The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
The Church’s teaching on purgatory has caused no little skirmish. Seen by some reformers in the 16th century as scheme for capital extraction, their criticism rightly landed on cases of abuse. However, these reformers addressed abuse and not the profound theological insight that has a scriptural foundation. Perhaps no greater text to assist in the understanding of purgatory exists than the story of the Prodigal Son. The story is familiar; the son cuts himself off from his family and heads off to a life of decadence. Even the father notes that he seemed to be dead. But after a time and going through some painful reflection and purging himself of some attitudes and practices, he recognizes the love of the father. Purgatory is evidence of God’s mercy for all of us who perhaps at death are still holding on to a few things that need to be removed.