Two questions

[Andruschak]

For reasons I am not sure of, I seem to be drawn to the praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. With great trepidation, I now offer, as part of my morning prayers, what is sometimes called “The Heroic Act”.

I brought this subject up once in The Catholic Forums, and was told by many that I would not have to serve my full time in Purgatory, paying to the last penny. That somehow I would experience grace and not have to go through with it. This has also been the opinion on some, but by no means all, websites devoted to Purgatory.

But is not this presumption? To hope for a “get out of Purgatory free” card and not have to go through with The Act. Doesn’t this make the act meaningless? That is question #1. Would I have to serve my full time in Purgatory, having renounced all indulgences?

Next, I have studied a few websites devoted to Purgatory, and there seem to be conflicting views as to whether or not this daily offering could be transformed into a lifetime vow. If so, would I need permission from both my Spiritual Directer? Who else would I need permission from?

I also note that Susan Tassone, who has written several books on devotions to the Holy Souls, agrees that “We take upon ourselves to pay ‘the last penney,’ the whole of the debt we now owe, and may ever owe, to God.”

 

[beckycmarie]

How much time we spend in Purgatory depends on how far from perfect we are when we die. Since only the perfect get into Heaven, we should strive in this life to be holy. But, if we die in a state of grace, but not yet perfect, we have the great mercy of purgatory. Even though there is great suffering there, there is also great joy.

I don’t know much about the heroic act. I prefer the Saint Gertrude prayer. I’d heard once that our prayers are strongest at the consecration, so I say this prayer when the chalice is lifted:

“Eternal Father, I offer you the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughthout the world today, for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and for sinners everywhere.”

 

[Belle10]

How much time we spend in Purgatory depends on how far from perfect we are when we die. Since only the perfect get into Heaven, we should strive in this life to be holy. But, if we die in a state of grace, but not yet perfect, we have the great mercy of purgatory. Even though there is great suffering there, there is also great joy.

I don’t know much about the heroic act. I prefer the Saint Gertrude prayer. I’d heard once that our prayers are strongest at the consecration, so I say this prayer when the chalice is lifted:

“Eternal Father, I offer you the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughthout the world today, for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and for sinners everywhere.”

Great post.

It seems to me if you’re feeling like you should pray for the souls in purgatory, do it. Don’t worry about whether it will help you later if you’re in purgatory – don’t make it about you, you know? God knows your heart and if you are praying for the benefit of those souls, that’s a good thing. Also, I’ve read that once those souls you’re praying for make it into heaven, they will continuously pray for you. That shouldn’t be your reason for praying for them, but it is a nice bonus!

 

[Joysong]

Hi Andruschak,

Like you, I would not want to spend a minute in purgatory! Have you ever heard of ‘plenary indulgences?’ You can gain one every day, potentially, and I do trust Church teaching that if we die after having obtained one, that we go straight to heaven, with proper dispositions of course. That is, when we do the prescribed exercise to obtain the plenary indulgence, we have no attachment to sin - i.e., a pure heart wishing to pleaase God always. I see that in you already.

There is a Manual of Indulgences that you can purchase, but I think there are threads in the forum to help you figure out what you are able to do to obtain them.

Also, we can apply our indulgences to the Poor Souls, but I haven’t seen the Church say that it will be “plenary” for them, but will remit partial punishment in accord to God’s will.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=243800&highlight=plenary

The very beautiful Divine Mercy Sunday after Easter grants to all the faithful a plenary on that feast day. Few would miss obtaining it, for most Catholics have already been to confession and communion for Easter. The only requirement besides that would be to pray for the intentions of the Pope.

 

[beckycmarie]

Thanks, Joysong for reminding us of the beautiful gift of plenary indulgences.

Some helpful links on plenary indulgences:


List of Plenary Indulgences
Norms on Indulgences
Particular Grants in Indulgences

 

[TOP]

Harry,
This sounds like doubt creeping into a wonderful work you are doing. Let faith guide you in your offering and consider divine mercy for yourself. Tim

 

[Joysong]

Andruschak:

But is not this presumption? To hope for a “get out of Purgatory free” card and not have to go through with The Act. Doesn’t this make the act meaningless? That is question #1. Would I have to serve my full time in Purgatory, having renounced all indulgences?

Next, I have studied a few websites devoted to Purgatory, and there seem to be conflicting views as to whether or not this daily offering could be transformed into a lifetime vow. If so, would I need permission from both my Spiritual Directer? Who else would I need permission from?

I have difficulty believing anyone should make this act without spiritual direction! Many years ago after my conversion, I was filled with immature zeal, and came upon this devotion. Wanting to please God and Mary, I made the act, but have since retracted it, as I grew in spiritual maturity.

Why? For the very reasons I see underlying your post. This was a “private revelation” from a saint, and it is not public Church teaching. It doesn’t require us either to make the act or to believe in it. I strongly urge you not to make it a vow without talking with your S.D.

As my spirituality matured, I now seriously doubt the wisdom of doing this Act, especially since I have lost family in death and want to be able to pray specifically for them. After making this surrender of the merits of all our prayer/works, the intensity of our prayer for our loved ones may be lessened, thinking we no longer have a right to apply our prayers for them as we desire.

The blind trust that somehow Our Lady will “know” what to do with them, is really blind, IMO. Prayer is so personal, and such an important duty and right of ours that I cannot imagine anyone inspiring us to relinquish it via a so-called a “heroic” act. For the few who are called to this, maybe it is a good thing. But I believe in our zeal for doing what is most perfect, we can make the Act prematurely through being overly scrupulous.

Holy Mother Church always exhorts us to ‘work out our salvation’ and to pray with intent and purpose for others. This heroic act seems to lessen our fervor by suggesting, “Well, I gave all that up so I won’t have to go to Purgatory, so why pray for anyone in particular, even for myself?”

 

[puzzleannie]

since no one has yet mentioned it, your local parish or diocese will be publishing this week if they have not already, information on Plenary Indulgences for observations of the Pauline Year. Since there is one attached to any attendance at celebration of the vigil and feast of SS Peter and Paul this coming week, find a link and read up on it. There are provisions also for indulgence tied to pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome or to site designated by the local ordinary (here it is the Cathedral in Brownsville or the Church of St. Paul in Mission TX), the various events during the year (dedication of the Basilica in November, Conversion in January, closing of the year next June), and even provision for those who are homebound.

usual conditions apply of course, confession and communion in proximity to the feast or pilgrimage (usually one week), and contrition for and freedom from attachment to sin, prays for the Pope, and prays to St. Paul in this case.

this is just a capsule summary from what I read in the bulletin, check out info in your own diocese, I will look for a link to post later today.

since the “heroic act” and the traditional prayer of St. Gertrude also call for the same conditions as any other indulgence, I don’t think they deviate from usual practice, which is to tie a certain prayer or devotion, in addition to the other conditions, to the indulgence.