Angelus News | July 12, 2024 | Vol. 9 No. 14

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Altar artwork depicting purgatory in Iglesia de la Concepción, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. | WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Masses for the dead. Tertullian, a North African Christian who lived in the late 100s, said it is the duty of every widow to pray for her deceased husband. “Indeed, she prays for his soul, and requests refreshment for him … and she offers her sacrifice on the anniversaries of his falling asleep.” The doctrine continues in the writings of St. Perpetua, St. Cyprian, St. Clement of Alexandria, Origen, St. Ambrose, and especially St. Augustine, who observed that “this usage is clear of the whole Church … that in the prayers of the priest which are offered to the Lord God at his altar, the commendation of the dead has also its place.” In the Roman catacombs, ancient graffiti, and inscriptions beg prayers on behalf of the dead: “If any of the brethren reads this, let him ask that this holy and innocent soul may be received by God.” St. Pope Gregory the Great, at the end of the sixth century, applied the word “purgatory” to the state of final purification after death and before entrance into heaven. Like the word “Trinity,” it does not appear in the Bible, but it is implicit in both the Old Testament and the New and confirmed by the beliefs and practices of the early Church. Gradually, the Church makes explicit what is implicit in Sacred Scripture. This is called the development of doctrine, and it was practiced by Christians from the beginning. No, Dante did not invent purgatory in the 14th century. He did something better. In this matter as in many others, he gave deeply memorable imaginative expression to the constant doctrine of the Church. Mike Aquilina is a contributing editor to Angelus News and the author of many books, including “The Fathers of the Church” (Our Sunday Visitor, $18.95). What do Catholics believe about purgatory? Poets and mystics have left us vivid and detailed descriptions of purgatory, but these are metaphorical. Since purgatory is a spiritual state, it can only be described by analogy with temporal, tangible things. The Church’s official doctrine on the matter, expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is fairly minimal. — All sins, even “smaller” sins, manifest an unhealthy preference of created things over God. Thus they must be purified either on earth or after death in purgatory (Catechism, 1472). — The suffering in purgatory is entirely different from the punishment of the damned (Catechism, 1031). — The punishment of purgatory is not a kind of vengeance inflicted by God. It is a consequence following from the very nature of sin (Catechism, 1472). — Purgatory is “a state of final purification after death and before entrance into heaven for those who died in God’s friendship, but were only imperfectly purified.” It’s “a final cleansing of human imperfection before one is able to enter the joy of heaven” (Catechism, glossary). — Through indulgences the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in purgatory (Catechism, 1498). — We on earth share one Church with the souls in purgatory and the saints in heaven. We are joined by “a perennial link of charity.” Thus we can share the burdens of those who are being purified (Catechism, 1475). — Mike Aquilina 12 • ANGELUS • July 12, 2024
2024 Catholic Media Awards Angelus was honored with a total of 22 awards from the Catholic Media Association for work published in 2023. FIRST PLACE Best Writing — In-Depth “Searching for ‘Saint’ Charlene” by Rafael Alvarez Best Newsletter Always Forward Best Regular Column — Art, Leisure, Culture, and Food “Desire Lines” by Heather King Best Regular Column — General Commentary “Intersections” by Greg Erlandson SECOND PLACE Best Guest Column/Commentary “The Currency of the Heart” by Jennifer Hubbard Best Regular Column — Family Life “With Grace” by Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie Best Essay — Diocesan Magazine “The Benedict Generation” by Elise Italiano Ureneck Best Original Poetry “From guilt to grace” by Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie Best Writing — Analysis “A mystery mission” by John L. Allen Jr. THIRD PLACE Best Essay — Diocesan Magazine “Here come the ‘Tradwives’ ” by Elise Italiano Ureneck Best Reporting on Catholic Education “Small school, big difference” by Ann Rodgers Best Review “A self-conscious quest” (Review of “Barbie”) by Joseph Joyce HONORABLE MENTION Editor of the Year Pablo Kay Best Reporting of the Celebration of a Sacrament “The Eucharist: When God gets close” by Mike Aquilina Best Magazine Angelus Best Cover — Color “The genius of St. Thérèse” by Jacob Popcak Best Coverage — Disaster or Crisis “Mourning a peacemaker” by Pablo Kay; “Asking for answers” by Tom Hoffarth; “Signs to carry on” by Ann Rodgers Best Essay — Diocesan Magazine “St. Thérèse of Lisieux: A giant for the small ones” by Father Peter Cameron, OP Best Interview “A shepherd at the end of the world” by Pablo Kay Best Reporting on Vocations “Saying Goodbye to ‘Uncle Dave’ ” by Pablo Kay Best Review “A messy machine story” (Review of “Mrs. Davis”) by Amy Welborn Best Directory Archdiocese of Los Angeles Catholic Directory (2023-2024) July 12, 2024 • ANGELUS • 13
Page 1 and 2: ANGELUS SAVING PURGATORY Is it real
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Pope Watch................
Page 5 and 6: NEW WORLD OF FAITH ARCHBISHOP JOS
Page 7 and 8: NATION ■ Let Rupnik’s art be, V
Page 9 and 10: V IN OTHER WORDS... Letters to the
Page 12 and 13: Purgatory and the poet “Dante Ali
Page 16 and 17: Kathleen Anderson sits inside St. C
Page 18 and 19: LA Archdiocese parish leadership as
Page 20 and 21: Hundreds of parishioners walked wit
Page 22 and 23: Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the
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Page 26 and 27: AD REM ROBERT BRENNAN America’s
Page 28 and 29: NOW PLAYING INSIDE OUT 2 WHEN ANXI
Page 30 and 31: Promotional image for the final sea
Page 32 and 33: DESIRE LINES HEATHER KING A playwr
Page 34 and 35: LETTER AND SPIRIT SCOTT HAHN Scott

Angelus News | July 12, 2024 | Vol. 9 No. 14

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