How a Priest Answered: She Was a good Mother; Is She in Heaven Now Or in Purgatory?

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My mother died a couple years ago and I feel the same way. Also same for my father who died many decades ago, but he was so sick for a long time before he died that I figured between that and serving in 2 wars he already had Purgatory on earth.

I have tried to get multiple plenary indulgences for Mom. I did them over several times because I was new to the revised indulgence process and each time I tried something was technically “wrong” with it so I would just do it over again to try to make it right. I also had the Gregorian Masses said for her. We are supposed to have confidence, especially after the Gregorian Masses, that God will help our loved one get out of Purgatory and into Heaven, so while I continue to pray for Mom from time to time, I also do not want to manifest any lack of confidence in God by continuing to worry. Of course, if I had a chance to ask anyone with knowledge like Padre Pio, I would inquire.

I’m no Padre Pio, but I do think she must already be in Heaven as she was a good person, a good mother, and a strong Catholic. I had a dream about her a couple months after she died where she was just sitting in one of her nice outfits and smiling at me and I felt that was her sending me a message that she was all right.
 
mdgspencer, it is a testimony to who your mother is, the person she is, that you have posted so many helpful and blessed threads and links, for the benefit of CAF Members and visitors. You frequently have received few responses, but you faithfully continue to instruct and evangelize through your threads. The mother of such a child must be a wonderful daughter of the Father.
I’ll join with you in your prayers for your mother’s soul,
and for Tis_Bearself’s mother. God bless you both, and your families
 
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Thank you for saying this. I appreciate what you said very greatly.
 
I wouldn’t worry about this. Those in purgatory are suffering but they are not despairing or miserable. The suffering in purgatory is tempered by the fact that the souls there know that they will be in heaven with God at some point in the future. They know that they will achieve heaven and they know that they must be purified before they are able to see God.
 
Continue to pray for her. When you pray for someone who is already in heaven it still adds good works to their account. It also helps your account. You will both receive a greater reward.
 
I would recommend continuing to pray for your dear Mother (and all the souls who might be in purgatory!) As the Priest indicates in the article, “just in case!” but at the very same time have confidence and steadfast faith in God’s infinite mercy and love. Also remember that your Mother’s love and prayers for you from beyond are helping you and your family at the same time, too! Win-win situation all around. May our Lord bless you always, mdgspencer.
 
I have told my family, if I die before them, to please don’t let some well-meaning priest or anyone else, assure people that I’m in Heaven. I’ll need all he prayers I can get to get out of Purgatory. I’m not offended by the idea that I wasn’t good enough to go straight up, I know I’m not, no matter how “nice” I appear on the outside.

So when I die, please pray early and often!

BTW, I haven’t stopped praying for my ancestors, no matter how many years since their death…
 
Tis_Bearself said:
My mother died a couple years ago and I feel the same way. Also same for my father who died many decades ago, but he was so sick for a long time before he died that I figured between that and serving in 2 wars he already had Purgatory on earth.
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Ummm… this is far from my understanding of the suffering of Purgatory! We don’t need to suffer, just for sufferings sake. The suffering of Purgatory has to do with fully knowing the damage our sins have caused, and the agony of being purged from disordered attachments to sin.
 
It’s my understanding of Purgatory that if you commit sin, as we all do, even my wonderful father, then your suffering on earth, if you have any, can take the place of some or all suffering you would do in Purgatory after death to be purified of your sin. It has nothing to do with “suffering for suffering’s sake”. I don’t even know what you mean by that.
 
The punishment is a measure of correction and conversion, though it is also for justice’s sake. In both cases, suffering in this life can account for both of those things, in part or totally. It’s definitely part of the Church’s view on martyrs.
 
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