Long considered outdated in the Church, Purgatory is now attracting renewed interest. It is also eliciting reactions, some of them very hostile. However, far from the daunting representations it's been saddled with, Purgatory is full of light.
The following is the full script of an homily given by Mgr Aristide Gonsallo, bishop of Porto-Novo in Benin, at the Mass of the pilgrimage on Nov. 3, 2024.
Purgatory may sound as an elusive reality or something outdated. Still, whether people feel attracted by it, or disturbed or repelled, in Montligeon we are observing that more and more people are interested in this truth of faith. Could it…
In 2008, as he was dealing with financial worries, the rector of the Belgium shrine of Tancremont was unexpectedly helped by the souls in purgatory for whom he used to pray. Read this testimmony about how a relationship with souls in purgatory endures through prayer.
Purgatory is often frightening. Yet in the Catholic tradition, it is above all a place of healing and purification. The sanctuary at Montligeon, dedicated to praying for the dead, offers a chance to rediscover this.
The 'eclipse' of death in our secularized West is a factor responsible for our anguish. What if we were to look it in the face?
Purgatory belongs to the Catholic faith. However, aspects of it can be found in other cultures and religions, which affirm that purification is necessary after death.
Atonement and reparation in purgatory are liberating and healing. They take place over time, which is a mark of God's tenderness and patience.
Can the damned, the very people whom, in our imagination, are roasting in the fires of hell, change their mind after all? Find out more with Rev. Fr. Thomas Lapenne who refreshes a few truths on what hell is about, and how the dramatic possibility of ending there out of one's free will engages one's responsibility in one's daily life.
We only but just celebrated All Saints Day on 1st November, followed by All Souls Day on 2nd November. A great opportunity to revisit fundamentals of our faith in eternal life