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I learned that my best childhood friend recently took his own life. He was cremated and a Memorial Mass was held for him in a Catholic Church.
Is it okay that I submitted his name for the All Soul's Day Mass celebration?
Michael
{
Is it all right that I submitted the name, of a friend who took his life, for the All Soul's Day Mass? }
Paul replied:
Dear Michael,
My condolences on your friend. What you did was fine.
Neither we, nor the Church, as a whole, can judge exactly where souls go after death, even for suicide victims. That judgment is only God's domain. If a suicide victim performs the act with a clear mind, out of malice, it is difficult to see how they have not rejected God and His good gift of life. However, the mental state at the time might cloud the mind or coerce the will beyond making a free and deliberate decision, lessening or eradicating potential culpability.
The bottom line is only God knows their internal state at the time and their level of culpability.
What you did was commendable!
Peace,
Paul
Mike replied:
Dear Michael,
Just to clarify Paul's good answer a bit, he said: Neither we, nor the Church, as a whole, can judge exactly where souls go after death, even for suicide victims.
He correct that we cannot judge but the Catechism tells us where they go or what happens:
1021 Death puts an end to human
life as the time open to either
accepting or rejecting the divine
grace manifested in Christ. (cf. 2 Timothy 1:9-10) The
New Testament speaks of judgment
primarily in its aspect of the
final encounter with Christ in
his second coming, but also repeatedly
affirms that each will be rewarded
immediately after death in accordance
with his works and faith. The
parable of the poor man Lazarus
and the words of Christ on the
cross to the good thief, as well
as other New Testament texts speak
of a final destiny of the soul
— a destiny which can be
different for some and for others. (cf. Luke 16:22; 23:43; Matthew 16:26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 9:27; 12:23)
1022 Each man receives his eternal
retribution in his immortal soul
at the very moment of his death,
in a particular judgment that
refers his life to Christ: either
entrance into the blessedness
of Heaven-through a purification or immediately — or
immediate and everlasting
damnation. (cf. Council of Lyons II (1274):DS 857-858; Council of Florence (1439):DS 1304- 1306; Council of Trent (1563):DS 1820; Pope Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336):DS 1000-1002; John XXII, Ne super his (1334):DS 990)
At the evening of life, we shall
be judged on our love. (St. John of the Cross, Dichos 64)
As Paul implied, no one can judge another person's Particular Judgment. That judgment is between the Lord and the person who took his own life.
I agree with Paul, that what you did was commendable. You can do even more for him and others, if you want, by praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Souls in Purgatory are blessed souls that have been saved by the blood of the Lamb but have not been completely purified.
Souls in Purgatory (as in Heaven) are souls that are very much alive in Christ. They (Souls in Purgatory) can pray for us but they cannot pray for their own purification.
This is where we can help.
Start a Purgatory Prayer Program on a monthly basis in your area. I can send you a Free Kit from my other Apostolate: Helpers of the Holy Souls, GET YOURS TODAY!
Hope this helps,
Mike
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