“Modesty warns of imminent danger, prevents exposure to it, and compels flight in certain situations. Modesty dislikes crude and vulgar language and detests all immodest conduct, even the slightest; it carefully avoids suspicious familiarity with persons of the opposite sex, because it fills the soul with a profound respect for the body, which is a member of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 6:15) and a temple of the Holy Spirit.”
Pope Pius XII, Encyclical “Sacra virginitas”.
.jpeg)
Father Giuseppe Tomaselli recounts an experience he had with his own deceased mother:
“My mother was a great example, and I owe my priestly vocation to her in large part. She went to Mass and received Communion every day, even in her old age. She never stopped praying the Rosary. Charitable, to the point of losing an eye while performing a great act of charity for a poor woman. Always in accordance with God’s will, so much so that when my father lay dead in our house, when I asked myself, ‘What can I say to Jesus at this moment to please Him?’ she told me to repeat, ‘Lord, Thy will be done.’ On her deathbed, she received the Last Rites with fervent faith.” A few hours before her death, suffering greatly, she repeated: “Oh Jesus, I would like to ask you to lessen my sufferings! But I do not want to oppose your will; do your will!” Thus died the woman who brought me into this world.
Keeping very mindful of Divine Justice, and paying little attention to the praise that acquaintances and even priests might offer my mother, I intensified the prayers for her soul. I offered a great number of Holy Masses, many works of charity, and wherever I preached, I exhorted the faithful to offer Communion, prayers, and good works for her soul.
Two and a half years after her death, she suddenly appeared here in my room, looking very sad, and the following conversation took place:
“You left me in Purgatory!”
“Have you been in Purgatory all this time?”
“And I still am! My soul is surrounded by darkness, and I cannot see the Light, which is God!” I am at the gates of Paradise, close to eternal joy, and the desire to enter it tears at me, but I cannot! How often I have said: If my children knew my terrible torment, they would come quickly to my aid!
"And why didn't you come sooner to tell me?"
"I wasn't allowed."
"Haven't you seen the Lord yet?"
"As soon as I breathed my last, I saw God, but not in all His light."
"What can we do to free you immediately?"
"I only need a Mass. God has allowed me to come and ask for it."
"As soon as you enter Heaven, come back and tell me!"
"If the Lord permits! What light! What splendor!"
Two Masses were celebrated, and a few days later he appeared again and said, "I am in Paradise!"
Reflecting on what I have said, I tell myself: she led such an exemplary Christian life, and so many prayers were offered for her soul... and yet she remained in Purgatory for two and a half years! Our judgments are so mistaken!
-----
Let us continue to pray fervently for our deceased, even if they seemed very holy, lest we leave them in Purgatory for too long, thinking they are already in Heaven.
Blessed be Jesus and Mary.
Most Holy Virgin, Mother of God, look with kindness from heaven, where you reign, upon this wretched sinner, your servant. Aware of his unworthiness, in reparation for the offenses committed against you by impious and blasphemous tongues, from the depths of his heart he blesses and exalts you as the purest, the most beautiful, and the holiest of all creatures.
Bless your holy name, bless your sublime prerogatives as true Mother of God, ever-Virgin, conceived without stain of sin, as Co-Redemptrix of the human race. Bless the Eternal Father, who chose you in a special way as his Daughter; bless the Incarnate Word, who, by assuming human nature in your most pure womb, made you his Mother; Bless the Holy Spirit, who chose you as His Spouse. Bless, exalt, and give thanks to the august Trinity who chose you and favored you so much that He raised you above all creatures to the most sublime heights.
O holy and merciful Virgin, implore the repentance of your offenders and accept this small homage from your servant, obtaining also for him, from your divine Son, the forgiveness of his sins. Amen.
On January 22, 1914, Pope Saint Pius X granted that the faithful Christians who recite this prayer with a contrite and devout heart may obtain an indulgence of one hundred days, applicable also to the deceased. This indulgence is valid in perpetuity and without the need for a brief dispensation.
Source: https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-06-1914-ocr.pdf (pages 108-109).
Pius XI: "O Mother of piety and mercy, who accompanied your sweet Son as he accomplished on the altar of the cross the redemption of the human race, as our co-redemptrix, associated with his sufferings...! Preserve in us and increase each day, we beseech you, the precious fruits of redemption and of your compassion." (Radio Message, April 28, 1935).
Saint Pius X: "The consequence of this communion of feelings and sufferings between Mary and Jesus is that Mary merited to be the most worthy redemptrix of the lost world and, therefore, the dispenser of all the treasures that Jesus won for us with his death and his blood." (Ad diem illud, February 2, 1904).
- On November 2nd, or the following day if it falls on a Sunday, by going to a church or public or semi-public oratory and praying an Our Father, the Apostles' Creed, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be for the intentions of the Roman Pontiff.
- From November 1st to 8th, by visiting a cemetery and praying a prayer for the deceased and, in addition, for the intentions of the Roman Pontiff (Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be).
According to the Dictionary of Catholic Theology, the intentions of the Roman Pontiff do not refer to the Pope's personal intentions but to the following:
- Exaltation of the Holy Catholic Church
- Eradication of heresies
- Propagation of the faith
- Conversion of sinners
- Peace and concord among Christian princes (rulers)
- The other goods of the Christian people
General Norms Regarding Indulgences
Indulgences, both partial and plenary, may be applied to the deceased as a form of suffrage. However, no one may apply the indulgences they gain to other living persons.
To gain indulgences, the following conditions are required: having received baptism, not being excommunicated, being in a state of grace (at least upon completion of the prescribed works), and being subject to the jurisdiction of the one who grants the indulgences. Furthermore, one must have the intention, at least in general, of gaining them. And it is necessary that the prescribed works be performed in the time and manner established in the grant.
A plenary indulgence may be gained only once a day. However, the faithful may gain the indulgence "in articulo mortis" even if they have already gained another plenary indulgence that same day.
A partial indulgence may be gained several times a day, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
To gain a plenary indulgence, the prescribed work must be performed, and in addition, three other conditions must be met: 1. Confession (on that date or one week before or after). 2. Sacramental Communion (which, as is the law, must always be received in a state of grace, after making a good Confession if there has been mortal sin). 3. Prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. 4. It is also indicated that all inclination to sin, even venial sin, must be excluded.
If this full disposition is lacking, or if the aforementioned conditions are not met, the indulgence will be only partial.
Several plenary indulgences can be obtained through a single sacramental confession. However, a single Eucharistic communion and a single prayer according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff can only be obtained through a single plenary indulgence.
The condition of praying according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff is fully met by reciting, according to his intentions, one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
An indulgence cannot be obtained through a work that one is already obligated to perform by law or precept, unless the granting of the indulgence expressly states otherwise. Nevertheless, one who performs a work imposed as sacramental penance can simultaneously satisfy the penance and obtain any indulgence attached to that work.
-oOo-
"You can't dress your children up as demons and then ask God to protect them": Angel Salguero
The Word of God clearly teaches that God's children must flee from every appearance of evil:
"Abstain from every form of evil."
(1 Thessalonians 5:22)
And also:
"Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
(Ephesians 5:11)
From childhood, Christians are called to identify with the light, not with the darkness. In the Bible, death, demons, evil spirits, and ghosts are not games or neutral symbols: they represent spiritual realities contrary to God, which deceive, frighten, or confuse.
"The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
"The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
Therefore, even if the costume seems "just for fun," what is depicted has a spiritual significance. Jesus never took the devil's doings lightly; he always confronted them with authority and truth (cf. Mark 1:23-27).
* DOCTRINE đ»đŠ
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2116-2117) teaches that anything that seeks to familiarize or sympathize with the occult, the demonic, death, or divination is contrary to the Christian faith.
Although a costume is not in itself sinful, the intention and the message matter: what are we teaching a child when we dress them up as a demon, a skull, or a spirit?
The Magisterium reminds us that we must form consciences from a young age, educating them in goodness, purity, beauty, and light. If we accustom children to trivializing evil, we deprive them of spiritual sensitivity to real evil.
From the earliest centuries, the Church celebrated November 1st as All Saints' Day, precisely to counter the ancient pagan festivals that venerated the dead or spirits.
Christians dressed their children as saints, angels, or heroes of the faith, to teach them that true triumph lies not in fear or darkness, but in Christ's victory over death:
Clothing children as saints is to teach them the path of holiness; clothing them with darkness, even for fun, is spiritual confusion.
* EXORCISTICS ✍️
"The devil does not need to be invoked, only to be imitated with pleasure."
* EXORCIST ✍️
When a child dresses up as a demon or spirit, even without intending to invoke anything, they open themselves up to an influence contrary to their spiritual innocence, especially if there is an atmosphere of fear, games with the dead, black candles, rituals, or scary pranks.
For this reason, exorcists recommend reclaiming the feast for Christ, teaching children to celebrate life, holiness, light, and heaven, not darkness or death.
* RECOMMENDATIONS ✅
It's not about condemning or scaring, but about spiritual education with discernment.
You can tell parents and catechists:
“Let's not deprive children of joy, but let's protect them from that which distorts their faith.”
Instead, let's organize ‘Saints' Day Celebrations,’ where children dress up as their favorite saint, pray, play games, and learn about eternal life.
Let's explain that fear doesn't come from God, but from the enemy who seeks to steal our peace.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
(2 Timothy 1:7)
No, it's not appropriate for children to dress up as the dead, demons, or ghosts, because even if it seems harmless, it educates the imagination in ways contrary to the Gospel.
Christians don't glorify death or play with evil: they proclaim life, light, and holiness.
The best costume a Catholic child can wear is that of purity and grace, remembering that heaven is full of heroes dressed in white.
“They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
(Revelation 7:14)
Posts
All Comments
