In this episode of the Catholic Link podcast, Fr. Rob is once again joined by Fr. George Elliot and they discuss why do Catholics pray for the dead and how the prayers help them in purgatory. They reference 2 Maccabees 12:46 where it states "it is a holy and wholesome...
Purgatory
All Saints’ Day And All Souls’ Day: What’s the Difference?
All Saints’ Day is celebrated each year on November 1st and is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics of the Latin Rite. The following day, November 2nd, is All Souls’ Day. What are these? What is the difference between them? To begin, we really need to investigate...
The Holy Souls In Purgatory – Our Allies In The Afterlife
The word Purgatory comes from the Greek root πῦρ (“pur”) which means both “fire” and “pure.” This is a fitting description, as the fires of Purgatory, rather than destroying like the fires of Hell, instead purify. Purgatory is where we expiate for the pain due to...
2025 Catholic Monthly Devotions And An Inspirational Catholic Quote For Each Month
It is a tradition of the Catholic Church to observe a specific devotion during each month of the year. Here is the list of those devotions and a saint quote that will inspire you! 2025 Catholic Monthly Devotions January - The Holy Name of Jesus "The sweet name of...
Is Hell For Real?
Is Hell for Real? What kind of question is that? For those who embrace Catholicism, the answer is obvious: “yes.” But for a good portion of the Catholic world, the question smacks of medieval irrelevance. When is the last time...
Do Our Souls Go Straight To Heaven Or Hell When We Die?
St. Thomas Aquinas addresses this question in his Summa Theologica, and to reduce his nuanced arguments into one word – maybe. Thomas makes clear, in full accord with Scripture and Church teaching, that some souls do go straight to heaven or hell. Souls of those who...
Want To Request A Mass? Here’s How
Throughout the month of November, we look for ways to honor our deceased family members and friends. One of the best ways to do this is to have a mass offered on their behalf. Why have a Mass offered? Simply put, it's the greatest form of prayer we have available to...
Do You Have Too Much Stuff? What The Minimalism Movement Has To Do With Purgatory
The minimalist movement is a refreshing trend in modern society. It’s a turning away from the mentality of Madonna’s “Material Girl” and turning towards a less wasteful, less consumerist mentality. Some are more extreme about it than others. This movement can manifest...
Confused By Purgatory? Fr. Mike Schmitz Explains All!
Purgatory is one doctrine that gets a lot of criticism from non-Catholic Christians, and confuses Catholics too. What's the deal with it?! Why do we need it, and where did it come from? This excellent video from Fr. Mike Schmitz at Ascension Presents cuts through the...
Coping With The Sting Of Death During A Season Of Joy
The death of a loved one leaves an indelible mark upon your heart, and forevermore there is something that you carry around with you; it can feel heavy, or dark, and it’s especially around festive periods that the loss can feel most prevalent. As families come...
You’re Dead. Now What? A Catholic Catechesis On The Afterlife
Outside da Box releases a video dealing with the afterlife. While it's not a very popular subject– that is when it isn't being ridiculed or reduced to a simply sentimental matter– how we understand the event called death and what follows after it is extremely...