“Purgatory is, in a sense, akin to the experience of withdrawal symptoms in a detox from an addiction — exposing addiction’s roots, detaching our disordered attachments and the parasitical evils that inhabit us. Painful, yes, but it is a purifying pain full of hope for the “freedom of the children of God.” In fact, Romans 8:18-24 powerfully ties both agony, hope and freedom together in this very way! In addition, as it is with the way we seek freedom from our addictions in this life, Purgatory is also marked by a burden of love with which each person of faith in Christ’s Body is yoked, as we are called to bear one another up to the “Healer of the world” (Jn. 4:42) on the shoulders of our tireless works of mercy.” ~Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

Let us pray.

O God, the Maker and Redeemer of all believers: Grant to the faithful departed the unsearchable benefits of the passion of your Son; that on the day of his appearing they may be manifested as your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen