Homily of Msgr. Josefino Ramirez

November 2, 2005

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church)

My dear brother priests, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all gathered once again to reflect on the communion of saints, those who are already in the glory of heaven; the souls who are still being purified in purgatory, and all of us who are still living and struggling in this world - reflecting on the eternal life. Sin has two consequences: guilt and temporal punishment. When we are forgiven of our sins, the guilt is wiped away but the just punishment still goes with sin and the fact comes naturally. If we do the penance to correct the injustice we have done when we die, most of us have not fully satisfied the injustice we have caused, so God gives us this opportunity to do so. Actually when we come before God and see that we have not yet paid up for our injustices, that we do not look like Him, we know that we are not ready to be eternally in His presence and so we are ready to spend our time being purified.

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila Philippines

Purgatory is associated with the image of fire. We know that it can’t be physical fire because in purgatory we have no bodies. The fire represents something painful but beneficial. It is the desire of those who are in purgatory and long to the Lord but they know that they are in the defiled state. Today we recall what purgatory is and our responsibility to pray for those souls that are being cleansed and purified. Our prayers will help them and this is part of the fulfillment of the commandment to love our neighbors. Jesus promised us a share in his everlasting life. Although our dead seem still remote to us at this moment, we know the reality that we will all die one day. The Lord offers us many opportunities in this life to be transformed into His image and likeness. Every moment of every day we can choose to embrace, love of God and neighbor, for our own sinful desires.

Today, as we pray for those who have gone before us, we also need to reflect on the Lord, on our eternal destiny, on our responses to the opportunities He offers us for our purification on earth as we journey on this life. Let our hearts be set on eternity.

I love to recall, in meditation, the dying moments of some people that we know. They have tried their best to serve God, to do their mission in this life, and to prepare well for their journey. I love to recall the dying words of the late Pope John Paul II: "My luggage is already prepared. I’m leaving soon, I’m going home". I love to recall the last words of His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin when He said to those around him "Vamos, Vamos, a Dios". Let us go, I will go to the Lord.

Former manager of Pius XII Catholic Center Mrs. Lily Force was dying of cancer. She was in terrible pain when I visited her and she said "this is nothing compared to what awaits me in heaven. I’m glad I’ll be home soon." These are thoughts of the holy people who lived and died in the grace of God.

I would like to thank Mrs. Chita Monfort, the Executive Director of the Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls and all the members of this very urgent and relevant apostolate, of praying to and for the holy souls in purgatory.

May I invite you to pray in a very special way for the eternal repose of the late Congressman and Dr. Narciso Monfort, the Founding-President of the Monfort (Shared Blessings) Foundation, Inc., that mainly supports this apostolate.

Mary, our Mother, help us this day to reflect more deeply on the mystery of eternal life that awaits us.

St. Joseph, Patron of the Holy and Happy Death, pray for us. And may all the faithful departed intercede for us as we pray for their eternal repose. Amen.

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