Corona per le anime purganti

Crown in suffrage of the souls in purgatory accompanied by audio.

Prayer for the dead is solidarity for those who preceded us and now count on our help, on our faith. Because the Kingdom of God is communion with God and the brothers. None of us can enter the wedding banquet hall if we do not have the dress of joy. We are all poor and fragile, and we need God's mercy and the help of brothers to take this last step that takes us out of ourselves to enter into a relationship with God. Praying for the dead means recognizing that we are of the same family, saved by Jesus, the Son of the Father. It means that we have understood that our roots are in the heavens and it testifies that love is stronger than death.

We pray for the dead to celebrate life, because they are believed to be alive in the Lord, to accompany them on the path of approaching Him. In fact, with prayer we help souls struggling with an itinerary of purification. We are talking about Purgatory which the Compendium of the Catechism at number 210 defines "the state of those who die in the friendship of God, but, although sure of their eternal salvation, they still need purification to enter heavenly bliss". And the next number adds: "By virtue of the communion of saints, the faithful still pilgrims on earth can help the souls in purgatory by offering them prayers of suffrage, in particular the Eucharistic sacrifice, but also alms, indulgences and works of penance".

The Catholic Church explicitly asks to commemorate the dead. Indeed, the last work of spiritual mercy invites us to "pray for the living and for the dead". "The Church - said Pope Francis during the general audience on November 30, 2016 - prays for the dead in a particular way during Holy Mass. The priest says: “Lord, remember your faithful who have preceded us with the sign of faith and sleep the sleep of peace. Give them, Lord, and to all those who rest in Christ, bliss, light and peace ”(Roman Canon). A simple, effective reminder, full of meaning, because it entrusts our loved ones to God's mercy.

Let us pray with Christian hope that they will be with him in heaven, waiting to find ourselves together in that mystery of love that we do not understand, but which we know to be true because it is a promise that Jesus made. We will all rise again and we will all remain forever with Jesus, with Him ».