Have you ever wondered what the saints thought about purgatory? What did they believe when it comes to those souls who have repented of their sins but have not yet reached heaven?
In the Gospel, we are taught that only the pure can see God:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” – Matthew 5:8 (NRSVCE)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church also taught about the need to be purified before a soul can enter heaven:
“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.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church (1030 )
What can we learn about purgatory from the saints?
Here are some important lessons the saints can teach us about purgatory:
1. Purgatory purifies us for heaven
God knows the weakness of our human nature. Although we want to be holy and pure, we often fall. Even at the end of our lives, we may still have attachments to sins that can keep us from going straight to heaven.
But because of God’s mercy, He gives us a chance to be purified. This opportunity for the soul is what we call as purgatory.
“We must say many prayers for the souls of the faithful departed, for one must be so pure to enter heaven” – St. John Vianney
“No one is barred from heaven. Whoever wants to enter heaven may do so because God is merciful. Our Lord will welcome us into glory with His arms wide open. The Almighty is pure however, and if a person is conscious of the least trace of imperfection and at the same time understands that Purgatory is ordained to do away with such impediments, the soul enters this place of perfection gladly to accept so great a mercy of God.” – St. Catherine of Genoa
2. Purgatory purifies us by fire
The purification that awaits us in purgatory consists of a fire that cleanses us from our imperfections. But what kind of fire is this? Some saints tell us that this is the same fire also that is there in hell. The difference is that in purgatory, the suffering of the soul will one day come to an end.
“The fire of Purgatory is the same as the fire of Hell; the difference between them is that the fire of Purgatory is not everlasting.” – St. John Vianney
“That there should be some fire even after this life is not incredible, and it can be inquired into and either be discovered or left hidden whether some of the faithful may be saved, some more slowly and some more quickly in the greater or lesser degree in which they loved the good things that perish, through a certain purgatorial fire.” – St. Augustine
3. Souls in purgatory suffer because of their longing for God
At first thought, many of us would think that the pain caused by the fires of purgatory would be the soul’s greatest torment. However, the saints help us to see deeper. They help us to understand that the souls in purgatory suffer so much because of their deep longing for God.
“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. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God.” – St. Faustina
“The more one longs for a thing, the more painful does deprivation of it become. And because after this life, the desire for God, the Supreme Good, is intense in the souls of the just (because this impetus toward Him is not hampered by the weight of the body, and that time of enjoyment of the Perfect Good would have come) had there been no obstacle; the soul suffers enormously from the delay.” – St. Thomas Aquinas
4. We can help those in purgatory through our prayers
Although the souls in purgatory can no longer help themselves, they can still benefit from our prayers. We are not cut off from the departed but we remain united with them in a mysterious way.
“We must empty Purgatory with our prayers…” – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
“In our prayers, let us not forget sinners and the poor souls in Purgatory especially our poor relatives.” – St. Bernadette
5. Those we have helped in purgatory will also help us one day
The souls in purgatory will one day reach heaven and become saints in the very presence of God. If we pray for them now, they can also pray and intercede for us in heaven.
“If, during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.” – St. Paul of the Cross
“The blessed souls in purgatory are the Lord’s eternal spouses, and most grateful are they to those who obtain their deliverance from prison, or even a mitigation of their torments. When, therefore, they arrive in Heaven, they will be sure to remember all who have prayed for them.” – St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
“With Charity towards the dead we practice all the works of charity. The Church encourages us to aid the souls in purgatory, who in turn will reward us abundantly when they come into their glory.” – St. Francis de Sales
6. Even in suffering, those in purgatory experience great joy!
The suffering of souls who are in purgatory may be great, but so is their happiness. Joy is not far from them because they know that their suffering will one day come to an end. One day, they will see God face to face and they shall be with Him forever in heaven!
“I believe no happiness can be found worthy to be compared with that of a soul in Purgatory except that of the saints in Paradise; and day by day this happiness grows as God flows into these souls, more and more as the hindrance to His entrance is consumed. Sin’s rust is the hindrance, and the fire burns the rust away so that more and more the soul opens itself up to the divine inflowing.” – St. Catherine of Genoa
7. Souls in purgatory find consolation in the Blessed Virgin Mary
Even in purgatory, we are not abandoned by our Mother Mary. Let us begin our devotion to her in this life that we may always find help even in the next.
St. Bridget to our Lady: You are My Mother, the Mother of Mercy, and the consolation of the souls in Purgatory.
Our Blessed Lady to St. Bridget: I am the Mother of all the Poor Souls, for my prayers serve to mitigate their sufferings every single hour that they remain there (purgatory).
“The clients of this most merciful Mother are very fortunate. She helps them both in this life and in the next, consoling them and sponsoring their cause in Purgatory. For the simple reason that the Souls in Purgatory need help so desperately, since they cannot help themselves, our Mother of Mercy does so much more to relieve them. She exercises over these Poor Souls, who are the spouses of Christ, particular dominion, with power to relieve them and even deliver them from their pains.” – St. Alphonsus Liguori
Final Thoughts on Purgatory
Death is but the beginning of a soul’s journey for purification. For those who have sincerely repented of their sins, God offers one final opportunity to be pure so that they can one day enter the eternal joys of heaven.
Let us do all we can here on earth, availing of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and repenting even of our venial sins.
Let us pray for all of the souls in purgatory, especially for our departed loved ones. May we all meet one day in heaven by the grace and mercy of God!
“As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them, coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say ‘a poor soul you prayed for in purgatory.’” – Venerable Fulton Sheen
Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the book Defending My Catholic Faith (Straight Answers to Common Catholic Questions).
You may also want to read “What Should You Look Forward To In Heaven?”
You may also want to read “How to Avoid Purgatory and Go Straight to Heaven!” and “Are Most Catholics Meant Only for Purgatory?”
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