| "This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true." John 21:24 |
| Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving On the Occasion Of Diaconal Ordination 2 Maccabees 12:43-46; Psalm 143; John 17:24-26 “In Remembrance and Supplication” October 6, 2006 Sacred Heart of the Sufferance Catholic Church Rome, Italy The Rev. Mr. Jeffrey Kirby |
A an elderly woman arrived at the front steps of her local church. There were several steps, and so she asked a young man close by,
“Excuse, Sir, could you help me up the steps?” Each step was difficult for her, but she slowly made her way up to the church’s man door.
Once she arrived she thanked the young man, and innocently asked, “Sir, do you know who’s preaching today?” The young man was
excited, and responded, “One of those new transitional deacons from Rome.” The old woman looked at the young man, and politely asked,
“Excuse me, Sir, could you help me down the steps?”
I hope that no one here will have such a response after hearing this first liturgical homily from this transitional deacon.
Yesterday, many of us had the opportunity to tour and pray in the Catacomb of Priscilla. There, we recounted the martyrs and saints, the
glorious members of the Church in heaven. We recalled these heroic older brothers and sisters, and reminded ourselves of their enduring
presence among us, and of their total willingness to intercede for us and help us to come closer to the Lord Jesus.
Still in the company of this cloud of witnesses above, we assemble here today to remember another portion of Christ’s Church: the members
in purgatory. We congregate today for the holy Sacrifice in this beautiful, neo-Gothic church dedicated to the Sacred Heart for the
consolation of the poor souls in purgatory. In thanksgiving for a call to the diaconate, and a mutual call to discipleship, we remember these
members of the Church and offer them our prayers.
But what is purgatory? And why run the risk of dampening our festive gathering here in Rome by talking of such a place?
It’s worth noting that Pope Leo XIII, the pope who ushered in the twentieth-century, on the occasion of his 50th Anniversary of priesthood,
the pope offered all the graces and favors of the anniversary year to the souls in purgatory. He exhorted the faithful of his age, and ours, to –
what he called – an “apostolic duty of charity,” to remember the poor souls. He wrote, “We think we can give them no more useful and
desirable pledge of Our love than by everywhere increasing the offering of pure libation for them.”
But what is purgatory? Some might suspect that it’s a foreign, pagan insertion into the Gospel; others might argue that it’s an imposing of
our human sense of law and punishment onto God, or that it is a sacrilegious system of redemption independent of the Cross of Christ; still
others might think that it’s a medieval superstition and fear tactic that was exposed at the Reformation and is best abandoned to history; and,
still, a few others might consider it as a mere exaggeration of good will or sentimentality.
Is purgatory an affront to God’s mercy, and a scandalous attempt at self-redemption on the part of humanity? Is it a superstition in league
with ghosts and astrology?
No, to believe in purgatory is to understand the constitution of the Church by Christ, her divine Founder. To believe in purgatory and pray for
the dead is to understand the fullness of our privilege as baptized Christians, and to accept and apply all the merits of Christ’s Passion, Death,
and Resurrection. Simply put, purgatory is the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ washing the human person clean of all temporal punishment
and venial sins before entering the All-Holy Presence of God. By analogy, it’s like the shower we’re asked to take before jumping into a
swimming pool. It gets us ready, it cleans us up for the party.
Purgatory is not a “second chance.” If one dies away from the Lord, either by mortal sin or negligence, at the time of his or her death,
purgatory is not for them. Purgatory is for those who have chosen the Lord and have sought to follow him, and who just need some washing
before entering Heaven. Purgatory is not a plea bargain to maybe sneak in, or twist God’s arm. Purgatory is for those who have accepted
and desired to cooperate with God’s grace throughout their lives.
Purgatory, however, is not a vacuum. Our loved ones in purgatory are not blocked from us. We pray for one another, and make intercession
for one another here on earth. Who among us would refuse to pray for a friend (or, as Christians, for an enemy)? And our capacity to pray
continues even after death. We can continue to pray for our loved ones who might be in purgatory. Our prayers console them and assist
God in his work of purification. Who among us would refuse this charity to our beloved dead?
We must remind ourselves that Jesus Christ is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the Lord of the living, not of the dead. We see
throughout the Old Testament, petitions and prayers being offered for the dead. In Jesus’ on earthly life, as a devout Jew, he would have
regularly prayed for the dead.
In constituting his Church, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the covenant of Israel, and by his Resurrection from the dead and the establishment of a
new and eternal covenant, he gave a renewed grace and power to our prayers for those who have passed away.
The Lord Jesus made his Church one and arranged it in such a way that we are still all dependent upon each other. By Jesus’ commission
and the power of the Holy Spirit, we receive the prayers of the saints and those in Purgatory receive the charity of our prayers. The people of
God are one Body each helping the other in Jesus Christ.
“Excuse, Sir, could you help me up the steps?” Each step was difficult for her, but she slowly made her way up to the church’s man door.
Once she arrived she thanked the young man, and innocently asked, “Sir, do you know who’s preaching today?” The young man was
excited, and responded, “One of those new transitional deacons from Rome.” The old woman looked at the young man, and politely asked,
“Excuse me, Sir, could you help me down the steps?”
I hope that no one here will have such a response after hearing this first liturgical homily from this transitional deacon.
Yesterday, many of us had the opportunity to tour and pray in the Catacomb of Priscilla. There, we recounted the martyrs and saints, the
glorious members of the Church in heaven. We recalled these heroic older brothers and sisters, and reminded ourselves of their enduring
presence among us, and of their total willingness to intercede for us and help us to come closer to the Lord Jesus.
Still in the company of this cloud of witnesses above, we assemble here today to remember another portion of Christ’s Church: the members
in purgatory. We congregate today for the holy Sacrifice in this beautiful, neo-Gothic church dedicated to the Sacred Heart for the
consolation of the poor souls in purgatory. In thanksgiving for a call to the diaconate, and a mutual call to discipleship, we remember these
members of the Church and offer them our prayers.
But what is purgatory? And why run the risk of dampening our festive gathering here in Rome by talking of such a place?
It’s worth noting that Pope Leo XIII, the pope who ushered in the twentieth-century, on the occasion of his 50th Anniversary of priesthood,
the pope offered all the graces and favors of the anniversary year to the souls in purgatory. He exhorted the faithful of his age, and ours, to –
what he called – an “apostolic duty of charity,” to remember the poor souls. He wrote, “We think we can give them no more useful and
desirable pledge of Our love than by everywhere increasing the offering of pure libation for them.”
But what is purgatory? Some might suspect that it’s a foreign, pagan insertion into the Gospel; others might argue that it’s an imposing of
our human sense of law and punishment onto God, or that it is a sacrilegious system of redemption independent of the Cross of Christ; still
others might think that it’s a medieval superstition and fear tactic that was exposed at the Reformation and is best abandoned to history; and,
still, a few others might consider it as a mere exaggeration of good will or sentimentality.
Is purgatory an affront to God’s mercy, and a scandalous attempt at self-redemption on the part of humanity? Is it a superstition in league
with ghosts and astrology?
No, to believe in purgatory is to understand the constitution of the Church by Christ, her divine Founder. To believe in purgatory and pray for
the dead is to understand the fullness of our privilege as baptized Christians, and to accept and apply all the merits of Christ’s Passion, Death,
and Resurrection. Simply put, purgatory is the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ washing the human person clean of all temporal punishment
and venial sins before entering the All-Holy Presence of God. By analogy, it’s like the shower we’re asked to take before jumping into a
swimming pool. It gets us ready, it cleans us up for the party.
Purgatory is not a “second chance.” If one dies away from the Lord, either by mortal sin or negligence, at the time of his or her death,
purgatory is not for them. Purgatory is for those who have chosen the Lord and have sought to follow him, and who just need some washing
before entering Heaven. Purgatory is not a plea bargain to maybe sneak in, or twist God’s arm. Purgatory is for those who have accepted
and desired to cooperate with God’s grace throughout their lives.
Purgatory, however, is not a vacuum. Our loved ones in purgatory are not blocked from us. We pray for one another, and make intercession
for one another here on earth. Who among us would refuse to pray for a friend (or, as Christians, for an enemy)? And our capacity to pray
continues even after death. We can continue to pray for our loved ones who might be in purgatory. Our prayers console them and assist
God in his work of purification. Who among us would refuse this charity to our beloved dead?
We must remind ourselves that Jesus Christ is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the Lord of the living, not of the dead. We see
throughout the Old Testament, petitions and prayers being offered for the dead. In Jesus’ on earthly life, as a devout Jew, he would have
regularly prayed for the dead.
In constituting his Church, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the covenant of Israel, and by his Resurrection from the dead and the establishment of a
new and eternal covenant, he gave a renewed grace and power to our prayers for those who have passed away.
The Lord Jesus made his Church one and arranged it in such a way that we are still all dependent upon each other. By Jesus’ commission
and the power of the Holy Spirit, we receive the prayers of the saints and those in Purgatory receive the charity of our prayers. The people of
God are one Body each helping the other in Jesus Christ.