I attended a funeral recently of a man I used to work with. Something happened there that got me thinking. I can’t tell you how many Catholic funerals I’ve been to where I was assured that the deceased was with God in Heaven. And I wonder, why do we say this.
Here’s the thing. Those in Purgatory need prayers. Lots of them. So we need people to pray, not be assured that their loved one is in Heaven.
Why do we take the players off the field just when they’re needed? Here’s what I want you guys to say at my funeral:
Matt Archbold was fairly despicable at times. He was meaner than he was kind, proud of his humility, and not all that nice to his family or friends. Vain. Sarcastic. Selfish. While these may be qualites of a good blogger, they do not bode well for sainthood.
We have no reason to suspect that Matt Archbold is in Heaven. In fact, I’d just about guarantee he’s not. If God in his infinite mercy somehow allowed Matthew to enter Purgatory it would be a reflection of His mercy rather than any attributes Matt evidenced throughout his life.
Let us all assume, to be safe, that Matthew is in the bottom rung of Purgatory. Matthew’s fingernails are firmly dug into a cliff at the furthest edge of the Purgatory city limits and he’s hanging on there, his little feet dangling over Hell.
And the only way you can get him out of there and nearer to Heaven is through your prayers. Pray now. Pray on the ride home. Pray when you get home. Pray. Pray. Pray for days, weeks, and years to come. Please pray.
Matthew’s salvation depends on you so even though Matthew has surely disappointed God and everyone he ever knew. Please don’t disappoint him. He needs your prayers.
On the way out of Church, please sign up for the phone bank so you too can volunteer to call anyone who ever knew Matt to remind them to pray for him. Or you can sign up to go door to door asking people in your neighborhood to pray for Matt on a daily basis at around 6 p.m. (around dinnertime because that was Matt’s favorite time of the day.) Please have some Masses said. Lots of them.
So vehement was Matt on this point he has instructed us to lock you all in the Church for 24 hours. After 24 hours of diligent prayer you will be allowed to leave after signing your promissory note to pray often for Matt’s soul. That promissory note will be considered a legal contract and be notarized. If you fail to live up to your contract you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
In short, please pray as if Matthew’s soul depended on it. Because it does.
January 31, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Give it up, guys. Matt knows his SALVATION isn't dependent on your prayers, but his getting out of Purgatory and getting into Heaven before the stars have all burned out IS dependent on those prayers!! Don't nit-pick a really good and very needed post.
January 31, 2011 at 3:08 pm
I am fairly sure that combox nitpickers will be right next to Matthew in purgatory, if they are lucky!
January 31, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Any Mass we participate in "in the flesh" is worth a million celebrated for us while we are doing time in Purgatory.
I cottoned on to this post and sent it out to all my friends and children. Unless things change, and I will notify those same people as needed, assume that I get the sentence at my Particular Judgment what I deserve.
God is good all the time, but He is also Just.
January 31, 2011 at 4:06 pm
We live in a very protestant area. Anytime, I even try to bring up the subject of purgatory, I get berated, insulted and made fun of. They don't agree, but if I even charitably try to explain it, the anger rises up. I've kind of given up.
January 31, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I completely disagree with the OP and many of the comments here. Why? Because it's taking the judgment out of God's hands and putting it into our own. Purgatory brings me a great deal of comfort (I too think of all the things I'd like to be purged from). However, whether I go there or not, is not for me to assume or decide. By the time we each die, we may be ready to enter into heaven or we may all find ourselves in purgatory. The point is, we don't know. Regarding prayers, yes we should pray for everyone who has died, that they may find peace and refreshment. But this is true, not only for those who may think they'll be dangling over hell, but also those we judge to be in hell ie Hitler, Stalin, ect. I use the term 'judge' purposefully. Only God can judge Hitler or Stalin. Only He can judge Matthew, not Matthew and certainly not the person conducting his funeral. There is a difference between healthy discernment of one's sins and shortcomings and passing judgment on one's person. The prayer for the dead used at every mass, is a perfect prayer, precisely because it leaves the matter in God's hands: Be mindful,O Lord, of Thy servants and handmaids (names), who are gone before us with the sign of faith and who sleep the sleep of peace. To these, O Lord, and to all who rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light and peace. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen
Remember Paul's words:
3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. -1 Cor. 4
As for being assured that the deceased are with God in heaven. They are with God…and for me…that's heaven enough.
January 31, 2011 at 5:27 pm
I was at my Grandpa's funeral, and it made me angry when the priest told everyone he thought we could assume that my Grandpa was in Heaven because, as far as he was concerned, he was a saint. I don't think he did my Grandpa any favors. He may still need Masses and prayers for him, for all we know, and he died back in 2005. Only God knows his soul perfectly.
And, Jimmy, maybe you feel better about yourself simply because you're doing something on Sunday that's more pleasant for you. IT doesn't make as many demands on you. It doesn't force you to confront yourself.
And praying IS doing. So is following. It all depends on Whom you're following, though. I don't think you picked the best leader.
January 31, 2011 at 5:57 pm
dmliving,
How do you know what Matt know?
I don't know Matt from a hole in the wall, so I don't know what he knows. I do know that anyone who isn't Catholic, and many who are, and those who are hostile to Catholicism who read his statement will fail to properly understand the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory, a doctrine that belongs to the Church, not to Matt. He behooves him, then, to get it right.
Bottom line: the guy runs a blog, for pete's sake; he ought to know how to say what he means.
January 31, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Hey Jimmy, you know, you can do both–it's not an either/or. 🙂
January 31, 2011 at 6:43 pm
dmliving, Matthew's writing explicitly equated his salvation with the prayers of others while he is in Purgatory. From his post:
"Matthew's salvation depends on you so even though Matthew has surely disappointed God and everyone he ever knew. Please don't disappoint him. He needs your prayers."
Pointing out the misrepresentation of Catholic teaching is not nitpicking. (Although tone is hard to express in writing, my intent is charitable.) I'm a Catholic convert and the teaching of Purgatory was an issue I had to overcome because I erroneously thought that Purgatory was a second chance at heaven, but that is not what the Church teaches.
I still debate with other Evangelicals who maintain that Catholics believe Purgatory is a second chance at salvation. Unfortunately, this post perpetuates the incorrect belief. Evangelicals would see this post as confirmation that Catholics have it wrong on Purgatory.
I agree with Matthew that we should not prematurely canonize someone at their funeral. That was a good point, but he went wrong when he wrote that those in Purgatory are at risk of damnation.
So, will I be in Purgatory with Matthew if I'm lucky? Absolutely! And I will rejoice with him knowing that our salvation is assured at that time while we pray for the purification to be completed quickly.
Matt,
I don't comment here often, but your blog is in my RSS reader so I see all your posts. I enjoy your blog, but I had to point out the error in what was otherwise a good point.
January 31, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Well, you know that heavy weight you feel hanging there on the cliff of purgaroty by your fingernails? Well, that is me hanging on to your shoelaces!
Yes, what I would like most from those who care about me is to have Masses said for my soul.
January 31, 2011 at 10:48 pm
LOL, love your exhortation. I have thought for many years that I would want a family member to read a short statement from me right after the Mass … to wit: "pray your knees off for me so I can get out of Purgatory before Martin Luther." I better go write it up pretty soon … ain't gettin' any younger.
Thanks.
January 31, 2011 at 11:43 pm
In all fairness to Matt. Salvation is a process and is not consumated until the resurrection. I don't think Matt is saying he is damned without our prayers, only that he's still in the process of being saved. But I could be wrong.
February 1, 2011 at 12:25 am
No one has ever been back to tell us about life after death. I think we are all going to experience the ultimate surprise!And I have faith that God calls my name only when God knows my time.And I also have faith that my merciful,infinitely loving,unfathomable God will take me into His arms and welcome me into His infinite embrace.And I don't know how right or wrong it is but I pray for those gone ahead of me at every Mass and in personal prayer,but I have never been compelled to dwell on where God is going to put me when he calls my name!
February 1, 2011 at 1:00 am
Hahaha….. Are you suggesting letting others do the work for you?… is this some sort of "holy welfare" ? …… seriously, this was worth more than a few chuckles
; )
February 1, 2011 at 2:51 am
Most honest eulogy ever was for Jerry – alcoholic, manic-depressive, ill-tempered, and left the church – yet he had a big heart and truly hated his compulsively sinful ways. Anyway, the eulogy from his brother was short and sweet "everybody, just pray for him, pray for Jerry"
February 1, 2011 at 3:30 am
Chuckle all ya want…8pm Anonymous!You don't know any more than anyone else…that's why we struggle (@times) to have "faith" in the Mystery.If there IS such a thing as "holy welfare" GREAT! I think we can all use all the help we can get!!I know I can! Thanks!
February 1, 2011 at 3:37 am
don says I am a convert and recently learned that Catholic's are the only Christians that believe in purgatory?
February 1, 2011 at 3:41 am
I am very annoyed by all the people saying "Daddy is an angel" and such. An angel?? Seriously?? And sometimes from people who know better, for example with a seminary degree. Ugh.
February 1, 2011 at 2:43 pm
I am a consistent fan of the site, but this piece is wrong-headed sloganeering. Presumption is wrong, absolutely. It abounds at weak funerals.
Sure hope is not. We trust in God's mercy, and consign loved ones to his love. So we pray for speedy purgatorial suffering so those already promised heavenly reward, those giving allegiance to Jesus, can more quickly experience perfect communion with the Lord. Hanging on to a cliff by fingernails? No. We die either destined for Heaven or Hell. No eternal destinies are decided in Purgatory, just worked out. We get to participate, but should not lose sleep over the volume of prayers be offered for a favorite departed.The Protestant evangelist is closer to the truth here than thou. Both Ratzinger and Peter Kreeft have good writings on this subject.
February 3, 2011 at 3:53 am
DITTO, Matt. I say exactly what you said, but not so eloquently, at every funeral I attend where all this sappy gushing takes place. Of course, I'm old enough to remember funerals when the priest wore black & folks were allowed to mourn. I know that's the old days…
I always think of the priest who was St John Vianney's mentor (can't remember his name). Before he died, he gave John V his discipline & told him to destroy it. He said if people knew it was his, they'd assume he went to heaven & he'd end up in purgatory until the end of time!
I know protestants hate this kind of discussion but I tell them purgatory just makes sense. We obviously cannot go to heaven in the state most of us are when we die. If so, heaven would be just like earth and I am really hoping for something better than this!!