Nelson, when I was a just a teenager and in school, I too wondered about this. My father who was a very devout man would offer masses for his parents, grand parents and sundry other relatives who were dead and gone ages ago. I found this very unconvincing. One day I mustered courage and questioned him. I asked him: 1. how long will you go on offering masses for the dead? I added perhaps with some thoughtlessness and lack of tact that if the souls were still in purgatory even after 20-25 years, then they must have lived very unchristian lives. 2. what happens to those who have no families to offer masses for their souls? Do they linger in purgatory forever? 3. what happens to those who are non-catholics? Does it mean that only Catholics go to heaven and the rest are banished to hell even if they led exemplary lives? 4. Does it mean that if one were to lead a very unchristian life but plenty of masses were offered for this person's soul, then his soul would go to heaven faster? 5. Does offering masses fast track a person's release from purgatory? 6. What happens to the poor who do not have the means to offer masses? Do they linger in purgatory?
My father was very understandably upset. He immediately met the parish priest the next day and invited him home to speak to me. When the parish priest came over, I repeated my questions to him and expressed my view that it appeared that religion was commercialised. Those who could afford and pay could lead whatever lives they wanted so long as they could pay for masses to be said after their death. The rest of us were damned in purgatory just as we were damned here on earth. After listening to me, this is what the parish priest said: 1. no one knows how long a soul lies in purgatory. It depends on the life that person lived on earth. 2. heaven and hell are concepts meant to make people live good lives. Basically reward and punishment. 3. Priests do not earn any salary or income. They are at the service of the community for their spiritual matters. Hence to provide them with a source of income, masses were offered for which they received a small stipend. Masses for the dead, masses out of gratitude for some wish fulfilled ( safe pregnancy, passing exams, marriage, safe journey, good job, celebrate some occasion/event/ festival etc.). 4. Masses are offered for ALL souls at every mass, though mention is made of the person for whom the mass is offered. 5. It is wrong to assume that only Catholics will go to heaven. All those who have led good lives, whether catholics or non-catholics go to heaven. It is the life that we lead that will decide where we go. 6. Purgatory is like a period of repentence. Trust I have been able to some extent been able to answer your query. Regards, Marshall *I wish some can explain the length of time after the death the masses areto be offered in general .Is it guilt and fear of retribution that makesrelatives resort to this practice out of guilt complex ? Many are of thefirm belief that unless we pay the stipend it is not valid sacrifice .Thereare instances, when these paid mass offerings are not said for many yearsfor one reason or other Can we not have faith in the merciful Lord to bejust and fair. In applying all the prayers to cleanse the souls inpurgatory How the doubts of duration in purgatory and the quantum ofprayers will be just enough not to be guilty of not doing enoughNelson Lopes Chinchinim*
