In November we think about, and pray for, the Holy Souls. Let us today prayerfully reflect on the truth concerning the Holy Souls contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
‘The human person, created in the image of God, is a being at once corporeal and spiritual. The biblical account expresses this reality in symbolic language when it affirms that “then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.’ Man, whole and entire, is therefore willed by God.’ (section 362)
‘In Sacred Scripture the term ‘soul’ often refers to human life or the entire human person. But ‘soul’ also refers to the inner-most aspect of man, that which is of greatest value in him, that by which he is most especially in God’s image: ‘soul’ signifies the spiritual principal in man.’ (section 363)
‘The Church teaches that every spiritual soul is created immediately by God – it is not ‘produced’ by the parents – and also that it is immortal: it does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection.’ (section 366)
‘All who died in God’s grace and friendship, but still
imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.’ (section 1030)
‘The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final
purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.’ (section 1031)
‘From the beginning the Church has honoured the
memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God,’ (section 1032)
(From: Spiritual Thought from Fr Chris)
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