All of which points to the importance of forgiveness.

On this All Souls Day, I remember that years ago I was told that there had been a priest in Oklahoma who once began a funeral Mass saying, in effect, “We are gathered here today to pray for so-and-so ...

A century ago, my northern Utah hometown was a tough place. Even Chicago gangster Al Capone reportedly said Ogden’s infamous 25th Street was too lawless for his liking. The area also teemed, however, ...

In 1873, near the lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida, the Pittee sisters were riding in a construction cart down to the water. In a tragic turn of events, the cart flipped, trapping the poor girls ...

“A Hiker’s Guide to Purgatory: A Novel” by Michael Norton. Ignatius Press. (San Francisco, California, 2022). 269 pp., $15.36. “To die would be an awfully big adventure.” — J. M. Barrie, “Peter Pan.” ...

Purgatory is one of the most profound and consoling doctrines of the Catholic faith, yet it is frequently misunderstood. This state of purification underscores God's infinite mercy and justice, ...

Q: Please explain what an indulgence is and how it can reduce or eliminate the time a soul must spend in purgatory. A: Indulgences are perhaps one of the more misunderstood parts of Catholic practice.

A man pays his respects during a funeral Mass for Father Marcelo Pérez in San Andres Larrainzar in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico, Oct. 21, 2024. Father Pérez, who ministered in Indigenous ...

In his book Purgatory, author Michael J. Taylor asks, “Is the concept of purgatory disappearing from Catholic belief and consciousness?” Taylor suggests that “changes in Church practice, along with ...

As Catholics, praying for the souls of the dead and souls in purgatory is an important part of our faith. Non-Catholics may find this odd or confusing, as they may believe that once a person has died, ...

In his 30s, the Republican vice-presidential nominee read works on theology, mysticism, and political and moral philosophy. And he discovered his faith. By Elizabeth Dias Elizabeth Dias, who has ...