Podcast Episode Details

The Poor/Holy Souls and Purgatory – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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The Poor/Holy Souls and Purgatory – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor discuss the significance of All Souls’ Day and the theology of purgatory. The deep connection Catholics share with the souls in purgatory, who are part of the larger body of Christ. He describes his personal practice of praying for those he’s known who have passed, recalling their names and lifting them in prayer during Mass. The Church provides special graces on All Souls’ Day to pray for these “holy souls,” who yearn to be with God but require purification.

The process of purgation as a cleansing fire, likening it to the Sacred Heart’s fire that purifies the soul’s imperfections, drawing it closer to God’s perfect love. This fire is not only for the souls in purgatory but is present throughout the Christian life, in trials and sufferings that refine believers. He reflects on Jesus as an anchor for the souls, grounding them in hope and drawing them closer to heaven. Msgr. Esseff invites listeners to pray for the dead, encouraging them to recall and “remember” those they love, trusting in God’s mercy and the promise of eternal life.

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Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

1. Union with the Holy Souls: How can I deepen my relationship with the souls in purgatory through prayer and remembrance?
2. Understanding Purgation as Divine Love: In what ways do I see God’s purifying love working in my own life?
3. Embracing the Fire of the Sacred Heart: How can I open myself more fully to God’s love that refines and transforms?
4. Contemplating Life after Death: What beliefs do I hold about purgatory, and how do they shape my prayers for the deceased?
5. Reflecting on Baptism and Eternal Life: How does my baptismal identity anchor my hope in the resurrection and eternal life?
6. Offering Prayers and Sacrifices: What specific actions can I take today to pray for the souls in purgatory and support their journey to heaven?
7. Facing Death without Fear: How can I grow in trust and confidence in God’s love, freeing myself from fear of death?
8. Interceding for Family and Friends: Who in my life, living or deceased, needs my prayers, and how can I actively remember them today?
9. Living the Paschal Mystery: How am I experiencing the cycles of suffering, death, and resurrection in my spiritual journey?
10. Recognizing God’s Mercy for All Souls: How does God’s desire for everyone’s salvation influence the way I pray and hope for others, even those who struggled in life?

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Reading 1 Wis 3:1-9

“The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away

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Published on 1 day, 13 hours ago