Why I’m Thankful for Purgatory

Traditionally, November is the month when the Church emphasizes the importances of praying for the souls of the dead, sometimes referred to as the "Poor Souls" in Purgatory. In recent decades, one hears much less about the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory: Perhaps this is because our modern religious tendency is to immediately canonize anyone who has died and presume an easy judgment for them and a swift and sure entrance into the eternal reward. Or perhaps Catholics are reticent to speak of purgatory because it is one of the most misunderstood teachings of the Church and one that is not supported by most Protestants. Today, on one of the last days of this month of November, I'd like to give my full-hearted support for this teaching of the Church and talk about why we must pray for the souls in purgatory and be so grateful that God has created it in the first place!