In heaven, every soul shines, but some needed extra polishing first. After death comes judgment, and thereafter is heaven and hell. We are certain that “The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God” (Wisdom 3:1). We know Heaven is for saints and Hell for sinners. One passage of the Holy Book says, “Nothing unclean will go to heaven (Revelation 21:27). Another passage explains: All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death – total condemnation (1 John 5:17). So, what happens to a dead person who lived a near-perfect life, but struggled with a little spiritual weakness? Jesus gives us a glimpse of what divine justice looks like when he speaks about servants who will get a severe beating and those who will get a light beating based on their level of guilt (Luke 12:47-48). Souls in purgatory are those who need purification (purgation) to enter heaven. The Church sets aside the month of November as a special month to pray for such departed souls who may be our parents, siblings, relations, and friends. We pray for God’s mercy and peace upon them as they go through the process of purgation. Praying for the dead is a spiritual work of mercy, and that is why the book of Maccabees states: “It is, therefore, a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead...” (2 Maccabees 12:46). Nevertheless, the ultimate desire of every human person is not to be in hell or purgatory, but to be in heaven. If in heaven every soul shines, but some needed extra polishing first, do you remember to pray for God’s mercy and peace upon those still being polished in His love? All Souls; 2nd November; Wisdom 3:1-9c; Romans 5:5-11; John 6:37-40