My 101 Reasons for Leaving the Catholic Church:
All Souls Day
What it is:
All Souls’ Day is a day for Catholics to commemorate the faithful departed. The date of the feast is November 2. Special prayers for the dead are offered. The Church teaches that "the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from VENIAL SINS, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, almsdeeds and especially by the SACRIFICE OF THE MASS." Because the Mass is deemed so helpful in the purging of souls, Pope Benedict XV granted that on All Souls’ Day the priest has the privilege of celebrating three masses. This is the only day other than Christmas that multiple masses are celebrated.
The Catholic Church teaches that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was effective in the removal of the guilt of sin for those who die in a state of grace, but the temporal punishment for sin must be atoned for by the sinner either in this life, or in PENANCE. On All Soul’s Day, a plenary INDULGENCE is available for a visit to a church or oratory. The Church also grants a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, for a visit to a cemetery to offer prayer (vocal or mental) for the dead. This plenary indulgence is currently available not only on All Souls’ Day, but for any visit from November 1 to November 8. Only one plenary indulgence can be gained on a given day. In order to receive a plenary indulgence, a person must be "in a state of grace" (having received the SACRAMENT OF PENANCE within 8 days before or 8 days after), and must pray for the intentions of the Pope.
Catholics are encouraged to do all that they can for those in purgatory. Purgatory is a place of immense suffering. Therefore, it is an incredible privilege to gain a plenary indulgence, since this type of indulgence releases the soul from purgatory to join the saints in heaven. In one sense the souls in purgatory, since they know that they are eventually heaven-bound, have a distinct advantage over the living Catholic. No Catholic can know with ASSURANCE that they will die in a state of grace. It is taught that the living can intercede on behalf of the deceased in purgatory, and that the deceased can intercede for the living.
How it came about:
The TRADITION of saying special prayers for the dead began in the earliest days of the Church. Prayers for the dead have been discovered as inscriptions on monuments dating back to the first century; from ancient liturgies; and from early Christian literature. In the sixth century, it was customary in Benedictine MONASTERIES to hold a commemeration of its deceased members 50 days after Easter. This practice spread to the dioceses at the beginning of the eleventh century, with the monastery of Cluny starting the traditional date of November 2, most likely to link it with the Feast of All Saints. For support from Scripture, Catholics mention that the DEUTEROCANONICAL book of 2 Maccabees teaches praying for the dead.
Why it is wrong:
1) ...because the practice of granting indulgences denies the sufficiency of Christ’s atoning sacrifice;
2) ...because the practice of praying for the dead is not authorized in Scripture;
3) ...because purgatory is a man-made tradition that is not Scriptural;
4) ...because the day promotes a works-orientated salvation, dishonoring Christ;
5) ...because of the use of purgatory and indulgences as a means of fundraising (e.g. the ongoing practice of MASS CARDS).
Warnings from Scripture:
"For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified"
Heb. 10:14
"Hence, also, He [Jesus] is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:25
"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself." Ez. 18:20
