Purgatorial Society established at St. Joseph’s, Devils Lake

“I can hardly wait to get to purgatory!” said nobody ever. Although the souls in Purgatory are assured of going to heaven, they must undergo purification, and therefore live in a state of yearning for heaven without knowing exactly when they will reach it.

The souls in purgatory are part of the Communion of Saints to which we on earth belong, and so the Church encourages us to pray for them. “From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God” (CCC 1032). As a way of actively participating in these sacrifices for the poor souls in purgatory, St. Joseph’s Church in Devils Lake has established the Diocese of Fargo’s first Purgatorial Society.

A Purgatorial Society is an association of Catholic lay people, religious, and/or priests who work together to assist the poor souls in purgatory through prayers and Masses for the dead and other acts of charity for their benefit. Father Chad Wilhelm, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Devils Lake, submitted the statutes of the proposed society for the approval of Bishop Folda, who gave his approbation on Oct. 18, the feast day of St. Luke. This means that all people who join the Purgatorial Society will receive an indulgence as they pray and offer sacrifices on behalf of the poor souls in purgatory.

Fittingly, the inaugural day of the Purgatorial Society was Nov. 2, the Feast of All Souls. Those who enrolled in the society at that time attended Mass and obligated themselves, without penalty of sin, to 1) attend four meetings annually, when possible; 2) include in their daily prayers a special prayer for the poor souls in purgatory; 3) receive a certificate stating that they are enrolled in St. Joseph’s Purgatorial Society; and 4) be willing, if asked, to offer a rosary before the funeral of Purgatorial Society members.

The next meeting and enrollment opportunity for parishioners of St. Joseph Church in Devils Lake is Jan. 15 at 3:30 p.m. It is our hope that more of our parishioners will join our Purgatorial Society and that more Purgatorial Societies will be established throughout the diocese.