In his book Le purgatoire dans tous ses États (roughly ‘The many stages of Purgatory’), Don Paul Denizot emphasizes how purgatory is a place for purification and healing. On Radio Maria’s invitation, he explains the role of suffering for purifying the soul and how we can help souls in purgatory.
You can listen to this podcast in French on Radio Maria.fr or by clicking on the link below:
What is purgatory?
Purgatory is a stage where the souls of those who passed away in friendship with God but still need to be purified, get prepared to fully into enter the joy of heaven.
Praying for the departed, a deeply rooted tradition
For centuries and time immemorial, the Christians have prayed for their deceased. Purgatory, or post-mortem purification, has always been part of Catholic faith. It was formalized as a reality at the Council of Florence in the 15th century. It declined in the 19th century in the West. However, in Africa, Asia, South America and the United States, people live with it.
Praying for the souls in purgatory is a charitable action which helps bring them closer to God. This is what we do at Montligeon: we pray for them, and perpetual mass is celebrated daily for the deceased entrusted to the Montligeon Fraternity, and also for the living.
A place of healing
Far from the idea that purgatory is a kind of temporary hell, the Church teaches that, above all, it is a time of healing. On the day of our death, we will meet the Christ’s loving gaze, which will make us aware of all our filth, ingratitude, cowardice, selfishness, lack of openness to love, as well as all the times we refused to forgive.
Saint Catherine of Genoa had a mystical experience of purgatory, described in her beautiful account,The Purgatory Treatise. She explains how the souls throw themselves into purgatory just because they feel unworthy of seeing God.
The Lord does want us in Heaven, with Him. Therefore purgatory is a result of His mercy, to open our hearts, burn away the after-effects of sin and prepare for the joy of Heaven. It is a healing stage. The St. Curé d’Ars used to call it the infirmary of the Good Lord.
Suffering is important for our purification
Suffering in purgatory is not a punishment from God. It is but the consequence of purification. It is not God’s will. It is caused by the healing of our bonds to sin, like withdrawal from addiction.
Any suffering, ordeal and unconveniences experienced and accepted here on Earth are already a means of drawing closer to God. They are an opportunity to let go, to learn to depend on others and be open to God’s love. This is quite mysterious, but suffering can become a crucible that teaches us to love.
Helping the souls in purgatory
We can help the souls in purgatory through our prayers, acts of charity, indulgences and by offering masses. There are other great things we can do, such as forgiving and giving thanks. By praying for the souls in purgatory, we help our deceased and participate in a work of mercy.
In the Second Council of the Vatican, the union of the dead with those still on earth was established. Such union is strengthened by an exchange of spiritual goods. Our deceased, though physically absent, are close to us in faith.
Don Paul Denizot
To find out more, read Le purgatoire dans tous ses états by don Paul Denizot and Bénédicte de Saint-Germain, published by Editions des Béatitudes.
