Rare chance: Make sure your departed reaches Heaven this November

We can sensibly greet our departed “Happy birthday in Heaven” on Facebook probably only after this November, depending on us. In the meantime, there are chances we are merely self-indulging at the expense of our dearest departed when assuming they died saints and therefore flew directly to Heaven. Picking up from revelations from Marian apparitions, they are likely still lingering in Purgatory and are being extremely annoyed by our heavenly birthday

gr eet i n gs.

What’s offing this November? A not-so-ordinary chance to make sense of that familiar Facebook birthday missive.

The Vatican News has reported that “by the special mandate of His Holiness Pope Francis”, the Apostolic Penitentiary has released some changes to the normal practices this November, the month of all saints and all sou l s’ days.

The Decree containing these modifications was signed on 22 October, the liturgical memorial of Pope St John Paul II and grants every one the chance to grant plenary indulgence for their departed anytime throughout November.

Remember plenary and partial indulgences taught in our religion or catechism classes? We were taught that every sin, even those already forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, demands retribution or punishment either in this earthly life or in Purgatory or both. Plenary indulgence cancels all due punishment, while partial erases, well, part of the due retribution.

Every sin leaves some stain and no stain, which is imperfection, can enter perfect Heaven, so there is need for purgation or, to put it another way, a Zonrox.

But the Catholic Church provides indulgences that can apply to us or to our departed who are still facing retribution in Purgatory.