As she has done from the earliest days, the pilgrim Church continues to pray for the souls in Purgatory and to offer suffrages for them. The faithful are encouraged to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the faithful departed, and to offer up prayers, sacrifices, and good works on their behalf.
The pilgrim Church on earth also remains in close communion with those who have entered into the glory of heaven. The Church has always believed that the apostles, and Christ’s martyrs who had given the supreme witness of faith and charity by the shedding of their blood, are quite closely joined with us in Christ. She has always venerated them with special devotion, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the holy angels. The Church too has devoutly implored their intercession. Veneration of the saints must not be seen as in any way detracting from the true worship of God, but rather as inspiring us to more perfect discipleship and worship.
Our communion with those in heaven, provided that it is understood in the more adequate light of faith, in no way weakens, but conversely, more thoroughly enriches the supreme worship we give to God the Father, through Christ in the Holy Ghost. For by its very nature every genuine testimony of love which we show to those in heaven tends toward and terminates in Christ, who is the “crown of the saints.” Through Him it tends toward and terminates in God, who is wonderful in His saints and is magnified in them.
In every Mass we recall the memory of the angels and saints, and join our voices to theirs in giving praise and thanksgiving to God. They, in turn, inspire us with their devotion and intercede for us, as they offer to God on our behalf the merits which they acquired on earth.
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