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Author Topic: "Poor Souls" in Purgatory  (Read 409 times)

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Offline d15

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"Poor Souls" in Purgatory
« on: July 25, 2013, 12:29:45 PM »
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    • I've often heard the souls in Purgatory referred to as the "Poor Souls," the "Unfortunate Souls," and the like.  This has never made sense to me; why call them this?  While it is true that they are undergoing a harsh purification, the souls in Purgatory know for a fact that they will eventually be in Heaven.  What is poor or unfortunate about that?  The certain knowledge of the Beatific Vision would seem to make even the most severe penance bearable.

    If anything, I think the terms "poor" and "unfortunate" should be applied to the souls in Hell, who will never be in Heaven.
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    Offline jen51

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    "Poor Souls" in Purgatory
    « Reply #1 on: July 25, 2013, 01:39:39 PM »
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    • Hmmm. Well, in Purgatory I imagine the physical pain inflicted on you is dwarfed in comparison to knowing just how much you have offended God. It must be excruciating. I've heard it said that a minute in purgatory is likened to 10 years, or something like that. That's a long time of suffering. The pain we'll suffer in purgatory is far worse than the pain we'll suffer here on earth, but the pain of longing for the beatific vision is said to be infinately worse.

    I feel a lot of pity for the poor souls in purgatory. They are suffering greatly. I'd like to avoid time spent there as much as possible by expiating my past sins right now, and ammending my ways to avoid sinning in the future.

    A book that really helped me to understand just how much the poor souls suffer is a book called "Purgatory" by Fr. Schouppe. I think it would be worth checking out! His words are much more convincing than mine.  :smile:
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    Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.
    ~James 1:27
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