Gregorian Mass for My Father

This is going to be a very difficult paper to write because it is about my father, D_____ J___ C___. My dad died suddenly on March 17, 1980. He was a very good man and highly respected by all that knew him. Since his death I have never considered his soul to be anywhere but heaven.

In the September 22nd paper that I wrote I mentioned a man who was dying of cancer and being cared for by members of the LMC and Thursday Night Prayer Group so his wife could work to pay the bills. His name was John and I can’t remember his last name. John died about 6 or 7 weeks ago. John returned to the church very shortly before his death.

After John’s death Phil C suggested that we pitch in and raise enough money to have a series of Gregorian Masses said for him. I had heard of Gregorian Masses but I really did not know exactly what they were. It was explained to me that the soul the masses are offered for is pulled through Purgatory and released into heaven after the 30th consecutive mass. It was also explained to me this is approved and has been around for a very long time.

I agreed to contribute. Within a few days of learning about the Gregorian Masses I would suddenly be hit with a very strong desire to have them said for my father. The first time this happened was on October 14th at 10:33.

At first I did not give it much thought because I did not think my father was in Purgatory. The longer I hesitated the stronger and more frequent it happened. At some point I decided that I would have the masses said for my father and on October 20th I stopped by Phil’s house and gave him my portion of the cost for John’s masses and also gave Phil the money to have another set of masses said for my dad. At the very instant I gave Phil the money the peace hit. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13.

During the LMC retreat on the morning of November 20th Phil C walked up to me just as I was getting up and said “I have something for you” Phil then handed me the mass card for the Gregorian Masses for my father. I read the card and at the instant I finished the strong feeling of peace hit me very, very hard. I looked at my watch and the time was 6:33:33.

The thought of my father being in Purgatory for almost the past 25 years is hard for me to accept but when you really think about it Purgatory can be very, very short or until the end of the world. Looking at it that way, it does not seem that bad.

R_____ C___

Nov. 27, 04

8:33 Pm