Great Mercy of Purgatory

"I will say furthermore: I see that as far as God is concerned, paradise has no gates, but he who will may enter. For God is all mercy, and his open arms are ever extended to receive us into his glory. But I see that the divine essence is so pure - purer than the imagination can conceive--that the soul, finding in itself the slightest imperfection, would rather cast itself into a thousand hells than appear, so stained, in the presence of the divine majesty. Knowing, then, that purgatory was intended for her cleaning, she throws herself therein, and finds there that great mercy, the removal of her stains.

"The great importance of purgatory, neither mind can conceive nor tongue describe. I see only that its pains are as great as those of hell; and yet I see that a soul, stained with the slightest fault, receiving this mercy, counts its pains as naught in comparison with this hindrance to her love. And I know that the greatest misery of the souls in purgatory is to behold in themselves aught that displeases God, and to discover that, in spite of his goodness, they had consented to it. And this is because, being in the state of grace, they see the reality and the importance of the impediments which hinder their approach to God."

~ St. Catherine of Genoa ~

Pope John Paul II: We Must Be Perfect to Enter God's Kingdom

"Sacred Scripture teaches us that we must be purified if we are to enter into perfect and complete union with God. Jesus Christ, who became the perfect expiation for our sins and took upon himself the punishment that was our due, brings us God's mercy and love. But before we enter into God's Kingdom every trace of sin within us must be eliminated, every imperfection in our soul must be corrected. This is exactly what takes place in Purgatory. Those who live in this state of purification after death are not separated from God but are immersed in the love of Christ. Neither are they separated from the saints in heaven - who already enjoy the fullness of eternal life - nor from us on earth - who continue on our pilgrim journey to the Father's house. We all remain united in the Mystical Body of Christ, and we can therefore offer up prayers and good works on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Purgatory. "

~ Pope John Paul II, General Audience, August 4, 1999 ~

Prayer to Our Lady of Montligeon

Our Lady Liberatrix,

have mercy on all our deceased loved ones,
especially those who are most in need of the Lord’s mercy.
Intercede for those who have left us,

and may the purifying love of God
lead them to full deliverance.
May our prayer, united with the prayer of the whole Church,

obtain for them joy beyond all their desires,

and bring consolation and relief to our loved ones in their suffering and distress.
Mother of the Church, help us, pilgrims on earth,
to make of our lives a time for our interior libreration
through our journey towards the Resurrection.
Heal the wounds of the heart and soul.
Help us to become witnesses to the Invisible,
seeking what the eye cannot see.
Grant us the grace of becoming apostles of Hope,
like watchmen awaiting the dawn.
Refuge of sinners and Queen of all saints,
gather us all, one day, in our Father’s house
for the eternal Easter. Amen

Our Lady of Montligeon, pray for our dear departed. Amen.

~ Prayer from Our Lady of Montligeon Shrine ~

For an easy to read and interesting short history of the Shrine click here.

St. Faustina: Greatest Torment of Souls in Purgatory

"[The next night] I saw my Guardian Angel, who ordered me to follow him. In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid. The flames which were burning them did not touch me at all. My Guardian Angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God. I saw Our Lady visiting the souls in Purgatory. The souls call her 'The Star of the Sea.' She brings them refreshment. I wanted to talk with them some more, but my Guardian Angel beckoned me to leave. We went out of that prison of suffering. [I heard an interior voice] which said, My mercy does not want this, but justice demands it. Since that time, I am in closer communion with the suffering souls." (20)

~ St. Faustina, from her Diary ~

A Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

O most gentle Heart of Jesus,

ever present in the Blessed Sacrament,

ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory,

have mercy on the souls of Thy departed servants.

Be not severe in Thy judgments,

but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames.

And do Thou, O merciful Saviour,

send Thy holy angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light and peace.

Amen.

~ From Purgatory Explained By The Lives And Legends Of The Saints ~

By Fr. F. X. Schoupe, S.J., Tan Books and Publishers

Purgatory is Hope

Purgatory Makes Sense

Pope Benedict XVI discusses the fact that some people "have suppressed all love within themselves" and others "are utterly pure", but most people will live their lives somewhere in between:

"46. Yet we know from experience that neither case is normal in human life. For the great majority of people—we may suppose—there remains in the depths of their being an ultimate interior openness to truth, to love, to God. In the concrete choices of life, however, it is covered over by ever new compromises with evil—much filth covers purity, but the thirst for purity remains and it still constantly re-emerges from all that is base and remains present in the soul. What happens to such individuals when they appear before the Judge? Will all the impurity they have amassed through life suddenly cease to matter? What else might occur? Saint Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, gives us an idea of the differing impact of God's judgement according to each person's particular circumstances. He does this using images which in some way try to express the invisible, without it being possible for us to conceptualize these images—simply because we can neither see into the world beyond death nor do we have any experience of it. Paul begins by saying that Christian life is built upon a common foundation: Jesus Christ. This foundation endures. If we have stood firm on this foundation and built our life upon it, we know that it cannot be taken away from us even in death. Then Paul continues: “Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Cor 3:12-15). In this text, it is in any case evident that our salvation can take different forms, that some of what is built may be burned down, that in order to be saved we personally have to pass through “fire” so as to become fully open to receiving God and able to take our place at the table of the eternal marriage-feast."

ENCYCLICAL LETTER SPE SALVI OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF BENEDICT XVI

Importance of Motivation to Please God

December 8th - 2:00 o'clock - The Immaculate Conception - Alas, how many lives seem to be filled with good works and at the death are found empty. This is because all those actions that appeared to be good, all those showy works, all that conduct that seemed irreproachable - all these were not done for Jesus alone. Some will have their eyes opened when they come here to this life (in Purgatory). On earth they wanted to be made much of, to shine, to be thought very exact in religious observances, to be esteemed as perfect religious. This is the mainspring of so many lives. If you only knew how few people work for God and act for Him alone. Alas, at death, when they are no longer blinded, what regrets they will have. If only sometimes they would think of eternity. What is life compared to that day which will have no evening for the elect, or to that night which will have no dawning for the damned? On earth, people attach themselves to everything and everyone except to Him, who alone ought to have our love and to whom we refuse it. Jesus in the Tabernacle waits for souls to love Him and He finds none. Hardly one soul in a thousand loves Him as it should. You love Him and make up to Him for this guilty indifference which exists all over this world.

~ From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

Spiritual Connection With Deceased Souls

Remembering the Souls in Purgatory

"When Saint Paul tells us that God dwells in inaccessible light,

we must remember the poor souls in purgatory,

who, with eyes still dim from the dust of this world,

are too weak to be able to gaze like the eagle on that dazzling brightness."

~ Blessed Ildefonso Schuster ~

Prayer to Mary for Souls in Purgatory

LANGUENTIBUS IN PURGATORIO

Those languishing in Purgatory,

who are purified in a fire beyond measure,

and are tormented in grevious suffering,

may your compassion relieve: O Mary!

You are the clear fountain that washes sins away,

you assist all and reject none;

extend your hand to the dead,

who languish under continual pains: O Mary!

The dead piously sigh unto you,

longing to be delivered from their pains,

and to be present in your sight,

and fully to enjoy eternal joys: O Mary!

Hasten, O Mother, to those lamenting,

show your Heart of mercy;

obtain that Jesus by his wounds

may vouchsafe to heal them: O Mary!

You the true hope of those crying out to you;

the multitude of members cry out to you

for their brethren, that you may appease your Son,

and he may give them the heavenly reward: O Mary!

Impart those tears that you consider good things,

which we pour out at the feet of the Judge;

may they now extinguish the might of the avenging fire,

that (the dead) may be joined to the angelic choirs: O Mary!

And when the just examination shall take place,

at the awesome judgment of God,

entreat your Son judging,

that our portion may be with the saints: O Mary!

From Magnificat, November 2007

Translated from Latin hymn by James Monti

Jesus Says to Offer His Holy Wounds for Souls in Purgatory

"My Holy Wounds sanctify souls and insure their spiritual advancement... Offer Me your actions united to My Sacred Wounds, and even the smallest will have an incomprehensible value."

"Offer them often to Me for sinners because I thirst for souls. At each word of the invocation that you utter, I will let a drop of My Blood fall upon the soul of a sinner."

"When you offer My Holy Wounds for sinners, you must not forget to do so for the souls in Purgatory, as there are but few who think of their relief. The Holy Wounds are the treasure of treasures for the souls in Purgatory."

~ Jesus to Sr. Mary Martha Chambon ~

For the promises Jesus gave to Sr. Mary Martha Chambon for those who practice devotion to His Holy Wounds and for the prayers requested by Him, go to Eucharistic Adoration for Priests.

A Reminder to Pray for Souls in Purgatory

"Do we forget to pray for souls in Purgatory? Perhaps a handy reminder such as the one found in the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo, often made use of by Padre Pio, should have a place in our homes. Located on a landing in the cloister is a list of one hundred sins, many of which souls in purgation suffer to be cleansed of, titled 'A Short and Easy Way to Pray for Souls in Purgatory'. Below this is a box containing numbered disks corresponding to the list of sins. Padre Pio would, when passing by, select a disk and recite an 'Eternal Rest' for those souls being purged of the indicated sin. Then, much happier, he would proceed on his painful way."

~ Fr. Alessio Parente O.F.M. Cap., from The Holy Souls ~

Museum of the Souls in Purgatory

For more information about the musem click here.

St. Odilo Church: USA Shrine of the Poor Souls

Did you ever hear of Saint Odilo? I hadn't until very recently. Among his other accomplishments, he established All Souls Day (November 2nd) in monasteries, and from there it spread throughout the rest of the Church. I was happy to hear that the USA has a parish, St. Odilo Church in Berwyn, illinois, dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

St. Odilo Church is the only parish in the United States dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. It was founded and sanctioned as the Shrine of the Poor Souls by His Eminence, George Cardinal Mundelein, in 1928, with a special indulgence of 200 days granted upon each visit to the shrine.

Who Was St. Odilo?

Fr. Anthony Brankin, pastor of the Shrine of the Poor Souls, teaches how and why we pray for the dead. He wrote:

"If every sin is an act of selfishness, then it must be compensated for by an act of love. Now the act of love, can be a prayer or a sacrifice done out of love. To offer up a sacrifice means that if we offer up our sufferings out of love for Jesus, we are taking our place on the cross with Him."

"Every Mass is our chance to be joined with Jesus in His sacrifice. And every prayer—every suffering—every pain—every inconvenience that we offer up to God in love is also our being on the Cross with Him."

For the rest of Father Brankin's words, written in the parish bulletin, read: Ramblings - Fr. Brankin

Morning Offering for Souls in Purgatory

A short offering which may be made each morning for the souls in Purgatory:

O my God, deign to accept my every thought, word, and action as a loving petition to Thy mercy on behalf of the suffering souls in Purgatory, particularly _____. I unite to Thy Sacred Passion the trials and contradictions of this day, which I purpose to bear with patience, in expiation for the sins and infidelities which retain Thy children in the purifying flames of Purgatory. Amen.

~ Taken from Stories About Purgatory And What They Reveal, Tan Publishers ~

Prayer to Avoid Purgatory

"... while we need to certainly pray for the dead,

we must pray for a good death, too.

We need to pray for a good death

not just for ourselves but for everyone,

especially those whom we know and love."

~ Fr S, Clerical Reform blog ~

PRAYER TO AVOID PURGATORY

O merciful Jesus,

by Your sorrowful passion and by that love which you have for me,

I beg You to cancel the punishments I deserve

in this life or the next because of my many sins.

Grant me, O Lord, a spirit of penance and purity of conscience.

Strengthen me to avoid every deliberate venial sin

and grant me the dispositions necessary to gain indulgences.

I resolve to help the Holy Souls in Purgatory with suffrages as much as I can.

And You, O infinite Goodness,

infuse into my soul ever greater fervor,

so that when my soul is separated from the bonds of my body,

it may be admitted into heaven to contemplate you forever. Amen.

What St. Thomas Aquinas Said About Purgatory

There is a purgatory after this life...

those who deny purgatory speak against the justice of God."

~ Saint Thomas Aquinas ~

Pope John Paul II Encourages Fervent Prayer for the Dead

"During the Eucharist, through the general intercessions and the Memento for the dead, the assembled community presents to the Father of all mercies those who have died, so that through the trial of purgatory they will be purified, if necessary, and attain eternal joy. In entrusting them to the Lord we recognize our solidarity with them and share in their salvation in this wondrous mystery of the Communion of Saints. The Church believes that the souls detained in purgatory "are helped by the prayers of the faithful and most of all by the acceptable Sacrifice of the Altar" (Council of Trent, Decree on Purgatory), as well as by "alms and other works of piety" (Eugene IV, Bull Laetantur Coeli)."

"I encourage Catholics to pray fervently for the dead, for their family members and for all our brothers and sisters who have died, that they may obtain the remission of the punishments due to their sins and may hear the Lord's call: 'Come, O my dear soul, to eternal repose in the arms of my goodness, which has prepared eternal delights for you"'.

~ Pope John Paul II ~

Thank God for the Communion of Saints!

For the Souls in Purgatory:

"Today we intercede for the members of the Church Expectant, those who have kept the faith, those who have fought the good fight and have finished their course. They enjoy the friendship of God and now they are waiting then, for their purification and preparation to be complete.

Let us pray that God, Our Father, will continue to have mercy on these faithful souls, and that they may quickly be purified and strengthened.

Eternal Rest grant unto them Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. "

A prayer for the Church Militant:

"Oh my Lord and Saviour,

support me in the hour of my death in the strong arms of Thy Sacraments,

and by the fresh fragrance of Thy Consolations.

Let the absolving words be said over me,

and the holy oil sign and seal me,

and Thy own Body be my food, and Thy Blood my sprinkling;

and let my sweet Mother, Mary, breathe on me,
and my Angel whisper peace to me,

and my glorious Saints smile upon me;

that in them all, and through them all,

I may receive the gift of perseverance, and die, as I desire to live,

in Thy faith, in Thy Church, in Thy service, and in Thy love. Amen"

The above quotes and prayer are from a blog I discovered today written by Fr. Ronald Check and with the beautiful title Seek His Face.

All Souls Mass for Faithful Departed Souls

"From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God."

~ Catechism of the Catholic Church 1032 ~

Avoiding Purgatory: "Love Covers a Multitude of Sins"

"While you are still on earth, it is impossible to understand what God demands of a soul expiating its sins in Purgatory. You are under the impression that many prayers, well said, will place a soul almost at once in possession of eternal happiness. It is nothing of the kind. Who can fathom the judgments of God? Who can understand how pure a soul must be before He admits it to share His eternal happiness? Alas, if people only knew, if they would only consider it while on earth, what different lives they would lead!

"Seriously reflect how many venial sins one who is careless about her eternal salvation commits in one day. How many minutes does she offer up to God? Does she think of Him seriously at all? Well, there are 365 days in one year, and if there are many such years, that person dies charged with a multitude of venial sins which have not been blotted out because she has not even thought of them.

"When such a soul appears before God to be judged there is scarcely a spark of love left in that soul when she comes to render an account of her life to Him who demands it back from her. Such all but sterile lives have to be begun all over again, when they reach the place of expiation. Lives lived without love for God will have to be atoned for here in Purgatory with intense sufferings. Whilst on earth, they did not profit by the mercy of God, but lived merely for the sake of the body. Now to regain their first splendor, they have to make satisfaction to the last farthing. That is what happens to indifferent souls. For souls of greater guilt, it is far worse.

"Try to love God now so much that you will not have to come here in order to learn how to love Him through sufferings which are without merit. The sufferings and trials of life are meritorious, therefore, do not lose one of them--but above all, love. Love wipes out many faults and makes one avoid them so as not to give pain to the One we love. That is why a soul that really loves Jesus is constantly on its guard to avoid everything that would grieve His divine Heart. There are many souls depending on you to deliver them from this place of suffering. Pray with all your heart for them."

~ From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

St. Michael's Mission Toward the Souls in Purgatory

"The best and most efficacious way of glorifying him (St. Michael) in Heaven and honoring him on earth is to spread devotion to the souls in Purgatory, and to make known the great mission he fulfills towards these suffering souls. It is he who is entrusted by God to lead the souls to the place of expiation and to lead them to their eternal home after purification. Each time a soul arrives to increase the number of the elect, God is glorified, and this glory in some way communicates itself also to the celestial minister. It is an honor for him to present to Our Lord the souls that will sing their thanks and His mercies through all eternity. I could never make you understand the intense love which the Heavenly Archangel has for his Divine Master, and the love which God in His turn has for St. Michael. Neither can I convey to you a true idea of the love and pity St. Michael has for us. He encourages us in our sufferings by speaking to us of Heaven.

Tell the Father that if he wishes to please St. Michael, he will most earnestly recommend devotion to the souls in Purgatory. People in the world do not think of it. When they have lost their relatives or friends, they say a few prayers, weep for a few days and that is the end of it. The souls are henceforth abandoned. It is true that they merit this, for while they were on earth they neglected the dead. The Divine Judge deals with us in this world according to our actions in the former. Those who have forgotten the holy souls are forgotten in their turn. This is only fair. Perhaps if they had been reminded to pray for the dead and had been told a little about Purgatory, they might have acted differently."

~ From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

(Revelation of a Nun Soul in Purgatory to a Nun on Earth)

Catholic Priest Preaches About Purgatory

A good Catholic priest has written a thought provoking post about praying for faithful departed souls. God bless him for preaching what the Church teaches!

Father has also posted his Sunday homily for today--excellent food for thought.

St. Mechtilde's "Our Father" for Souls In Purgatory

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, I beseech You, O Heavenly Father, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not love You sufficiently, nor render to You all the honor which is Your due, due to You their Lord and Father, Who, by pure grace, have adopted them as Your children. By their sins, rather, have they driven You from their souls, where You none the less wished always to live. In reparation for these faults, I offer You the love and veneration which Your Incarnate Son showed You all during His earthly life, and I offer all the acts of penance and satisfaction which He performed and by which He effaced and atoned for the sins of men.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME, I beg You, O Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not honor, always and fittingly, Your Holy Name, but often they took It in vain and proved unworthy of the name "Christian", by their lives of sin. In reparation for their faults, I offer to You all the honor which Your Well-Beloved Son rendered to Your Name by His words and deeds.

THY KINGDOM COME; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not always seek or adore Your Kingdom with enough fervor and diligence; this Kingdom, the only place where true rest and peace reign. In reparation for their omissions, through indifference to do what is good, I offer You the Most Holy Desire of Your Son, by which He wished that they also might become heirs of His Kingdom.

THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not always submit their will to Your Will. In reparation for their disobedience, I offer You the perfect conformity of the Heart, full of love, of Your Divine Son with Your Holy Will and the most profound submission which He showed in obeying You unto death on the Cross.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not always receive the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist with enough desire, but often without contemplation, or love, or even unworthily, or they neglected to receive It. In reparation for these faults, I offer You the outstanding Holiness and the great contemplation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Divine Son, addressed to You in favor of His enemies when He was on the Cross.

FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, all the faults of which they have been guilty through succumbing to the Seven Capital Sins and also in not having wished either to love or pardon their enemies. In reparation for these faults, I offer You the outstanding Holiness and the great contemplation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Divine Son, addressed to You in favor of His enemies when he was on the Cross.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, because too often they did not resist temptations and the passions, but they followed the Enemy of all goodness. In reparation for all these sins, in thought, word, and deed, I offer You the glorious victory which Our Lord won against the world, as well as His Most Holy Life, His Work and Sorrows, His Suffering and His Most Cruel Death.

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL; and from all punishments through the Infinite Merits of Your Well-Beloved Son and lead us, as well as the Souls in Purgatory, into Your Kingdom of eternal glory. Amen.

Good Shepherds Speak About Purgatory

"I would go so far as to say that if there was no purgatory,

then we would have to invent it,

for who would dare say of himself

that he was able to stand directly before God.

And yet we don't want to be, to use an image from Scripture,

'a pot that turned out wrong,' that has to be thrown away;

we want to be able to be put right.

Purgatory basically means that God can put the pieces back together again.

That He can cleanse us in such a way

that we are able to be with Him and can stand there in the fullness of life.

Purgatory strips off from one person what is unbearable

and from another the inability to bear certain things,

so that in each of them a pure heart is revealed,

and we can see that we all belong together in one enormous symphony of being."

~ Pope Benedict XVI ~

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Purgatory

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire (1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7)...

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore (Judas Maccabeus) made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin. From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead...

Introduction to Grateful for Purgatory

I do not believe it was my idea to start a new blog about Purgatory. I have plenty to keep me busy without adding another blog to my schedule; but since I believe it was the Holy Spirit who inspired me, how could I say no. I also believe it was the Holy Spirit who gave me the name for the blog. My initial reaction about starting the blog was that I wouldn't even know what to name a blog about Purgatory. When Grateful for Purgatory came to mind, I was hesitant to use it, thinking most people wouldn't understand why anyone would choose such a name. However, the more I thought about it and prayed about it--the more appropriate the name seemed to be.

I realize that Purgatory is not a popular topic and not likely to attract many readers. Even among Catholics who are supposed to believe in Purgatory, there is disinterest, and even disbelief, in the reality and necessity of a period of purification for most people before entering Heaven.

Today I happened upon a website where a writer gave all his arguments against the Catholic Church's teaching on Purgatory and expressed pity for poor misled Catholics who live in dread of death because of the fear of Purgatory, instead of the anticipated bliss of immediately seeing God after death--supposedly enjoyed by people of other religions.

Considering that the Word of God says that souls have to be perfectly pure before entering Heaven, I am grateful that God, in His merciful love, provides a place for purification instead of sending those that are not perfectly pure straight to Hell. If we are honest about it, how many people do we know (including ourselves) who are likely to have made sufficient reparation for their sins. I am grateful that God has provided, through the Catholic Church, the Sacraments to help in our purification while on earth and indulgences to help us pay our debt to God, offended by our sins.

I hope and pray to make reparation for my sins while on earth so I can bypass Purgatory when my soul leaves my dead body; BUT if I am not so blessed, I am extremely grateful that there is a place of temporary purification instead of automatic eternal damnation. I am grateful that God has provided that if I am in Purgatory the people of the Church Militant can help pay my debt and obtain my release. I am grateful that I can aid my most loved ones and other souls in Purgatory who are in need of help.

I will follow the Holy Spirit's lead about what to post on this blog. Even if no one ever reads it, I can be content that I was faithful to what He asked of me. May this blog achieve whatever it is that the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish.

A Revelation From a Nun in Purgatory

In November 1873, Sister M. de L. C. began hearing unwelcome prolonged sighs near her that continued until Feb. 15, 1874 when the source of the voice was revealed to her. At that time she heard the voice of a nun, Sister G., that had been her former companion until her death three years earlier at age 36. The deceased nun revealed that it was God's plan that relief of her sufferings and eventual deliverance from purgatory should be through Sr. M. de L. C..

The revelations to Sr. M. de L. C. were faithfully reported to her spiritual director who accepted the communications as genuine. Prominent priests and theologians declared there was nothing contrary to faith in the messages and that they could be of benefit to souls. They testified to Sr. M. de L. C.'s sound judgment and commonsense. As director of a boarding school, her pupils spoke of her as a saint and said that her words and actions impressed them more than any priests they knew and were a continuing source of inspiration to them.

An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory contains the communications between the two nuns. The spiritual advice and information from the deceased nun can be of benefit to anyone seeking to please God and have a closer relationship with Him.

Sr. G., the decease nun said:

"No one can have a real understanding of the sufferings in Purgatory. No one thinks of them in the world. Even religious communities forget that they should pray for the poor souls and that they should inspire their pupils with this devotion."

Bonds of Love With Faithful Departed Souls

Purgatory and Divine Mercy

"Today bring to Me the souls who are detained in Purgatory. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice."

~ Jesus to Saint Faustina ~

Prayer of Saint Faustina

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.