Catholic TV

Yesterday, I was privileged to celebrate Mass for Catholic TV, which you could find at www.catholictv.com. It was the Mass of the day, but my intention was for the repose of the soul of my brother Michael who died 26 years ago at the age of 23.

Celebrating Mass for the deceased is a tradition in our Catholic faith, and one which has fallen by the wayside for many Catholics. It usually requires a stipend for the church, which can be anywhere between ten dollars and twenty dollars, depending on the church. The graces and blessings that come from the celebration of the Holy Mass are powerful, for both the living and the dead, and it is also a good reminder for all of us to keep in prayer all of our loved ones.

The traditional language is that of the Church Triumphant, already in Heaven, the Church Militant, the living persons on earth, and the Church Suffering, the souls who are in Purgatory. We are all united, and we can pray for each other. Our prayers for the dead are efficacious, and through our prayers, we can aid the suffering souls as they are preparing for the moment when they will be in the Presence of God. Purgatory is a misunderstood doctrine of our faith, but it is biblical, and it is a means for souls who did not die on the state of grace to be purified so that they could see God in all His glory.

If you have a loved one that has died, consider calling your parish and having some Masses said for him or her.