Tomorrow we celebrate All Saints day and the next day is All Souls day. Most Catholics understand the importance of All Saints day but many have a distorted view of All Souls, even conflating the two together as one. So, let’s draw the distinction. All Saints day is for the commemoration of Souls who are in heaven in the very presence of Almighty God in all His glory. All soul’s day is a day to remember those who are deceased but on their way toward heaven but have not completed the passage. They are in the state or process of Purgatory. This is the final cleansing or “purging” of any remnants of sin. It is frequently described as a fire, a suffering. But it is different then the suffering of hell. Souls in hell have no hope or love or refreshment. The souls in Purgatory suffer but with hope and love present. They are aided, comforted, and refreshed by the prayer of the Saints, the Church on earth in every Mass and by your personal prayer on their behalf. It is said in Church teaching that the souls in Purgatory cannot pray for their self. I do not know the answer why, but I suspect it is because they are being perfected of all selfishness. Their experience of receiving comfort by the prayer of others engenders in them the desire and strength to pray for others. So, pray for departed souls. It is an ancient practice of Catholics to say a brief prayer after meals for the poor souls in Purgatory. “May the souls of the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God rest in peace.” We need to revive the pious practice. Pray for all the faithful departed.