Author Topic: Meditatiions on the poor Souls in purgatory (Read 5375 times)

Binechi · « **on:** November 12, 2014, 03:37:21 PM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 11th

The Meditations of the Souls in Purgatory

The Holy Souls will mourn and lament over their blindness and folly in accepting the miserable satisfaction of the transitory pleasures of earth at the cost of the separation from God and the physical torment that is their due. "Fools that we were!" they will cry out, "All the pleasures of our past life are not worth mentioning in comparison with the pain of one hour, nay, of one moment in Purgatory. They were but a shadow that passed by, the remembrance of them does but add to our suffering."

"Fools that we were!" they will again cry out, "We did not accept with resignation the sorrows and trials of earth. By our impatience, our murmuring, our discontent, we only made ourselves more miserable, and, for this very misery, added to our lot on earth by our own folly, we are suffering now far greater misery in these torturing flames, and by our separation from Him Who is the source of all happiness and all joy."

"Fools that we were! We might have turned all those sufferings into happiness, if we had used them as we ought. We might have lightened them, and made them comparatively easy to bear, if we had been resigned to the holy will of God; nay, we might have earned merit from each and all, and learned willingly and of our own accord that lesson of patience that here we learn, willingly, indeed, but nevertheless painfully, and as a just penalty of our impatience." Reflect what will be to you the chief cause of suffering when you come to Purgatory? Pleasures wrongfully indulged? or self-love? or sufferings badly borne?

Binechi · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2014, 05:03:02 PM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 12th

Some Further Meditations of the Souls in Purgatory

There are other thoughts still more painful, which will be continually present to the Holy Souls. "If we had used our time on earth more prudently, we might have avoided our Purgatory altogether. How often the whispers of God's grace suggested to us some pious work, some deed of charity to others, some little sacrifice of present comfort for the sake of helping those in need, some mortification of our senses, a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, the devotion of some portion of time to prayer or spiritual reading! If we had only listened and obeyed, we should be in Heaven now instead of in the agony of the tormenting fire." Am I obedient to such daily inspirations?

"If we had taken all the means in our power to atone while on earth for sins already committed, we might have anticipated a part or perhaps the whole, of our Purgatory. But we were satisfied with confessing our sins, and so getting rid of the guilt; and then we thought that we had done all that was necessary, instead of making frequent acts of contrition, and performing penances and good works with the object of freeing ourselves from the punishment still due."

"How generous God would have been to us in remitting the penalty still remaining, if we had shown an anxiety to do our part in freeing ourselves from the debt that still had to be paid. How liberal He would have been in rewarding each prayer, each aspiration, each kind word or thoughtful act! Fools that we were to prefer our own will, comfort, ease, to the holy will of God!" See what you can do to expiate past sins.

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

Binechi · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2014, 05:17:14 PM »

Binechi · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2014, 06:59:38 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 13th

The Sorrows of Purgatory

What is it that will cause the chief sorrows of Purgatory? Above all and before all, the Holy Souls will sorrow at the thought of their having ventured to offend that God whom they love with every power of their soul, and whose Love eclipses all other love. "How could we have dared to offend a God so holy, a God so loving, a God of infinite power, glory, and majesty?" They will hate and loathe themselves at the thought, and would gladly endure their physical pain multiplied a thousand-fold, if only they could be rid of the gnawing pain at the thought of their having sinned against God.

They will also sorrow at the thought of the happiness they have lost to all eternity. They will appreciate the immeasurable loss that they will suffer through all eternity for each venial sin, for each deliberate neglect of grace. On earth they never appreciated, as they do now, how it would have been better to accept any temporal anguish rather than lose one single degree of glory in Heaven; but now they are cut to the heart at thinking how they have thrown away, not one degree alone, but countless degrees of the happiness after which they long; all this thrown away irreparably and for ever!

This sorrow swallows up their present suffering, or rather they would willingly endure their present suffering for ten thousand years more, if only they could regain the degree of happiness they have forfeited. What is any temporal pain compared with an eternal loss? and a loss, too, which means a certain loss of God and loss of Heaven-- and that for ever. Pray for greater sorrow now, and a sorrow that may avert the sorrow of Purgatory.

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

Binechi · « **Reply #4 on:** November 14, 2014, 07:13:32 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 14th

The Fire of Purgatory

Every work of God is perfect in its kind, and that which He does immediately by the exercise of His Divine power has always a greater force than that which He does through the agency of Others. God Himself kindles the fire of Purgatory. "The breath of the Lord, like a flame of fire, doth kindle it." Hence the fierceness of the torment it inflicts. It tortures the soul in Purgatory far more than the material fire of earth tortures the body. It reflects in some way the Infinite Majesty of God.

According to St. Augustine, the fire of Purgatory is of the same kind as the fire of Hell. Venerable Bede narrates how one, who was conducted by an angel in a vision to Purgatory, thought that such a place could be none other than Hell. In Purgatory, it is true, there is none of the despair of Hell. The Holy Souls have Heaven in prospect, but nevertheless their physical sufferings are scarcely different in kind from the awful agony of the lake of fire. How should I dread Purgatory!

The fire of Purgatory will search us through and through. It will be a penetrating fire; it will find out each fault still clinging to our soul at the hour of death; each stain not yet washed away by our tears of contrition will be burnt away before we can escape from our prison-house. When I think of the state of my soul before God, of my past sins and present detects, what reason I have to tremble at the thought of that crucible where the dross will be burnt from me. What a long process it will be! Pray that you may be more earnest in cleansing yourself from sin now.

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

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.

Binechi · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2014, 06:28:55 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 20th

The Happiness of Purgatory

The happiness of Purgatory is a happiness of prospect, not of actual enjoyment. It is in spe and not in re; hoped for, not already possessed. But the hope is something more than hope, it is a certain expectation which the Holy Souls know cannot be disappointed. This is their support and strength, their joy and consolation, amid their unspeakable anguish. They can look forward to the long years of eternal bliss when they will repose in the bosom of God. O happy prospect, to us always uncertain, so certain to those Holy Souls!

Happiness consists in union with God. If the soul is united to God by supernatural charity, beneath every kind of sorrow and misery there is an underlying joy. Now the Holy Souls are perfect in their charity. They have made an act of fervent charity at their judgment, and the habit of charity is in them as strong as ever. Hence, in spite of all their sufferings they are intensely happy, and cry out, "I know that my Redeemer liveth."

Happiness is not incompatible with intense suffering. A man may be lighthearted while he is shrieking with physical pain; he may be lighthearted even when separated from one whom he loves better than all else in the world. He is happy by reason of his internal dispositions, and in spite of the bitterness of tlie separation or the fierceness of the physical pain. So it is with most Holy Souls. Their dispositions are perfect, there will is God's. They are full of hope and love, how then can they fail to be happy? Pray for an unceasing union with God by charity.

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

Binechi · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2014, 06:53:59 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 21st

The Alleviations of Purgatory

Our Lord does not forget the souls that He loves. As at the time of His death He visited Limbo, so He from time to time manifests Himself to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, to comfort and cheer them. What a day of joy must it be for the Holy Souls when their Lord and King vouchsafes, if it be but for a moment, to illumine the dark prison-house with the light of His Divine presence. How they must sigh after Him when He departs, for what joy is there like the joy that comes of the presence of Jesus?

Our Lady, too, comes also with the same merciful design, especially on a Saturday, on her great feasts, and above all, on the feast of the Assumption, when she releases not a few Holy Souls every year, and carries them with her to Heaven. What a delight it must be to them to be thus comforted by the Holy Mother of God! How they must rejoice in having gained this privilege by their devotion to her while they were yet alive!

The Angels, too, are often sent by God to assuage the pains of the suffering souls. Our Lord does not forget the Angel who consoled Him during His Sacred Agony, when He took upon Himself the intolerable weight of the sins of the whole world; and He knows what it is to be suffering for sin that has no hold on the soul, but nevertheless drags it down, like some heavy weight attached to it by the Divine justice. Hence, there are Angels appointed to comfort the Holy Souls, to refresh them amid the devouring flames. Ask your Guardian Angel never to let you fall into sin, that so you may not need his help after life is done.

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

Binechi · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2014, 07:31:52 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 22nd

How to Avoid Purgatory

There are few who might not avoid Purgatory if they were only willing to adopt the requisite means. These means are:

1. A spirit of charity to others, and of self-denying charity. Charity shall hide a multitude of sins, and it will hide them in such a way that they shall be entirely blotted out, leaving behind them no debt of punishment still due. Our Lord has promised that what measure we mete out to others, the same shall be measured to us again. If we mete out to others a perfect charity. God will mete out to us a complete remission of our sins in the particular judgment without a trace of penalties to be suffered in the flames of Purgatory.

2. A spirit of great generosity to the poor for Christ's sake. God is always generous to those who deal generously with others; and almsgiving carries with it wonderful rewards. There appears to be an allusion to Purgatory in the words of Holy Scripture that alms deliver the almsgiver from sin, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness; and in the precept, "Give alms of thy goods, and never turn away thy face from any poor man, so shall not the face of the Lord be turned away from thee." Am I really generous to the poor?

3. A spirit of great compassion for the suffering souls who are now in Purgatory. If we desire to escape Purgatory, we must help to pay the debt of others. We must aid many on the road to Heaven, if we desire to travel the same road without being detained on the way. Here, too. God will deal with us as we have dealt with others. What do I do for the Holy Souls? Pray God to teach you how to avoid Purgatory?

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

Binechi · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2014, 12:47:31 PM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 23rd

Other Means of Avoiding Purgatory

A great devotion to the Sacred Passion of Christ is one of the surest methods of escaping the penalty due to our sins. He is always touched by any compassion shown Him in His sacred sufferings. He is said to have revealed to one of the Saints that He would remit the temporal punishment due after death to any one who for fifteen years should say every day seven Paters, seven Aves, and one Gloria in honor of His Sacred Passion. It seems very likely that such perseverance in honoring Him in what He suffered for us would exempt from Purgatory altogether. What do I do in this respect?

We may also hope to avoid Purgatory if we pray God to give us our Purgatory in this life. It requires some courage to do so, as, if God hears our prayer, we must expect to suffer greatly before we die, and perhaps to spend our lives in intense pain. How small will be the price paid in comparison with the advantage gained! All the sufferings of this life are small compared with the sufferings after death; and, moreover, here we can merit, we can go on increasing our eternal reward, but not in Purgatory.

Purity of intention in all our actions is another of the most efficacious means of attaining the same end. Any one who does all his actions purely for God's sake will have nothing for the searching fire to lay hold of. It is self that has to be burnt out of us; self-will, self-love, self-indulgence. He who is rid of these may hope to go straight to Heaven. Pray that by one or all of these means you may avoid separation from God after your death.

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

Binechi · « **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2014, 06:56:58 AM »

Meditations on the Poor Souls in Purgatory

November 24th

How to Shorten Our Purgatory

Most of us cannot hope to escape altogether from the cleansing fires, but we all desire to render our sojourn there as short as possible. There are many means of doing this. All the means already mentioned for escaping altogether, will help to lessen our time of waiting; especially compassion for the Holy Souls. They will not, when they attain to the vision of God, forget those who have done anything to help them. Yet how little we do! And how bitterly we shall one day regret that we have not done more!

Another certain way of shortening our Purgatory is devotion to the Holy Mother of God. She, the Mother of mercy and compassion, has a special compassion for the suffering souls; and she, the most grateful of all the beings that God has ever created, will be speedy to relieve and to deliver those who were devout to her upon earth. Each prayer we say, each aspiration we make, each little invocation we repeat in her honor, will gain for us help when help will be sorely needed. Cannot you do something more in honor of Mary?

We can also pay part of the debt due to God by means of Indulgenced Prayers. To certain prayers and good works the Church attaches the remission of a certain amount of suffering; and she is most generous in furnishing us with the means of paying off the debt before we die. How we shall rejoice over each such prayer, when we come to experience the deliverance it has gained for us! Ask of God that, if you have to pass through Purgatory, at least your time may be short.

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