Indulgences for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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One of the things that you can do as a Catholic, and reconnect with your Catholic spirituality and heritage is to gain indulgences. Tomorrow, November 2nd, is the Solemnity of All Soul’s.One can gain indulgences by praying for them. See the link:

Indulgence for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

(Via Latin Mass.)

I shall attempt to write, either tonight or tomorrow, a post on what indulgences are. I had already done this, but the post for some reason crashed my blog editor. Not only crashed, but reverted it to an “Evaluation Copy”. I had to search around for the registration code I got when I purchased it, and re-registered it. Not too enthusiastic about re-writing it now!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Solemnity of All Soul's

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On November 2nd we celebrate the Solemnity of All Soul’s. It is the day that we as Catholics offer up the Mass and pray for the deceased who are suffering in Purgatory. Here are links to two posts in a blog of mine that I had discontinued. (I thought I had transferred them to this blog, but I cannot find them in my editor) :

Purgatory

and

Prayers for the Dead and Dying

This is the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s teaching on Purgatory. It is authoritative, and is a required belief for Catholics:

Purgatory:

1030:All who die 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.

1031: The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire.

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.

1032: This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: ‘Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.’ From the beginning the Church has honored 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. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.“

(Via USCCB.)

Attend Mass on November 2nd. Remember the dead who have gone before you. Remember your deceased loved ones, family and friends, think of people long ago. Remember all those alcoholics and addicts who died a lonely death, still caught in the slavery of their addiction.

If you do not remember them, who will remember you after you have passed?

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Solemnity of All Saints

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From last year: Feast of All Saints

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Venerable Matt Talbot for "All Saints Day"

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As today is the Solemnity of All Saints, I decided to post this nice article on Matt Talbot, the “Patron Saint of Alcoholics”:

Venerable Matt Talbot

(Via American Catholic.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Blot out all my guilt

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The 11th verse of Psalm 51 is a repetition of verse 3.

Psalm 51:11: “Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt.”

(Via USCCB.)

The Lord forgives, and the Lord “forgets.” The slate is clean, it is “as if” the sin never happened.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Sounds of glad rejoicing

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Verse 10 of Psalm 51 recalls a happy and healthy benefit to forgiveness:

Psalm 51:10: “Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.”

(Via USCCB.)

When God forgives, you are restored to your inheritance. You who were lost, are now found once again, and you can claim your rightful place as one of His children, eligible to enter into His home once He calls you to it.

Luke 15:21-24: “His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began.”

You were crushed by your sin. You have repented and petitioned Him for forgiveness,and He has answered. You rejoice, as with the Saints in Heaven.

Luke 15:7: “I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”

All Scripture quotes courtesy of:

(Via USCCB.)

Go to Confession, soon.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Death Quotes – Quotations and Famous Quotes on Death

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From across the philosophical spectrum (from a non-Catholic site).

Death Quotes – Quotations and Famous Quotes on Death

(Via StumbleUpon.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Cleanse me that I may be pure

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In the 9th verse of Psalm 51 the penitent asks for a total cleansing:

Psalm 51:9: “Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow.”

(Via USCCB.)

The penitent asks for a restoration of their purity. In a way, a “recovery” of what they were before their sin disfigured their soul.

This is what we should be seeking when we are involved in our recovery from addiction. Alcoholism and addiction seriously distorts our true selves, it disrupts the “normal” path of life that we should have been on. Recovery seeks to restore what was lost. (This is for most people. For some, like me, recovery has been more than just “recovering” a normal life, it has been part of a call to spread the Gospel, although in not very traditional methods.)

We are children of God and as such our lives and souls should be a reflection of that. Although it is extremely hard to accomplish that in today’s world, purity can be achievable by heroic efforts. With God’s help, it can be done.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Teach me wisdom

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In 12 Step groups you hear the acronym “HOW”, which stands for “Honesty, Open-mindedness and Willingness”. The 8th verse of Psalm 51 covers this:

Psalm 51:8: “Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom.”

(Via USCCB.)

Sincerity clears away the self-deception and lies that pervade our thinking. In our alcoholic and addictive fog we do not always have a clear-headed view of ourselves and others. We are still very much broken and wounded people, perhaps healing slowly or quickly, but our addiction still affects us.

The psalmist recognizes that God “insists on sincerity of heart”, meaning (to me) sincerity of belief, without “human” thinking to mess it up; raw, pure conviction. This opens the doorway for God’s wisdom to be taught to the petitioner, in their “inmost being”. Directly into their heart, mind and soul.

God’s truth illuminates your soul. You gain wisdom, the best thing one can ask of God.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

I was born guilty

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The Notes in the NAB version of this Bible state that this verse…:

Psalm 51:7: “True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me.”

(Via USCCB.)

…means that in no time was the penitent without sin. This, I think, refers to the Original Sin of Adam and Eve. A sin that we inherited as their descendants, from when they turned away from God at the temptation by Satan under the pretext that they can “be like God” and discern good from evil under the guidance of their own conscience.

What guides and form your conscience? Is it God, through the ministry and teachings of the Catholic Church? Or do you “keep your own conscience” and decide “for yourself” what is moral and right, perhaps depending upon the circumstances? This pretext is a false one, as everyone’s conscience is formed by something. Some people are just honest and humble and readily admit as to what guides their conscience. Others are delusional and feel (rather that think) that they are in control of their moral decision-making.

So, who or what does your thinking for you?

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)