One aspect of the long-term fruits that we’re hoping to cooperate with, with God’s grace, and that you are making possible is devotion to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Two initiatives that the work of Regina Angelorum Press Inc. and Father Pillari have made possible are establishing the Dead Christians’ Society and the 30 Days for the Souls in Purgatory devotion videos. Father often tries to draw our attention to the souls in Purgatory. Everything that we do to foster more of an awareness of the souls in Purgatory helps them enter Heaven more quickly and they don’t forget the help we give them for example in the rosary Crusade. Also, by praying for the souls in Purgatory, our souls think instinctively about things we may need to correct in our life in order to avoid Purgatory so we can be there the shortest time possible.

Father Pillari recently started leading the students in the Dead Christians’ Society devotion. They got out of bed at 4 a.m., had a candlelight Mass for the Dead at 4:15 offered for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and then gathered around a wood burning stove by candlelight to read something from one of the Dead Christians. The Dead Christians are the souls in purgatory but also the Saints who are now in heaven; the simple phrase has both meanings. For the boys at the school, Father’s goal is to go through the entire book of St Alphonsus Liguori’s 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation, drawing out some of the quotes from what St Alphonsus Liguori offers. He focuses on 12 different virtues; the first one being Faith. Father talks with the boys about what that can mean for them in a very practical way, how can they live faith more deeply in their daily life, what are some strategies for that, and then allowing for questions and discussion among them.

Father is investing his priestly life in something right now that will bear great fruit for many years down the road. The boys are very young, so most of them will probably have many years ahead still on the earth; but that devotion to the Holy Souls, learning to make the sacrifice voluntarily of waking up early in the morning, praying and offering this for the Holy Souls, can be fruitful for one’s entire life.

And that’s something that you all are making possible by supporting his priestly ministry; thank you for doing that!