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Who are the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Those of us on earth are members of the Church Militant, those in Heaven are the Church Triumphant. 

Those who die who aren’t quite ready to go straight into the arms of God at the moment of their death?  Those in Purgatory are the Church Suffering or the Church Penitent.   Those in purgatory have died in the friendship of God but still needed cleansing of the temporal effects of sin.

How can we help them?  By practicing the Spiritual Work of Mercy of praying for the dead.

Think of your relatives, friends or people you know of who have left this world.   If they are in Purgatory, they can’t pray for themselves, but we can pray for them.   Think of those souls who have no one to help them.   We can help by praying for them and help them to reach Heaven sooner.

St. Margaret Mary referred to the holy souls as her “dear suffering friends.” Her great love for these souls moved her to pray and sacrifice daily for them.

Many people, including many Catholics, don’t recognize the importance of praying for the dying and the already deceased, so many souls die alone and suffer alone in purgatory without the help from their family and friends on earth. 

Pray for a soul forgotten in purgatory who has no one to pray for them. You can create a spiritual bond with them that will last eternally. Pray a Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet or just a Hail Mary for them each day.   You may not realize it but those in Purgatory can pray for us even though they can’t pray for themselves.   

In one Vision, Our Lord tells St Gertrude that He longs for someone to ask Him to release souls from purgatory.

St. Gertrude the Great was a Benedictine nun and mystic who lived in the 13th century. She died in 1302. Her feast day is November 16th.

Prayer of Saint Gertrude the Great for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

O Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere – for sinners in the Universal Church, for those in my own home and for those within my family. Amen.

It is believed that Jesus promised Saint Gertrude that 1,000 souls would be freed from purgatory each time the prayer is said with devotion.

Sister Dolores Keyser, ESEH
Director of Prison Ministry

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A new book, The Search for Home among Forced Migrants and Refugees: People on the Move, edited by our University president, Dr. Maria Sophia Aguirre, was just published on November 8, 2024. 

This book explores the role of “home” in the lives of displaced people, including voluntary and forced migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and temporary workers.

For displaced people, home is something lost, longed for and sometimes found anew. It is a community of people in an environment of relationships and a physical dwelling that provides a sense of safety, security, hope and belonging. Much of the efforts of refugees, migrants and exiles are devoted to rebuilding a home, through a combination of personal effort and collaboration with the political and social environment of the host community. Dr. Maria Sophia Aguirre and Dr. Antonio Argandoña bring together an interdisciplinary collection of contributors to analyze these challenges through the lenses of economics, law, sociology, psychology, communications, management and political science. The book offers numerous suggestions for assistance aimed not only at resolving the short-term problems of displaced people but also at ensuring their human dignity. (Available Now on Amazon)

This volume will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of the sociology of migration and of public policy related to the management of migrants.

Congratulations, Dr. Aguirre!

“If you only knew how much Our Lady loves you, you’d cry for joy”

The month of October each year is dedicated to Rosary. The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was introduced by Pope St. Pius V (1504-1572) in the year 1571 to commemorate the miraculous victory of the Christian forces in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Mary has often said to each of us, without you, God’s plan cannot be realized. Dear children, grow closer to God through prayer and the Rosary.

Our Lady has given us the weapon against our Goliath. Here are our Five Stones:

Prayer with the heart: Rosary

Eucharist

Holy Bible – Scripture

Fasting

Monthly Confession

What child would refuse a loving mother’s request. Mary is our spiritual mother; she has

asked us to pray the Rosary for peace in the world, for the conversion of our families, and for all that ails the world we live in. Could each of us take 25 minutes to meditate on the life of Jesus and Mary as we pray the Rosary? It is just a matter of saying yes…. the graces and benefits will be felt in our lives. Our Lady has said to her children, do not forget that true peace comes only through prayer, from God Who is our peace.

Each Hail Mary is like a Rose given to our Spiritual Mother…….

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

Sister Dolores Keyser, ESEH
Director of Prison Ministry

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

On the liturgical calendar October 7th is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. This feast celebrates the naval victory of the Holy League fleet at Lepanto. Their victory in 1571 saved Christian Civilization from defeat at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

Pope Pius V knew well the tremendous importance of resisting the aggressive expansion of the Ottomans and the certain consequences of defeat at their hands. The battle was a spiritual one and the existence of the Christian West was at stake. So, the Holy Father called on the faithful of Catholic Europe to join him in praying the Rosary for a Holy League victory. They had been internally divided by jealousies and rivalries and dramatically outnumbered by the invaders. The subsequent Christian victory was obtained through the courageous fighting of the men and the powerful intercession of Our Lady, invoked by Europe’s Christians.

Very significantly, the Christians went to battle under a banner bearing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This banner was held in the hand of the great-nephew of the Admiral Andrea Doria. The Mother of God had appeared in Mexico forty years earlier. A reproduction of her miraculous image was preserved in the cathedral of Genoa, one of the member states of the Holy League. This lesser-known fact was told to me by an Augustinian friar. He is now deceased, but for many years he worked in the rooms next to the magnificent mural of the Battle of Lepanto in the Sala Regia of the Vatican.

My Connection with the Rosary

It was while in service as a Swiss Guard that I spent many hours gazing up at this mural. It had been commissioned by the Pope, and painted by Giorgio Vasari in commemoration of the battle. Many times I found myself praying the Holy Rosary (even if in bits and pieces, the Holy Mother of God knows well how to sort them out) with the beads that Pope St. John Paul II once gave me. He had given this to me while he was walking alone in the Loggia one afternoon. This was an unusual occurrence, as he typically had someone with him.

When he arrived in my proximity, before I put myself at attention, I noticed his Rosary in his hand. I must have stared at it. The Holy Father first passed by me without acknowledging my presence and then all of a sudden he was standing right in front of me! He looked intently at me with his deep blue eyes. Then he said, “Mario, the Rosary is my favorite prayer, marvelous in its simplicity and profundity, take these beads and make good use of them.”

That day I decided to become Our Lady’s soldier, and committed to carrying those beads at all times (still do).

Pope St Pius V knew, long before couriers could have brought the news to Rome, by divine inspiration received while praying the Rosary that a triumph of the Cross had been won in the Gulf of Patras in western Greece. He even announced it from the Church of Santa Sabina on the Aventino hill in Rome. Today we too need a triumph of the Cross in our families, our workplaces, and our society.

Let us Sanctify the World

My dear friends, this most powerful “weapon” of peace for the laity is the Holy Rosary. We are called to sanctify the whole world. First by becoming holy and then by shaping our work in light of our faith. We must let faith animate every part of our day. Don’t be ashamed, be Our Lady’s soldier for Christ in the Church. Pray it often; pray it fervently; pray it well.

Mario Enzler

Director of Ecclesial Administration & Management Programs

I, take you, to be my lawfully wedded… I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

Weddings are celebrations filled with beauty, family, traditions, and hope for a new life. The spouses promise mutual fidelity, openness to children, and to seek each other’s good, for the rest of their earthly lives. But what happens when this marriage falls apart? What constitutes grounds for a declaration of marriage nullity? How long does the process take and how much does it cost? Will I have to confront my ex-spouse-spouse? At Catholic International University, we are offering an answer to these questions through our brand new course: Valid or Invalid? An Introduction to Marriage in Canon Law, so that deacons, marriage ministers, and catechists of adults can offer accurate information to people earnestly seeking to put their lives back together after divorce.

Over eight weeks, we’ll study the sacrament of marriage, its unique basis in natural law. We will explore: who is capable of marriage? What constitutes integral marital consent? What does the valid and licit celebration of marriage require for Catholics and non-Catholics? How does an ecclesiastical marriage tribunal conduct its investigations? And finally, how can the Church help? This course seeks to demystify an unnecessarily obscure topic, making it fully accessible to the faithful.

Register now and begin classes by October 21st!

The Very Reverend Doctor Stephen Hill (or Father Stephen) was an ordained Anglican priest by the time he was finishing up his studies at CDU (now Catholic International University), he now serves as the Vicar General of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross in Sydney, Australia. The story of how he became an Anglican priest, and eventually was ordained into the Roman Catholic Ordinariate is absolutely inspiring. At Catholic International University, we are honored to be part of his amazing story:

The flexibility that CDU (now Catholic International) offered and being able to do it at my own pace was really really appealing to me. Once I had done a couple of units I realized that this was a no brainer and I have to enroll in the MA in Theology program. 

This was all going on in a process of discerning. I was ordained an Anglican priest as I was finishing my degree at CDU. The Anglican Church was happy to ordain me as long as I finished my work at CDU. I completed my dissertation at CDU on Catholic Human Anthropology: what it means to be a human being and finding the fullness of our humanity at CDU.

Around this time, Pope Benedict put out a statement about bringing Anglican pastors as pastors in the Catholic Church. The day before I got on the plane to fly to the gala for CDU, I got a letter from the Catholic Church that said I could be a candidate for holy orders in the Catholic Church.

The notion of faith journey is very important. One’s faith journey might be defined as leaving something, mine was defined as finding something more. Every step in my faith journey from leaving one step and joining another happened as a result of finding a fullness that was in one place and not another. 

Catholic International staff had the opportunity to represent our University at this monumental national event. Our admissions team spent their days in the convention hall in order to greet attendees and spread the word about our important mission to communicate the heart and mind of the Church in support of the New Evangelization. From our welcome table, Megan Davis and Maria Valdes met with old and new friends and prospective students in order to talk about our current excellent degree programs and exciting new offerings. “My time at the Eucharistic Congress with former and current students was truly gratifying,” stated admissions specialist, Maria Valdes. “They expressed their deep appreciation for Catholic International University and offered prayers for its continued success, hoping the wisdom of Theology reaches Catholics worldwide and expands the Reign of God.” 

Megan Davis was also moved by the experience: “Jesus was present, not just literally, but in the face of everyone there. The atmosphere of peace, joy and unity is hard to explain. One of my favorite moments was meeting our students  from the Servants of the Pierced Heart of Jesus and Mary. It was so nice to be able to meet in person after speaking on the phone. However, personally, my absolute favorite was evening adoration – 60,000 people adoring Jesus with praise and worship music led by Matt Maher.”

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles considers the Eucharistic Congress “an important moment in the life of the Church in the United States.” Fr. Luke Poczatec from Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Winchester, VA called the congress “another Pentecost.”  The whole event was an experience of renewal and prayer – a call for each person to draw near to our Eucharistic Lord, to grow in love and connection to Him and to bring others to Him. Over the five days, participants had the opportunity to attend various talks, classes and presentations as well as Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation. It was a powerful revival! Many Bishops and clergy, religious brothers and sisters as well as countless lay men and women were there to participate in the transformative gathering. Committed to bringing Joy from the Truth, Catholic International University is so thankful to have been able to align our mission to those in attendance at the National Eucharistic Congress.

Catholic International University, formerly Catholic Distance University, is excited to announce its 41st annual gala, to be held on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 5 p.m. It will be an evening of celebrating the university’s rich history, the exciting innovations from the last year, and the university’s continued dedication to faith and education.

The evening will commence with a Convocation Mass at the newly renovated Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, Virginia. The Mass will be celebrated by Most Reverend Bishop Michael Burbidge (Diocese of Arlington) and concelebrated by Most Reverend Bishop Mark Brennan (Diocese of Wheeling/Charlestown, WV) with Most Reverend Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde (Diocese of Arlington). A procession of faculty in academic regalia and students in graduation cap and gown will take place to celebrate the graduating class of 2024.

Following Mass, attendees will gather for the gala program and dinner at the prestigious Army Navy Country Club, also in Arlington. 

The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, DD, PhD, Bishop of Arlington, will be honored with the 2024 Founders Award. This year holds special significance as it marks the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Arlington – Catholic International’s founding diocese – and the 40th anniversary of Bishop Burbidge’s ordination. The university is honored to recognize Bishop Burbidge for his outstanding contributions to the faith and his ongoing commitment to the mission of Catholic International University.

Bishop Burbidge has been an integral part of the university’s community and a faithful member of its Board of Trustees. His leadership roles within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, including his service as Chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, have further exemplified his dedication to the Church and its teachings. 

This year’s event will be led by Master of Ceremonies Tracy Sabol, who is the Anchor of EWTN News Nightly, EWTN’s daily news and analysis program presenting breaking Catholic News worldwide, top stories and daily reports from the White House, Capitol Hill and Rome all through the lens of the Catholic Faith.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, will be in attendance. 

The 41st annual gala is not only a celebration of the university’s achievements but also an opportunity to support its mission. The gala is Catholic International’s largest in-person fundraising celebration of the year. Funds raised at the gala will support the development of new academic programs that will offer expanded opportunities to students to further communicate the mind and heart of the Church. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available, and those interested are encouraged to participate in what promises to be a memorable evening.