What Happens When A Good Catholic Friend Dies??

 First, we mourn.  Next, we pray for our deceased friend's soul, that Our good Lord will have mercy on her and welcome her into His kingdom.

Is that all that we do when a faithful wife, mother, charitable Catholic goes to her judgment?

No.

For one thing, we miss her; we will always remember her; we continue to pray for her.

We are glad, in a sense, that she is no longer suffering in this life, hoping that she has completely paid for any remaining debt of the temporal punishment to sins forgiven.   This is especially true because she received the great sacrament of Extreme Unction (the last rites of the church).

Am I presuming that she is, or will be in Heaven?  No, not at all, but we can recognize that the special graces given to the dying Catholic are real and indicate a sign of salvation.   If that is the case, then the church teaches that she does not have to spend any time at all, in Purgatory.   None!

The great promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary -- the Mother of Christ, Our Lord -- to those who were dedicated to Her in this life, can be believed, especially when one wears the Brown Scapular at their death...

Then what?

We can start to pray to her as an intercessor for us!

She was as a martyr; persevering in the Faith to the very end, attaining that treasured prize -- the crown of eternal life -- for the one who finishes the race (St. Paul).

For now, the family and friends of Theresa are saddened by her passing, but we can also be confident of where she will eventually be, if not already there: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV)...

We should continue to pray for our dear friend, and, in turn, she will pray for us as we continue our journey through this veil of tears...

Strength and honor!

Viva Cristo Rey!  Fr. Miguel Pro, pray for us...

Gene DeLalla