The following story seems to indicate that the soul can remain with the body for more than an hour or three. Perhaps as in the case below, it is God's mercy that delays judgement for reasons unknown to us.
Miracle of dead boy raised to life by St. Don Bosco:
(http://www.afcmmedia.org/donbosco.jpg)
Saint Don Bosco, founder of the Salesian Order was blessed with a multitude of spiritual gifts including the gift of miracles and raising people from the dead. One of the most famous instances of the Saint raising a dead boy to life occurred in the year 1849. A 15 year old boy named Charles who used to attend the Oratory of Saint Don Bosco was dying. He kept calling for the Saint from his death bed. As the Saint was away, his parents called for another priest who heard the boy’s confession before he died.
When Saint Don Bosco returned from Turin and heard of the boy’s death he hurried to his home and asked about him. A servant of the house told him that the boy was dead for long. On hearing this Saint Don Bosco replied that the boy was “just asleep”. But the servant again assured him that the boy was dead and it was certified by the doctors and led him to the grieving parents of the boy. On seeing the Saint, the mother sadly informed him how Charles kept calling for him before he died. He was then taken to the sickroom chamber where the body of the boy was laid. The body of the boy lay there lifeless and ready for burial. It was sewn into a sheet with a white veil covering the head. St. Don Bosco asked everyone to leave the room except the mother and an aunt. He then closed the door, prayed for a moment and cried out “Charles! Rise!”
The body of the boy within the sheet began to move! The tearful mother and aunt watched in awe. Saint Don Bosco then tore away the sheet from the body and removed the white veil covering the face. Charles sighed, stirred and opened his eyes. He stared at his mother and asked her why he was dressed in the now torn shroud. Then he noticed Saint Don Bosco and greeted him happily and thankfully. The boy then told him how he had needed him to hear his confession because out of fear he had not confessed all his sins in his previous confession and because of that he should have been in hell by now. He then told Saint Don Bosco how he had dreamed that he was surrounded by a mob of demons who were about to throw him into the flames of a huge furnace when a beautiful Lady had intervened. She told him, “There is still hope for you, Charles! You have not yet been judged.” At that moment he heard Saint Don Bosco ordering him to rise. The mother and the aunt left the room as the boy asked to confess. After his confession, Charles cried out loudly for all to hear “Don Bosco has saved me!” All the mourners rushed into the room to see him and hear his story.
But despite his liveliness, his body still remained dead cold. The moment to take a decision was approaching soon. Saint Don Bosco remarked on the goodness of God in showing the value of a good confession. Then he asked Charles, now that he was ready for Heaven, would he stay on earth or go to Heaven. The boy was again sad and turned his face from his mother and aunt. After a few moments of thought, he said “Don Bosco, I’d rather go to Heaven.” Then Charles leaned back, closed his eyes and was once again dead!!
This incident was narrated by Don Bosco several times during his lifetime and is definitely a remarkable way in which God chose to show the importance of a good confession.