Masses for the Dead
When a person dies the Catholic Church teaches that they face individual judgement, and where they end up will depend on how they have lived their life.
The belief is that those people who have died having faith in God and in a state of grace, but who are still damaged or flawed by venialPardonable, excusable, forgivable. sin, will end up in PurgatoryPurely Catholic belief. Where the soul goes to be cleansed of sin before going to Heaven.. This is often described as a 'limbo' where souls go to be purifyTo make ritually clean. before they can be in the presence of God.
Offering a Mass for the dead is praying for those souls who are in Purgatory, hoping that their time there is shortened. Masses can be offered for non-Catholics as well, as the Church states that their souls can also be reunited with God in Heaven. The offering of a Mass can also bring comfort and hope to those still on Earth that the souls of the departed have returned to God.
Question
Explain why Catholics offer Masses for those who are deceased.
Catholics offer Masses for the dead in order to shorten their time in Purgatory. The belief is that if a person has lived a good life, but has committed venial sin then they will go to Purgatory where their soul will be cleansed before being allowed into Heaven. The offering of the Mass and prayers aim to shorten the amount of time spent in Purgatory so their soul can reach Heaven and be reunited with God.