Saint Michael Center - Catholic Teachings

DOES PURGATORY EXIST?

What does the Church Say? We can see what the Catholic Catechism says about it in paragraphs 1030 and 1031:

Those who die in the grace and love of God, but are not perfectly pure, even if they are certain of eternal salvation, undergo a period of purification after their deaths in order to obtain the holiness necessary to enter into the joys of Heaven. This final purification of the chosen is called Purgatory by the Church and is quite a different thing from the punishment of the damned. The doctrine relative to Purgatory was formulated mainly in the Councils of Florence and Trent. Church tradition based on certain passages in the bible, talks about a purifying fire (Mt. 12:31).

This teaching rests on the practice of prayers for the dead as mentioned in Holy Scripture.

“Therefore (Judas Maccabei) made a sacrifice for the dead so they could be absolved of sin” (Maccabees. 12:46). Right from early times of the Church has honored the memory of the dead and has offered intercessions for them, especially the sacrifice of the Mass.

“THE SOULS IN PURGATORY SAID TO ME…”

Over the centuries God has given His permission to certain honored souls, including St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. John Bosco, St. Gertrude and St. Christine of Belgium, to take a privileged look at the other world and to confirm the truth through this exceptional experience. One of these privileged people is Maria Simman, an Austrian mystic. It has been God’s special gift to this humble peasant woman, who is more than 80 years old, to have been visited by souls from purgatory for more than 50 years.

WHAT DO THESE SOULS SAY?

They give warnings and information, they ask for intermissions and they talk about their sufferings in purgatory attenuated by the joyful awaiting and certainly that they will sooner or later find themselves in the arms of God. Above all they reveal to the living the immense possibilities they have to relieve the sufferings of the dead and to receive innumerable benefits in exchange.

WHAT IS PURGATORY LIKE?

Maria Simma answered Sister Emmanuel’s questions. She sees Purgatory in different ways: “there is a huge multitude of souls – it’s a continuous movement. Every soul is purified according to the nature of his sins and the degree of his attachment to the type of son committed. Heathens suffer a lighter but longer punishment in Purgatory while Catholic souls suffer more since more is expected of those who receive more. However, they receive more intermissions and this accelerates their liberation.

Every soul has a nostalgic longing for God and this is the most excruciating of the pains. Not a single soul would like to return to the earth to live as it did before in the darkness of this world, because now it knows things about which we have not the faintest idea. The souls in Purgatory suffer with admirable patience and praise Divine Mercy, thanks to which they have escaped hell.

Sister Emmanuel asked, “Maria, what are the sins that most frequently send souls to Purgatory?”

“They are sins against charity, sins against love for one’s neighbor, hardness of heart, hostility, calumny. I know that false witness and calumny are among the most serious of sins and require a long period of purification.”

Sister Emmanuel: “Well then, who are those that have the best change of going straight to Heaven?” “Those who have a good heart for everyone. Charity covers for a multitude of sins. St. Paul says so.”

Sister Emmanuel: “Maria, could you say whether it is God who sends a souls to Purgatory or is it the souls itself that decides to got there?”

“It is the souls itself that wants to got to Purgatory to purify itself before going to Heaven. We must do a great deal for the souls in Purgatory for they help us in their turn. Great humility is required: it is the greatest weapon against the Evil One. Humility eliminates evil.”

Sister Emmanuel: “Are there any differences of degree in Purgatory?” “Oh yes, a great difference in the degree of moral suffering. Every soul has its own special suffering to bear. The suffering in Purgatory is worse than any suffering on earth, but in a symbolic way. It causes most pain to the soul.”

HOW CAN WE HELP THE SOULS IN PURGATORY?

“What are the most efficacious means to free the souls from Purgatory?”

“Mass is the best means. Because during Mass, Christ offers Himself out of love for us. It is an offering of Christ Himself unto God, the most beautiful of all offerings. The efficacy of the Mass for the dead is so much greater and varies according to the esteem the dead themselves had for the Mass when they were alive. If they prayed with all their hearts during Mass and they also attended during the week, according to the time available to them, they will obtain great profit from the Masses said for them.”

- By Sister Emmanuel, Our Mother Queen of Peace Publication

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St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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