Author Topic: Meditatiions on the poor Souls in purgatory (Read 8874 times)

Binechi · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2014, 12:27:02 PM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 15th

The Pain of Sense in Purgatory

The pain of Purgatory is the penalty of sin, and sin is a greater evil than all the other evils of the whole world. Even the least venial sin deliberately committed, is a worse evil than all the physical misery men have endured from the Creation until now. Hence, the corresponding punishment must involve greater suffering than any earthly anguish. Some have even maintained that the lightest suffering in Purgatory is more intolerable than the worst suffering on earth, and this opinion has in its favor the authority of St. Thomas himself. What reason, then, have I to dread Purgatory and seek to atone for sin now!

The physical pain that the soul suffers in this life is dulled, in that it comes through the medium of the corruptible body, but in Purgatory it directly and immediately affects the soul. Hence, it comes with far greater intensity, inasmuch as the soul is the root and spring of all sensibility. It will be more closely in contact with the fire, and at the same time the fire will be endowed with a power to torture it with misery far worse than the utmost pangs which can be inflicted when the body intervenes.

The pain that we suffer in this life has necessarily a limit by means of the weakness of the body. Men faint away under extreme torture. But in Purgatory the soul, freed from the body, will have no such limit fixed to its agony; its power of endurance will be in proportion to the suffering it has deserved. How can I avoid this awful agony that threatens me? Cultivate a love of mortification now, and a hatred of any unlawful indulgence of the body.

by the Rev. R.F. Clarke, S.J.

Binechi · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2014, 07:40:36 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 16th

The Pain of Loss in Purgatory

The pain of loss arises from the separation to the Holy Souls from God. In losing God, they lose everything that can satisfy the higher faculties of the soul. For one instant they have seen face to face the glory of God as reflected in the Sacred Humanity of Jesus Christ, and from that moment they long after Him with all the force of their spiritual nature. The consciousness that there is a barrier that separates them from Him whom alone they love, and after whom they crave unceasingly, is to them an agony far worse than that of the tormenting flames.

In this life men scarcely feel the absence of God, because there are a thousand external things that distract them. But in Purgatory there will be nothing to occupy the intellect and the will, nothing but the blackness of darkness and the hungry yearning of the heart, that will have nothing to feed upon, no one on whom to pour out the treasures of its love, nothing for the mind to dwell upon save its own misery, the unspeakable misery of being deprived of God. O my God, grant that I may never be separated from Thee!

Even here we know the agony that is caused by the unsatisfied craving for mere earthly love. Men who are separated from the object of their love seem able to find no happiness or consolation in aught else. The intensity of their misery sometimes drives them to madness, to ѕυιcιdє. Yet their agony is but a trifle compared with the agony of the Holy Souls deprived of God. How gladly they would suffer any physical torments for one ray of light from the throne of God! Pray for an appreciation of what it is to love God.

by the Rev. R.F. Clarke, S.J.

Binechi · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2014, 08:10:44 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 17th

The Degrees of Pain in Purgatory

The pain of sense and the pain of loss have each of them an almost indefinite number of degrees. The pain of sense varies in proportion to the indulgence of the senses on earth, and the knowledge possessed of the sinfulness of this indulgence. All the advantages and graces that they have received will but add to their punishment, in as far as they have wilfully thrown away those golden opportunities of self-conquest.

The pain of loss, too, will vary according to the degree of holiness which was within their reach. All will experience their greatest suffering from the loss of God, but with some the loss, however great in itself, will be felt far less sensibly. It is those who were called to a high sanctity, to whom God revealed Himself with a special intimacy of love on earth, who will appreciate most intensely the misery of separation from Him. What reason then I have to tremble!

Each of these two kinds of pain will gradually be assuaged as time goes on. They will be worst at first, and will diminish little by little as the debt to be paid becomes lighter. This mitigation will be hastened on by the prayers and good works offered for the Holy Souls on earth, by the supplications of the Church, and above all, by the Sacrifice of the Mass. How much we may do for those who are suffering for their sins! Pray that you may earn a speedy relief.

by the Rev. R.F. Clarke, S.J.

Binechi · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2014, 07:14:49 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 18th

Our Kinsfolk in Purgatory

Most of us have some who are related to us by blood still suffering in the Purgatorial fire, father or mother, brother or sister, some other kinsmen perhaps more closely connected with us. All these have a special claim upon us. They are bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. To neglect them is very cruel; as it would be to neglect those of our family, who are suffering on earth in some way we could easily relieve. Might I not do more for my relations who are still in need of my help?

We all shrink from unnatural cruelty: a son who neglects his mother in her need; a parent who leaves his child in misery. There is a sort of unnatural cruelty in neglecting those to whom we owe much, and whom God has in some way entrusted to us. They are now dependent on us, stretching out their hands for spiritual alms, for Masses, Prayers, Indulgences. I might so easily do more--why do I not do it?

We read in the parable of Dives how he dreaded the presence of his brethren in the place where he was in torments. This will also be the case in Purgatory. How bitter it will be to us to know that there are some closely united to us by blood, who are also there through our fault or neglect! If we had shown charity to them in this life, they might long ago have been in Heaven, praying for our deliverance. Instead of that, our Purgatory will be prolonged for our unkindness to them, and will be intensified by self-reproach. God will treat us as we have treated them. Think of your suffering relations and beware of neglecting them.

by the Rev. R.F. Clarke, S.J.

Binechi · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2014, 03:13:46 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 19th

Our Friends and Acquaintances Purgatory

Of all those with whom we have been connected by some tie of friendship or affection, of companionship, or common occupation, or business, how many there must be who are now in Purgatory! Most of them have some sort of claim on us. Some have been entrusted to our care; others have been influenced by our example; others have claims on our gratitude; others have in some way helped us on our way to Heaven. To all these we should seek to hold out a hand during their time of suffering.

There is one class in Purgatory whom we are bound to help. In the course of our lives we have done much harm and little good. The harm we have done has had an evil influence on others; perhaps we have led them into sin by our bad example. We might have done so much by the holiness of our lives to make them love God, and we have done so little! Will there not be many whose time in Purgatory will be much longer than it would have been if I had only lived up to a higher standard?

There are also many in Purgatory who have commended themselves to our prayers or been commended to us after their death; we have promised to pray for them, yet we have done little or nothing for them. How unkind they must think us to have forgotten them! In our thoughtlessness we have lost an opportunity of charity that would have won for us their grateful thanks for all eternity. Examine yourself as to whether you owe help to any in Purgatory by reason of either (1) your bad example, (2) your neglect of duty to them when alive, (3) your neglect of your promise to help them after death.

by the Rev. R.F. Clarke, S.J.