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 purgatory.ca



10 years serving
the Holy Souls
2002-2012

purgatory.ca  

QuickFAQ


Frequently Asked Questions



Questions













Answers






Questions about Purgatory


  • Why should I pray for the dead? Their fate is sealed - either they are in Heaven or in Hell. So, what difference will my prayers make?


    • The answer is multi-faceted.

    First: 'praying for the dead':

    This tradition pre-dates the New Testament, particularly found in the book of Maccabees, in Exodus, and in other places throughout the Bible. The Church teaches that it is a "honorable practice to pray for the deceased" since their fate is known to God alone. The Church also teaches, holding to the traditions in both Old and New Testaments, that there is another 'place' outside our 'time' between the Saints in Heaven and the Damned in Hell. Purgatory is that 'time of purification' where all sins and stain of sin is removed. Think of it this way: no-one may bring, into God's Holy Presence, self-love that sets itself above or before God.

    Second: God alone knows their 'fate':

    In that last moment of life, as they see their Lord, they may exclaim, "My Lord and my God!" This action of love, a gift from Him, would close the gates of Hell, but because of reparation, they need to be purified. Most will to enter purgatory, after seeing His Glory. It is a gift from God.

    Third: there is no time for God, since God 'Is'.

    Thus, our prayers, though said after their death, will aid them simply because God answers all prayers. Jesus said that we should trust in Him. Praying for the dead, as well as helping them, builds our faith.


  • What happens to the graces from our prayers and our sacrifices for a soul if it is not in purgatory any more or never was?


    • Time, for God, is the present - a no-beginning/unending 'is'. Prayer is our dialogue, in time, with God who 'is'. Prayer is a gift of the Holy Spirit who prompts us to pray. The very act of praying then, in itself, is a gift of God who is all-knowing. Prayer, though rooted in our 'time' is, in effect, timeless due to its Author and to its effect. We know that God answers all prayers.

    When we pray for a soul, whom we believe to be in purgatory, we offer the satisfactory value of our works (prayer and sacrifices). If that soul is not in purgatory, and not in hell (where prayer has no effect), the only other 'place' is the Beatific Vision in Heaven. That soul reaps the 'graces' (the satisfactory value) of prayer directed toward it.

    We must remember that purgatory is a purification of all that is not Him. Once purified of self-love and self-will, the soul is in perfect union with Jesus, our continual Intercessor, forever in Heaven. That soul loves as Jesus does, and prays for those in need.

    As part of the Communion of Saints, the saints in heaven pray for the Church Militant and the Church Suffering, through Our Lady, the Mediatrix of All Graces. Thus, the 'grace' of prayer directed toward this soul is 'passed on' for they have no need of prayer.

    The merit, however, of our works (prayer and sacrifices) have a corresponding degree of glory in Heaven. Merit is personal and is not transferable.


  • How long do souls stay in purgatory?


    • Although no-one has come back from purgatory, many accounts, in the lives of the saints, have given us enough information about their state. According to these sources, the average stay in purgatory is thirty to forty years.

    However, two cautions need to be applied here. First, we have only 'private revelation' to give us these estimates. Secondly, should these estimates be accurate, we must remember our time is not the same as their time.

    According to one source, Venerable Mary Ann Lindmeyer (1657-1726), ". . . one hour in Purgatory seems longer than twenty years of extreme suffering on earth. . . . The stay in Purgatory can often last hundreds of years." Remember the scripture passage: "One day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 St. Peter 3: 8)

    See also An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory for a more detailed explanation, keeping in mind the caution on 'private revelation'.

    Needless to say, their suffering is beyond anything we can imagine on earth. The Holy Souls in Purgatory, however, know the Truth - they have seen Him. Nothing can exist without Him. Their torment, after seeing His Beauty and Goodness, is to be separated from Him because of their sinfulness. It is an unimaginable torment.




  • Why go to all the trouble? They will eventually get to Heaven.


    • Faith is a gift. Two old expressions are appropriate: 'Use it or lose it!'. Jesus warned of empty faith: "Those who do not, what little they think they have, will be taken and given to those who have more." (Mt 5:28ff)

    "And with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again." (Mt 7:2) Mercy is God's greatest attribute. Showing mercy toward the Holy Souls will not go unrewarded. All deeds are repaid, in kind, by our Lord. "What you have done to the least of my brothers, you have done unto me." (Mt 7:24)

    Conversely, what we have not done for our brothers and sisters we have also failed to do for Jesus. According to one writer on Purgatory, many souls need longer purification than others. Their time is lengthened in proportion to the lack of charity and concern they had displayed, during their lifetime, toward the Holy Souls. This is truly 'food-for-thought'.









Registration


  • Do I have to 'join' to enter names?


    • Yes.

    Click 'Join' in the Main Menu on the left sidebar. After registering, you may enter as many names as you wish, on the condition that you agree to pray for them. By joining, you will reap the benefits and merits of all prayers offered for the Holy Souls. As a member, you may 'Add a Memoriam' for each Beloved. Furthermore, others may 'Adopt' and 'Add to [their] PrayerBook'.

    Registration is required to indicate that you are willing to make the commitment of praying for them. Your commitment, as part of the Body of Christ from the Church Militant, is before God alone. Your public statement signifies active membership in a tangible way. It witnesses to your faith.

    Within your month of registration, you must enroll at least one Beloved. Registrants who have not complied with this simple requirement will be denied access to the secured areas of the site, and will need to re-register.

    [Incomplete registrations are deleted at month's end.]




  • A 'Security Alert' message appeared on my screen. What is this all about?


    • The 'Security Alert' that appeared on your screen indicates you have entered a secured area that encrypts (protects) all information passed between you and purgatory.ca. We use a 'Self-Signed' Certificate that states who we are. Access to secured areas of the site depends upon acceptance. You may safely accept the certificate.






  • I have just registered, but I have not received a confirmation email. What's happening?


    • If you have not received a Confirmation email, there are errors in your registration. Please ensure that you have read the 'Notes' section on the 'Join' page.

    The most common error is the inclusion of punctuation marks in Names or City.

    Another common error is the inclusion of email addresses or URLs in Username or Password fields. Neither are permitted in these fields.

    These and any errors will cause the registration process to fail, with no notification.


  • I wish to cancel my registration. How do I do this?


    • We are sorry that you wish to cancel your registration.

    To do so, login, then click the 'Edit Profile' button on the 'Confirmation' page.

    Your registration information will already be included in the email that will be sent. Simply add the phrase, 'Cancel my registration please', and click 'Submit'.

    All registration information will be deleted permanently within 24 hours.

    [Please note: all information on Beloveds you have enrolled, as well as any Prayer Requests will be retained.]


  • I don't understand the sentence that we had to sponsor a soul. Does it mean we had to pay money to sponsor than to register?


    • The requirement that you 'sponsor' at least one soul in your registration month means that you must 'enroll' or 'sponsor' by 'Adding a Beloved' at least one soul within that month.


    The purpose of purgatory.ca is:

    "We have created this site to promote further prayer for your loved ones.

    We invite you to add your Beloveds so that others might pray for them. They will benefit from additional prayers, and will be eternally grateful to all who help them."



    purgatory.ca's sole purpose is to aid your Beloveds who patiently await prayers for their union with God for all eternity.

    You do not have to pay to Join or Add your Beloveds - everything on the site is free.

    You register ('Join') once, and then you are brought immediately to the 'Add Beloved' page. You must add at least one Beloved in your registration month to activate your registration. (All incomplete registrations are deleted at month's end.)

    [Please pay particular attention to the 'Notes' section' on the 'Join' and 'Add Beloved' pages. We have very aggressive filters in place to protect the integrity of the site.]













Enrollment of Beloveds


  • I am not a Catholic. May I still enter names of my family and friends?


    • Certainly. We encourage it. Even though you do not profess the same doctrine, there is only One God, the Creator of all mankind. He is the Lover of souls in purgatory. He longs to admit them into his Presence, but His Holiness and Justice prevent Him from doing so until they have been spotlessly purified.


  • Do I have to 'join' to enter names?


    • Yes.

    Click 'Join' in the Main Menu on the left sidebar. After registering, you may enter as many names as you wish, on the condition that you agree to pray for them. By joining, you will reap the benefits and merits of all prayers offered for the Holy Souls. As a member, you may 'Add a Memoriam' for each Beloved. Furthermore, others may 'Adopt' and 'Add to [their] PrayerBook'.

    Registration is required to indicate that you are willing to make the commitment of praying for them. Your commitment, as part of the Body of Christ from the Church Militant, is before God alone. Your public statement signifies active membership in a tangible way. It witnesses to your faith.

    Within your month of registration, you must enrol at least one Beloved. Registrants who have not complied with this simple requirement will be denied access to the secured areas of the site, and will need to re-register.

    [Incomplete registrations are deleted at month's end.]




  • May I add names culled from obituary lists?


    • No.

    purgatory.ca  is not an 'Obituary List' nor the classified obituary section of a newspaper.

    Our intention, beyond the necessary listing of names, is to provide a spiritual forum where the faithful may have their Beloveds prayed for by other generous souls.


  • I really do not like the idea of 'sponsoring' or 'adopting' anyone else. Is it really necessary?


    • The practice of 'sponsoring' another soul engages the virtues of compassion and generosity. It also contradicts worldly prudence since strangers (those we have not met) are truly our brothers and sisters.

    Business studies have shown that people are leery of 'freebies' since it is commonly held that anything given for 'free' has less value than something 'bought'.

    Applying this worldly logic to the Holy Souls advantage, you must 'pay' by 'sponsoring' another soul.


  • Should I enter the name of a person who had shown no outward sign of religion during their lifetime?


    • Our modern society attaches great importance to the notion of being 'non-judgmental'. This doctrine is derived from the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, we must discern between the doer of an act, and the acts that are evil.

    We cannot judge the heart of another, particularly in matters of faith. Simply put, judging is God's job; praying is ours. By all means, therefore, enter names of all you love and have known - your faith will grow, and they will be relieved by your prayers.




  • What is a 'Spiritual Bouquet'? How do I enter/send one?


    • A 'Spiritual Bouquet' is a note of condolence to the Sponsor of a Beloved indicating your intention to pray for their Beloved.

    The Spiritual Bouquet is listed with the Beloved's 'PrayerBook' and will include your name, city, and country plus whatever condolences and intentions you have entered.

    On your behalf, if you have elected to do so, we will forward your condolences and intentions to that Beloved's Sponsor. Otherwise the 'Spiritual Bouquet' will be printed in that Beloved's PrayerBook, and no email will be sent.

    To enter/send a 'Spiritual Bouquet', login and click 'Adopt a Soul'. After you have chosen the soul you wish to adopt, click 'Adopt and Add to PrayerBook' Follow the on-screen instructions.

    Should you wish us to forward an email to the Sponsor of the Beloved you have chosen, click 'Send Email'. (Your email address is not disclosed.)


  • Does a 'Spiritual Bouquet' need to be a lifetime commitment?


    • No. A 'Spiritual Bouquet' is a one-time note of condolence to the Sponsor of a Beloved indicating your intention to pray for their Beloved.

    It is totally voluntary. You decide how long you will pray for the Beloved you have chosen.

    Should you wish us to forward an email to the Sponsor of the Beloved you have chosen, click 'Send Email'. (Your email address is not disclosed.)


  • Last month I enrolled my Beloved without a Memoriam. Now I would like to add a Text Memoriam. Help?


    • A. To add a Text Memoriam WITHOUT a picture:

         Click on 'Add Memoriam' on your Login Confirmation page.
            
    1. On the next screen, select 'is enrolled' from the drop-down list, then 'Continue'
    2. Type the Surname (last name or family name) in the 'Search for Beloved'
    3. Select 'Memoriam without picture'
    4. Enter the Memoriam text.
    5. Later, should you wish to add a picture of your Beloved to their Text Memoriam,
      please see the next FAQ below.



    B. To add a Text Memoriam WITH a picture:

         Click on 'Add Memoriam' on your Login Confirmation page.
            
    1. On the next screen, select 'is enrolled' from the drop-down list, then 'Continue'
    2. Type the Surname (last name or family name) in the 'Search for Beloved'
    3. Select 'Memoriam with picture'
    4. Enter the Memoriam text.
    5. Select the picture you wish to upload from your file system.
      [Note: The file format must be in 'jpg/jpeg' format or it will be rejected]
    6. You may upload the picture of your Beloved immediately, or defer it to another session.
      If you defer, a button, 'Upload Picture Now', will remain on your Login Confirmation page.


    You will receive a confirmation email for any Memoriam that is placed.


  • I would like to add a picture to my Beloved's Text Memoriam. Help?


    • To add a picture to a Text Memoriam:

         Click on 'Add Picture to existing Text Memoriam' on your Login Confirmation page.
            
    1. Choose the picture you wish to upload from your file system.
      [Note: The file format must be in 'jpg/jpeg' format or it will be rejected]
    2. Match it to the Beloved's name
    3. Click 'Upload Picture Now'

      4.    (Click only once - you will be brought to your updated Memoriam when uploading is finished.)


  • I have just enrolled my Beloved, but it has not appeared in the 'View Beloveds' sidebar list nor on my 'Confirmation' page. Also, my login does not work anymore! What happened?


    • If your Beloved does not appear on the 'View Beloveds' or on the 'Confirmation' page, there have been errors in the enrollment of your Beloved. As an automatic safeguard to protect the integrity of the site, certain errors will cause your login to be de-activated.

    Please ensure that you have read the 'Notes' section on the 'Add Beloved' page.

    The most common error is the inclusion of punctuation marks in Names or City, as well as inclusion of email addresses or URLs in any field.

    The last area that causes errrors is the addition of a nickname. To add one, you must use only the 'First middle name' field, and enclose it with apostrophes (i.e., 'Joe')

    These errors will cause the 'Add Beloved' process to fail, without notification. We usually review our logs daily, so you may try again later, ensuring that you follow the 'Notes' guidelines.














General Questions





  • How do I submit a question?


    • To submit a question, simply go to 'FAQ-contact' and click the first email address for General enquiries.

    Please indicate whether you wish to receive a personal reply or a general answer that will be pubished in this FAQ.






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