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[Catholic Caucus] Otherworldly Visitors: The Museum of PurgatoryDuring one of her long vigils, on the night of Thursday, November 1 to 2, 1731, the sensation of warmth suddenly intensified. For that autumn period, this was unusual even in that part of Umbria in Italy. Slightly intrigued, but rather prepared for who knows what new temptations from the powers of darkness, Clara continued her prayer with even more fervor. Towards midnight, as her confessor at that time, Fr. Isidoro Gazata of the Blessed Crucifix, later recounted, she received an unexpected visit. A soul from Purgatory...Although it has never encouraged tales of...

[Catholic Caucus] Praying for the Dead: Duty and PrivilegeMy mom had a strong devotion to the holy souls and prayed for them often. Even before she became ill, she would tell us to make sure that the priest who buried her did not eulogize about her saintliness. She was brought up to believe that Catholics had a duty to pray for the dead, and not only was it our obligation; it was our privilege.Straight-to-Heaven-for-All Illusion Dutch psychologist Gerard van den Aardweg, author of Hungry Souls: Supernatural Visits, Messages and Warnings From Purgatory (Tan, 2009), thinks Catholics today have a general...

[Catholic Caucus] ‘Miraculous’ Novena to Protect From Papal Confusion Faithful Catholics pray Francis 'does not take us over the brink' DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) - Faithful Catholics will be praying during the month of November in the hope that Pope Francis will uphold Church teaching. Across the world, the faithful have been scandalized by the Amazon Synod in Rome. The release of the synod's final document has been heavily criticized by bishops and faithful alike for its focus on liberation theology, its pushing of paganism and women's ordination, and for the ensuing confusion that it's created.  Though synod fathers are recommending these changes, it is up to Pope...

The idea of Purgatory as an intermediary state between Heaven and Hell is one of the most misunderstood and occasionally ridiculed aspects of Catholic doctrine. Though it is common for Protestants and even some Catholics to assume that Purgatory has no foundation in Sacred Scripture, that claim is actually false. The need for Purgatory developed from a close reading of Scripture by the Fathers of the Church, and the concept has a provenance stretching back to the earliest days of the Church. Furthermore, it has come to my attention recently that the Orthodox have a similar understanding of the need...

[Catholic/Devotional Caucus] Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory DE PROFUNDISOut of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord: Lord hear my voice. Let Thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities; Lord, who shall stand it? For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on His word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning-watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is...

Hungry Souls (a bit of a review) Posted on 20 August 2010 by becomewhatyouare I can’t remember where I first saw a reference to the book, Hungry Souls – Supernatural Visits, Messages and Warnings from Purgatory. I saw it mentioned in a few places and what I read was enough to make me decide I wanted to read it.I was surprised by the quality of the (physical) book. Being published by TAN, I didn’t expect much by way of paper and binding quality. This book is as well made as any Ignatius book I own. I noticed that St. Benedict Press...

If you go to Rome, you can visit the Piccolo Museo del Purgatorio. Google it and look at some more of the very interesting pictures. People have come back from purgatory to burn their hand prints into prayer books, and clothing. Talk about proof of the fire of purgatory. Yet most people do nothing for the souls of our loved ones suffering there. So today we had a Holy Latin Requiem Mass for All Souls.

One major difference between Protestants and Catholics is that Catholics pray for the dead. As Cardinal Ratzinger said so well, "My view is that if Purgatory did not exist, we should have to invent it." Why? "Because few things are as immediate, as human and as widespread - at all times and in all cultures - as prayer for one's own departed dear ones." Calvin, the Protestant reformer of Geneva, had a woman whipped because she was discovered praying at the grave of her son and hence was guilty, according to Calvin, of "superstition." "In theory, the Reformation refuses...