I assisted and concelebrated at a funeral in our local Polish parish, and having been asked to give a little homily in English, I spoke of the resurrection of the flesh on the last day.
It is a little disappointment that the new translation retained the less forceful, and less accurate, but of course orthodox, "resurrection of the body".
Readers will perhaps want to know if I mentioned Purgatory, out of charity for the departed soul. Yes, I did, mentioning the great devotion that the Poles rightly have for the Poor Souls.
It is now firmly and "authentically" taught by the Church that the Holy Souls assist us by their intercession. This is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in Reconciliatio et paenitencia, 31-iv and in at least one magisterial document from the time of Pope Pius XII: the bull of beatification for Blessed Mary of Providence, foundress of the Helpers of the Holy Souls, that it is "the mind of the Church", that the Holy Souls can and do pray for us.
Praise God for Our Roman Catholic faith, in truth the Glorious Faith. If not for us (Catholics), many holy souls in purgatory would have no one to pray for them (earth side). We should offer prayers continually, and sacrifice for those in purgatory and those for whom have no one to pray for them. In a sense, we may be there only prayerful partners completing the prayerful chain. God Willing we pull the prayerful weight of all those who have lost loved ones to death. Although relieved of their physical distress they still are in need. Bring us closer to the light of your face dear and precious Lord.
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