November 4, 2025

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A simple description of All Saints and All Souls Day(s) that we celebrated on Saturday and Sunday.

All Saints Day: is a day where we remember that we are connected to a family in Heaven, The Church Triumphant, who pray for us to one day join them in heaven.

Hebrews 12:1

The Letter to the Hebrews says that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. They bore the trials of this life and persevered until the end. By their example, they show us the way. They are our models, just as we have people here on earth who may provide an example of how to excel in this life or in a particular skill. This is why we revere them.

And now they surround us with prayers to get us home. think of being in a sports stadium where we are the home team, the stadium is packed with our family in Heaven, chanting our names. Wanting us to win and reach the end zone, Heaven!

That is what family members do for one another (we help each other). The reality is that we are never alone. I hope you will leave this Church knowing that you are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses - the saints - who are praying for you and me each day to “one day” join them in Heaven.

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All Souls Day.

We know that no sin can enter Heaven. And when we pass from this life, most of us will still have some attachment to earthly concerns and sins. So, God in His love and Mercy gives us a final rinse cycle, so all sins (stains) are washed away so we can enter the fullness of God’s Presence in Heaven.

Images to help see Purgatory properly.

My hunting buddies will remember: Trekking through the woods and finally, after a long day, being ready to go home to the warm mansion with the fire and food. Before entering the inviting, warm, and beautiful white Mansion, they realize they are dirty and have mud on them from the woods and creeks that they have just traveled. The mansion has a mud-room where they must first enter before entering the Mansion. Here they will be cleansed and remove the mud and stains from the journey. What a feeling it is to be cleansed and cleaned up as we enter the warmth of the fire, the embrace of friends, and a meal with those waiting for us to return home. The mud-room is analogous to Purgatory. And upon completion, it is an incredible feeling to be finally Home and what we were created for: Entering the Mansion and Union with God.

Or: Think of taking your best china out of the display cabinet to place on the table for a Thanksgiving meal. After the Thanksgiving meal, are you going to put the stained and dirty plates, cups, saucers straight into the china-display case? I hope not! Or will you clean them up first by putting them through a final rinse cycle before proudly placing them back in the display cabinet, “Heaven.”

Misconceptions. We get confused when we try to put a time and place with Purgatory. Or see it as a prison sentence where we are being punished. No, think of Purgatory as a PROCESS to cleanse us of these sinful worldly attachments. Purgatory is God’s infinite Love and Mercy to help us finally prepare so we CAN experience the full union of His Divine Love for us.

Stay away from extremes like seeing Purgatory as the torment of Hell. Or the other extreme of it, as not being a big deal. From people who have had the gift to see Purgatory and then describe it to us: They say a person’s greatest torment is wanting to be in union with God and experiencing His Divine Love in Heaven. Unlike Hell, they are still being ministered to and surrounded by our prayers for this journey to be completed. Their great anguish is to complete the process and enter their eternal reward of sharing in the Love that they were created for, with and in the life of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Remember: Purgatory is not a second chance after we die. And unlike Hell, when a person enters the state of Purgatory, they already know they are on their way to Heaven, so that is a huge relief and gift.

So we are called to pray for these souls so they can complete this final rinse and enter Heaven, as we will one day want others to do the same for us when we pass from this life. You better pray for me. :)

Vivat Jesus,

Father Vic Gournas