As I have said repeatedly it is the Consecration, the very words of Christ at the Last Supper, which actualizes our Lord's presence, His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. While our Lord is present on the altar we bring to Him our special needs and intentions. We should remember our dead. The mass calls upon us at this point to pray for them. We should not presume that our fellow Catholics pray for the faithful departed. Indeed, most young Catholics, under forty, have lost the piety of praying for the souls in purgatory. Why? The doctrine of purgatory has been de-emphasized and even rejected. Our funeral liturgy seems to assume that everyone goes directly to Heaven. This is not what the church teaches. The new Catechism reads: "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" (1030). The church teaches us that we must grow in faith and obedience. We are to grow in our life in Christ. By growing in our life in Christ we are preparing ourselves for Heaven. What happens if we die and have not grown in Christ and prepared ourselves fully for Heaven? St. Paul in [Corinthians 3: 11-15 speaks of a purifying fire which will reveal the true foundation, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Purgatory is a state of being for souls on their way to Heaven but is not yet ready for Heaven. They suffer the penalty due to their sins in this life (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n.1479). They suffer in the knowledge of wasted and sinful lives that should have been lived in faith and obedience. The souls in purgatory are therefore, referred to as the Church Suffering to distinguish from the Church Militant (in this world) and the Church Triumphant (in Heaven).

Our love and unity in Christ with the souls in purgatory urge us to pray for them, to offer penance's for them, and above all, to offer mass for them. This is how the new catechism expresses it: "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 on behalf of the dead..." (1032).

The belief that prayer and penance can benefit the living and the dead in no way diminishes the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our savior but He invites us "To work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and accomplish according to His good will" (Philippians) 2:12-13). The protestant distinction between faith and good works is erroneous. There is no faith without obedience. We are called upon to participate in our salvation through faith in Christ as our savior and obedience to Him as our Lord and Master.

St. Paul explains how our sacrifices benefit others in Colossians 1:24: "Who (Paul) now rejoice in My sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in My flesh for His body, which is the Church". United to Christ and one another in His body which is the church our prayers and sacrifices can be offered with, in and through Christ for the salvation on the souls of the living and the purification of the souls in Purgatory.

The one sacrifice that gives meaning to all our sacrifices is our Lord's death on the cross. The Mass, as I have never stopped saying, renews the sacrifice of the cross. It is, therefore, fitting and proper that as we offer Christ to the Father that we offer Him for the living and the dead.

Remember that you assist the priest in the offering of Christ at mass. Offer Him not only for those near and dear to you in this world but also your dearly departed in purgatory.