
The Gospel today tells us about the compassion Jesus felt for a woman who was a widow and presently weeping, while bringing her only son to be buried. The poor widow grieved over losing her only means of supporting herself in that society. Women did not work to earn. They largely depended on the men in their lives. Jesus then resurrected her son and gave him to his mom. This example of compassion should be translated to our need to be compassionate for the holy souls in purgatory. They are suffering tremendously. But the Church today aims for emptying Purgatory so that everyone goes to heaven. We can hasten their transfer to join the Blessed Trinity by praying for them and offering various suffrages. One good way that is available these days to us is that of earning a plenary indulgence and applying it to souls in Purgatory.