During November, the Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, we remember all of the faithful departed, but we should remember in a special way our parents.
They gave us the gift of life and, in most cases, the gift of faith as well. Few of us ever get the chance, in this lifetime, to repay them what we owe.
That's why our prayers for them are so important. By keeping them in mind as we pray, and offering up our little sufferings and trials throughout the day, we can lessen their sufferings in Purgatory and help them to enter fully into Heaven. And since they remain our parents, we know that, in Heaven, they will intercede for us as well.
(The gravestone of George and Grace Richert, Saint Peter's Lutheran Church graveyard, Corydon, Indiana. Photo © Scott P. Richert)
Prayers for Our Departed Parents:
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These articles always make me want to speak up for those who did not come from loving homes. Everyone just seems so content to just assume all mothers had their children’s best interests at heart, even while stories are in the news of Joan Crawfords, Casey Anthony’s and the like. I appreciate that it would be nice were it so, but these stories without any admission that it is not always so just go another step to making children of abusive homes, or homes where mother was mentally ill or unstable or whatever – especially if there was no one else to advocate for the children – feel that somehow it is them that is defective. Lord knows, that’s what we were told as children by the very people who were supposed to know better.