5 November, Antonio Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day

The Consolations of the Suffering Souls in Purgatory

1. The following is an excerpt from a book by a spiritual writer named Father Alberione:

"There is suffering in Purgatory and there is suffering in Hell, but there are essential differences between one and the other. Hell is eternal, while Purgatory is temporal. In Hell there is no hope of salvation, whereas in Purgatory there is the certainty of future happiness in Heaven. Hell is the lasting state of a soul rejected by God, while Purgatory is the temporary state of a soul loved and awaited by God in Heaven. In Hell suffering is without hope and altogether unprofitable, but in Purgatory the purpose of suffering is to become worthy of entering Heaven. Hell is a place forever cursed by God, whereas Purgatory is a place which He has blessed. Hell is governed by the stern and exacting justice of God, whereas Purgatory is under the dominion of the divine justice which seeks to be merciful. Hell is the abode of the damned, Purgatory is the abode of the saved, and this earth is the abode of those who are still uncertain of salvation."
The writer goes on to examine the three main reasons why there is joy in Purgatory, even in the midst of the most dreadful torments. The first reason is that the suffering souls are sure of eternal salvation. They are confirmed in grace and it is impossible for them to sin any more. No Saint on earth had this wonderful certitude, which makes the sufferings of Purgatory seem desirable to those confined there. In the second place, these souls recognise their own imperfection and need of purification; therefore they are glad to suffer in order to become worthy at last of the happiness of God's company. The third source of consolation is their ardent love for God. Love does not measure or feel sacrifices; it even desires them because it knows that they are a necessary means of achieving an intimate union with the beloved. It is the greatness of their love for the Supreme Good which makes it a joy for the suffering souls to suffer for His sake and For the purpose of being united with Him.

If only we could love God as they love Him, we should avoid and abhor the least imperfection. We should accept with perfect resignation the sorrows and trials of this life as a means of making reparation for our sins, and we should pray often for these suffering souls so that they might at last fulfil their intense desire to be united with their Infinite Good.

2. In her description of Purgatory, St. Catherine of Genoa writes as follows:

"The soul in Purgatory is happy with its lot, but its happiness is similar to that of the martyr at the stake. Its happiness, in other words, is of a pure and supernatural kind which the world could not understand. The martyr allows himself to be put to death rather than offend God; he feels the pain of dying, but despises death because of his ardent love for God. In the same way, because it realises that God desires and commands its agony, the soul in Purgatory loves Him and is happy to allow Him to refine and purify it spiritually through suffering."

In one of her ecstasies St. Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi was accorded a vision of Purgatory so terrifying that it caused her to grow pale and cry out. Suddenly she saw her own recently deceased brother among the suffering souls. "My poor brother!" she exclaimed, "how much you are suffering. Yet I can see, too, how greatly you are consoled. Although you are tortured by fire, you are content because you know that these torments are the prelude to everlasting happiness."

3. That is the way it is in Purgatory. The suffering souls endure dreadful torments, but they are resigned to the will of God and are happy to suffer indefinitely in order to become holy. Nevertheless, we can and should pray that their sufferings may be minimised and their joy increased while they are awaiting the moment of their liberation and of their entry into eternal glory. The prayers, penances and good works which we offer on their behalf are a great consolation to them and draw God's blessing on ourselves.