Why is there a Purgatory?
"I will give glory to the Lord according to His justice." - Psalm 7:18
The object of Purgatory is to purify the souls of the dead who are not in that state of culpability which merits the eternal torments of hell, nor in that state of purity required to appear immediately before the thrice-holy God Who reigns in heaven.
To this number belong sinners formerly guilty of mortal sins pardoned but not yet sufficiently expiated, and the imperfect tainted by venial sins, forgiven or not, which remain to be atoned for by sufficient penance.
Purgatory is therefore only a transitory state, a temporary expiation of which the term is more or less distant, according to the degree of guilt of each soul, or, rather, according to its debt of expiation. To understand this well, it is necessary to know that in sin we distinguish two things: the offence done to God, and the chastisement which must be the punishment. It is true, the offence is pardoned after absolution received in the Sacrament of Penance. If our dispositions of sorrow and love of God were perfect, then all the punishment would likewise be totally remitted. But generally our dispositions are such that the eternal punisliment due to mortal sin is only changed into a temporal punishment, which it is necessary to endure in this life by doing a severe penance, or after death by suffering in Purgatory. In fact, the penitent rarely has the sufficient and necessary contrition to efface and discharge all temporal punishment, and the penances imposed by the confessor are nearly always too insufficient to liquidate the debt of expiation. Now, for want of expiation here below, or of indulgences gained in requisite dispositions during life, it is necessary that the soul should make satisfaction to the divine Justice in the pains of Purgatory after death, and such is the purpose for which God has established this place of expiatory sufferings.
Saint Frances visits Purgatory
We read in the life of Saint Frances of Rome that an angel compelled her to survey the place for the purification of souls. She tells us that Purgatory is divided into three parts, eacii subdivided into three regions. Sharp and fiery flames fill Purgatory; but at the same time, far from being dark and gloomy as those of hell, they shed a living light. The souls who go there know that, to be renewed and prepared for heaven, it is necessary that they siiould be cleansed of all their blemishes. Their sufferings equal those of hell, but are soothed by the holy love of God and by their will submitting to His justice; they aie accompanied by hope and desire. Hope sustains and consoles the souls during the time of expiatory sufferings; the inexpressible desire which moves them towards the Supreme Good, of which they are deprived, is the most cruel of their torments; but at the same time the consciousness of the successive purification which is operating in them, the thirst of satisfying eternal Justice, are so very forcible, that they wouhd not wish to leave this, the abode of the Church Suffering, before being able to present themselves to the Judge of the living and the dead clothed with their new robe of innocence; for nothing defiled can enter heaven. It was revealed to this saint that the penitent who confesses and is absolved has seldom the contrition necessary to efface temporal punishment, and that the penances imposed are inadequate to the offences; therefore, in default of indulgences gained with the requisite dispositions, it is necessary to satisfy the justice of God by the pangs of Purgatory, which exceed all that we can imagine.
Practice
Pray for Protestants who do not believe in Purgatory, and for bad Catholics who seldom think of it.
Prayers
ACT OF FAITH
My God, I firmly believe all that ihe Church believes and teaches, and especially the existence of a place of expiation called Purgatory, where the faithful complete, after death, the satis- faction due to Thy justice. I believe it, because it is Thou, O infallible truth, Who hast revealed it, and because Thou canst neither deceive nor be deceived.
ACT OF HOPE
My God, I hope for Thy holy grace in this world, and that, after having atoned for all my sins wiiether it be in this life or in Purgatory, Thou wilt permit me to enter paradise through the meritstof Jesus Christ, my Saviour.
ACT OF CHARITY
My God, I love Thee with all my heart, above all things, and I love my neighbor as myself for love of Thee.
For this double motive, I entreat Thee to comfort and even to release entirely the souls in Purgatory, so that our love for Thee and for them may be satisfied.
- text taken from Month of the Dead by Father Celestin Cloquet, translated by a Sister of Mercy, with the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael Augustine Corrigan, Archdiocese of New York, 18 October 1886