grave, but with true repentance God will forgive even the most vile sinner. 
  
Since only the purified, the unblemished, can enter heaven, most need to spend time in Purgatory to cleanse the soul.  All will be known, and all will be truth.  As painful as it will be to know that we are not ready to be with God, we will also know that  God awaits us with open, loving arms. Our sins have consequences for us, and Purgatory is a place to purify our souls before we join the Great I AM in heaven. How great and painful is the longing for God by the soul in Purgatory!   What a blessing from our loving God! 
  
Once in Purgatory, the deceased cannot pray for themselves.  It is our duty, as members of our Church, to pray for all of our beloved, and not so beloved dead, that their time in Purgatory may be lessened.  How grateful are the souls who are released through our prayers!  When in heaven they become our intercessors!  They will come to greet us when we enter the Kingdom of God!  It is our duty to pray each day for these beloved souls of God!  How grateful is our Heavenly King when we do so. 
  
The St. Gertrude prayer is said to release 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time that it is recited. 

Eternal Father, I offer you the most precious blood of your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with all of the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family.  Amen.
    Sadly, beyond a divide through which no soul can cross, is hell.  Hell is eternal torment from which there is no escape.  Hell never ceases.  Once condemned to hell, the soul cannot leave.  The torment and pain continue through eternity.  Hell exists where God’s love cannot.  Hell is a choice.  The consequence of unrepentant sinner is hell.
    Our Lady, in all of her apparitions, asks us to pray for souls to be saved.  She gave this prayer to us at Fatima.  She has asked us to pray frequently so that more souls will come to God and be saved.

Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins.  Save us from the fires of hell.  Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy Mercy.

This is the prayer recited between decades of the Rosary.  You will save souls, and these souls will love you for this gift!  We never know whom we will help to save.  The souls you save might be those people whom you love.  

Heaven is a choice.  God. Love.  Eternal joy.  The Hope of all Mankind.
Pray.

“But it is as written:  What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians: 9

Pray for the dead daily.
Pray for those you love and for those whom you don't love.
Pray for sinners daily.
We are all sinners.
Pray that all souls will enter into the joy of eternal life.
Jesus tells us,
"My grace is sufficient unto you."
Pray that those who reject His Graces and Love will be converted and souls will be saved.
Pray!
Pray!
Pray!

So, How's Heaven?

I know you're there, waiting for me.  So, how's heaven, really?  Are the angels always flying around or do they stop and talk with you?  Do they walk with you?  Do you have a home where you live, or do you travel all over heaven walking with the angels or Our Loving Lord?
    I have a friend you've never met, and she's quickly nearing the day when she will fall into  the open arms of God.  She and I have decided that we will meet at the river that flows through heaven when we both cross over.  How big is that river?  Will I be able to see her across the river?  Do you ever walk the banks of that river?  Are the waters really living?
    Is there food in heaven?  I know the Heavenly Food, the Eucharist, will always be enthroned there, but do you gather for meals or prayer times?  Are there parties and celebrations?  What do you say when you see each other in heaven?  Do you have a heavenly name?
    Are you there waiting for me?  I miss you so much!  Do you plan to greet me at the threshold of heaven?  Will you take me to meet Jesus when I pass the boundaries of time and space?  What does it feel like to be in the absolute presence of God?
    You left me earlier than either of us had planned.   I long for the day when we see each other again.  I'm happy here, but I long for the joy of seeing the Risen Lord.  I long for the joy of seeing you and holding you again.  Will I be able to touch you?  Will I feel your hand in mine?  Will you be at the river waiting for me, too? 

 It's not my time yet, I know that.  One day, it will be.  My name is written somewhere in that Book of Life.  Until then, I love you, and I miss you. 

How's Heaven, really?