Some thoughts on the Souls in Purgatory

They don't make them like that anymore!

 

For the solar rays, if they are very strong , stay in, but as a rule take Vit D, or better Vit. D 3. This will protect one from skin cancer and cancer itself.
I get my information from cancer patient advocates. You can check on the solar rays on the net. Also take chlorophyll. Liquid is less expensive and therefore get more bang for your buck.

 

This came in my email this morning from Father Jack's espirations. It's all about Purgatory.

What About Purgatory?
by Friar Jim Van Vurst, OFM

Purgatory 101

One thing we see through the history of the Church is that, with certain doctrines, something changes in the way they are understood. Take, for example, purgatory. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you might be surprised to know that there are only three paragraphs devoted to purgatory (1030, 1031, and 1032). The first states that those who die in God’s friendship, but are still imperfectly purified, are assured of eternal salvation. They undergo a purification to achieve the necessary holiness.

It states that the purification of purgatory is totally different from those in hell, which is eternal separation from God. Many of the visionary saints have described the suffering as a purifying fire, but that is not part of our revelation. It is only an image of suffering for us to contemplate since the body is buried in the ground and the soul, in its imperfect union with God, could not suffer from any physical punishment.

Achieving Holiness

First, we have to remember that purgatory is a very important and essential doctrine of the Church. Scripture emphasized that, when we die, we are accountable for our lives on earth. Jesus died for us in order for us to be saved. But we are still responsible for our lives and our sins. We cannot white-wash this by saying, “It doesn’t matter what I do. I believe in Jesus. He cleanses me.” Yes, Jesus died, but we are still accountable.

Second, we must remember that, even if we die with sin on our souls, that does not keep us from heaven. What that means is our union with God is not perfect. Heaven is perfect union with God; purgatory is imperfect union with God. That’s why the Church says that “those in purgatory are assured of their eternal salvation.”

Third, if we talk about suffering, we should give up the idea of fire. We should concentrate more on the realization that, in purgatory, the imperfect souls now see God’s infinite goodness as well as their own sinfulness. Isn’t it a great suffering to experience, after the death of a loved one, the regret of not having done enough for them when they were alive? We think of all the things we could have done, our own selfishness, and so much more. Purgatory is better seen as a suffering for what might have been if we loved more.

The End

So how does it end? Purgatory could be turned into simply a pity party for ourselves, which, of course, is more self-centeredness. The end comes when we finally surrender to God’s love knowing that, even in our sins, God loved us as we are: weak and fragile sinners. We must allow God’s love to cleanse us. We must fall into his arms.

It's from the Franciscan Media. I subscribe to many of the emails they send.

 

Padraig, I agree with you on this. The messages of Our Mother bring hope to a very tired and troubled world where there is little hope.

 

I would agree with the Father that Purgatory is not generally speaking a fire. I am not sure aboout the lowest level, the seventh, the one next door to hell , well it looks very much like fire to me. In any case its as good a description as you can get for the appalling suffering. Hell without the eternal part.

The higher levels no they are not a fire , but still huge suffering. Which lestens as you rise throughthe levels. The last stage souls are allowed to kinda pine in places like in a Church in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Lije a hall way to heaven, but still grim.

Hell is fire. It doesn't matter literal or not. Its better folks think of it that way so they avoid it. The same goes with purgatory. Better to think of entering by the narrow door.

 

I agree, but how many of us will ever be pure enough to go straight to heaven. I'd like to be, but....

 

Years ago when I worked for a Catholic publishing company and we used to get many requests for this movie (The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima) but we couldn't supply it. After I left, I did some research and found that it was a Warner Bros. film. I contacted Warner Bros. and they offered me permanent worldwide rights for £10,000. I didn't have the cash at the time and have discovered since that they appear to have abandoned their copyright . I bought a copy on eBay and could probably copy mine quite legally if anyone is interested.
When I was six, the whole school went to see it at the cinema next to the school and I never forgot it. It was the miracle of the sun at Fatima that persuaded me, in my cynical teen years, that the spiritual world was a reality.

 

God hugs you.
You are encircled by the arms
of the mystery of God.
Glance at the sun. See the moon and the stars.
Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings.
Now, think.
What delight God gives to humankind
with all these things. . . .
All nature is at the disposal of humankind.
We are to work with it. For
without we cannot survive.
All of creation God gives to humankind to use. If this privilege is misused, God’s justice permits creation to punish humanity. St Hildegard of Bingnen


How very strange it must have been for the unbelievers who came to scoff!! Especially for the Government officials and the reporters from the big anti -Catholic Liberal Lisbon papers such as 'O Seculo' .





I have often thought that atheism is itself a form of faith. For if we cannot, 'Prove' that God exists, neither again can it be, 'Proven that he does not. Agnosticism, simply throwing uo our hands and saying, 'I do not know ' , seems to be more logical than saying, 'I do not believe'.

But how hard for these poor men who looked at the sun dancing and to keep the simple faith of their unbelif. It must have torn the very ground out from under their feet.

Even if they were to regain again their scepticism how could there ever again not be the gnawing of the worms of doubt as they recall the sun dancing, right in front of their eyes?


Buit one question remanins in my heart as I recall the sun dancing at Fatima as it does today in so many places. I know that it is sent by God as both a proof of His existence and as a Warning. But why in particular the sun? Why did God choose the sun to dance? He could have chosen a billion sgns, a thousand marching angels, the trees dancing, the mountains turning to glass, why oh why the sun? Why the sun?

Well I don't honestly know. Some people guess it represents the host in Holy Communion, maybe; but somehow this does not satisfy me....perhaps it is that the sun symbolises God, just as the moon represents MAry|?

But there is a passage in the Book of Joshua that shows this is not the first time God has used the sun as a sign..


Joshua 10:13

New King James Version (NKJV)
13 So the sun stood still,
And the moon stopped,
Till the people had revenge
Upon their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

 

Padraig, you amaze me how you put so much effort into your posts. Scripture, videos, pictures (where DO you get those!) and quotes and now poetry...!

I have to say that Sr. Lucia has to be one of the most influential people in my life. I would have loved to have met her. She must have had the courage of a lion and the humility of a child. What a great responsibility and what great faith and patience she had. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall in the convent!

 

I saw a wonderful clip one time Marti of Sister Lucia in Careml. I think it was a Feast of Our Lady. She seemed so natural and happy and the other nuns were paying her no special attention, which I liked.

I suppose it is good to remember these souls whom God taps us on the shoulder and tells us to pay attention to.

But I wonder if there are not many, many bigger saints out there that God keeps all to himself, completley hidden ,even from very prying nosey eyes like mine. People who, on the surface are very unattractive but underneath are the greatest saints who ever lived?

 

Wow! I'm confused! Maybe it's just because I woke up, but MS7, what does this have to do with the Holy Souls? Sorry, I'm just missing the point. I guess I'm half asleep.

 

Ok, now I'm even more confused. Like I said, I just woke up. The question should be addressed to Padraig. Sorry MS7.

 

We wandered.

 

Ok, I was just so confused! Having the kids home for Thanksgiving and staying up much later than I am used to staying up has made me so tired. I thought I had missed a huge connection! Thanks for clarifying!!! I thought I was going crazy!!!

 

You are going crazy...its ok, we are with you and we are all crazy...lol

 

I'm glad I'm in good company!!!!

 

For some interesting and uplifting stories about apparitions of the Holy Souls see:
http://archive.org/stream/consolationspurg00fauruoft#page/172/mode/2up

 

Thank you, that looks like some interesting reading.

 

Thank you SteveD for that link.

 

..and don't forget Maria SImna!