The judgement of God brings hope, justice and grace.

By Msgr. John Wynand Katende

Posted on: Thursday 6th November 2025

With death, the souls separates from the body, and the former lives on. With death, again, our life-choice becomes definitive; our life stands before the judge. For those who have suppressed the truth and all love within themselves, all would be beyond remedy and the destruction of good would be irrevocable. This is what we mean by the word Hell. 

On the other hand there can be people who are utterly pure, completely permeated by God, and thus fully open to their neighbors; their journey towards God only brings to fulfillment what they already are.

Since nothing blemished, impure, imperfect, selfish or in the slightest way defective can enter the all pure Presence of the Most Holy, something must happen after death to many human beings to transform them, if they are to enter heaven. Otherwise we have to say that the overwhelming majority of humankind will be forever lost, and enter hell for eternity!

This brings us to the early Jewish idea of an intermediate state, which includes the view that these souls are not simply in a sort of temporary custody but, as the parable of the rich man illustrates, are already experiencing a provisional form of bliss. This state can involve purification and healing which mature the soul for communion with God. The early Church took up these concepts and gradually developed them into the doctrine of Purgatory. 

The word purgatory comes from the Greek for “fire,” as in purification. The first thing to know about purgatory is that every soul who goes there is assured of heaven. The strife is over, the battle won for those in purgatory; that’s why we call them “holy souls.” All that’s needed is final cleansing from any attachment to venial sin, or imperfect contrition, or negative thoughts, or self-destructive tendencies, and then these souls are ushered into heaven.

St. Paul says that Christian life is built upon a common foundation: Jesus Christ. This foundation endures. If we have stood firm on this foundation and built our life upon it, we know that it cannot be taken away from us even in death (1 Cor 3:12-15). The meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus is summed up in the Song of Songs, “love is stronger than death” (8:6). We are all called by God to participate in the mystery of life and love, here on earth, and finally in eternity (The path of descent). 

Some theologians are of the opinion that the fire which both burns and saves (purgatory) is Christ himself, the Judge and Saviour. This encounter with Him, as it burns us, transforms and frees us, allowing us to become truly ourselves; there lies salvation. Hence, our defilement does not stain us forever if we have at least continued to reach out towards Christ, towards truth and towards love. 

Now, a question arises as to how we can intervene to pray for the souls in Purgatory. No one lives alone. No one sins alone. No one is saved alone. The Christians belief in the communion of saints, implies that the faithful departed are still in the Church. It is, hence, our first and foremost duty to pray for each other, especially the faithful departed. Our prayers can play a small part in their purification. The Luganda proverb “Atamanyi mpewo y’emagombe, yamma omufu olubugo” (one who has not experienced the clod kn the underworld, refuses o bring a backcloth for the dead), applies very appropriately. 

St. Paul’s confirms  that death cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38, 51). In Ephesians 6:18, he reminds us of the necessity of prayer for the whole faithful. Since death does not cancel Church membership, it also does not prevent the mutual responsibility to pray for each other. In 2 Timothy 1:16-18 Paul provides a solemn remembrance of a departed Christian named Onesiphorus: “May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day.” It renders authenticity to the condolence prayer: “May they rest in eternal peace” (RIP).

Yet, as some saints have counseled, Purgatory  can be avoided, if we  avoid sin, do penance, accept suffering, make frequent confession of sins, receive Holy Communion, pray with faith and perseverance, and prepare for death.