Purgatory

 

"Purgatory reveals the great love God bears for us and cleanses the imperfections of those who desire to be united with Him."

Saint Josemaría Escrivá

"When you look upon Purgatory, you perceive My sweet and boundless Providence toward those wretched souls who squandered their time and now, separated from the body, no longer have the opportunity to earn merit. I have allowed the duration of their punishment to be shortened through the agency of you—who are still alive and have the opportunity for good works—by means of almsgiving, devotions, fasting, and prayers offered in the state of sanctifying grace and with trust in My Mercy."

The Lord Jesus to Saint Catherine of Siena

"While I was in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament on the Feast of Corpus Christi, a person engulfed in flames suddenly appeared before me; the heat radiating from them was so intense that I felt as though I were burning along with them. In prayerful contemplation, I saw that this soul was in Purgatory, and I began to weep bitterly for them."

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

"Do not fear Purgatory because of the suffering we associate with it; rather, one should desire to avoid it by pleasing the Lord God."

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux to a fellow nun

"Every time a soul is able to leave Purgatory thanks to your prayer and sacrifice, you bring Me such great joy—as if you had rescued Me Myself from suffering."

The Lord Jesus to St. Gertrude the Great

"The souls suffering in Purgatory are brides of God who are undergoing purification."

Saint Veronica Giuliani

Saturdays were the days when Saint Gemma would meet with Our Lady of Sorrows. Galgani also offered up prayers and sufferings daily for the souls in Purgatory; indeed, her guardian angel encouraged her to do so.

"Every suffering, even the slightest, brings them comfort," he explained.

"The souls in Purgatory are suspended, as it were, between earth and heaven; for they are no longer inhabitants of earth, yet heaven remains closed to them. Thus, they might be called homeless."

Blessed Honorat Koźmiński

"Purgatory—a necessary purification before meeting the Lord God."

Saint John Paul II

"Blessed is he who, while still alive, aids the souls in Purgatory through good deeds; for God’s justice demands that those deprived of the living's help be purified in fire."

An angel speaking to Saint Bridget of Sweden

"The Mother of God holds the title of Mother of the Souls in Purgatory. 'I am,' she says, 'the Mother of all those who are in the place of penance. My prayers mitigate the punishments imposed upon them for their sins.'"

Revelations of Saint Bridget of Sweden

"Faced with the perfect holiness of God, the souls of some deceased persons feel so unclean and unworthy to approach Him that they voluntarily submit to an unspeakably great, yet purifying, torment. Nevertheless, they are happy, for they know they are saved."

Saint Catherine of Genoa

"Purgatory is God's infirmary." "There are very few souls, even among the saints, who have managed to enter heaven without passing through purgatory."

Saint John Vianney

"The greatest suffering of souls is an immense longing for eternal love—for God. Souls in purgatory cannot help themselves; only the prayers of the living can assist them in reaching heaven. Such aid is a great act of mercy toward them."

Saint Faustina Kowalska

"For a long time, I have felt the need to offer myself as a victim for poor sinners and for the souls undergoing purification. This desire grows ever stronger in my heart—so much so that it has become, I might say, an intense passion. It is true that I have offered this sacrifice to the Lord several times, allowing Him to pour out upon me the punishments prepared for sinners and for the souls being purified—even a hundredfold upon me—provided that He converts and saves sinners and soon welcomes the souls in purgatory into heaven. It seems to me that Jesus desires this. I am certain He will not hesitate to grant me this permission."

Saint Padre Pio

"Do not worry! I am currently speaking with several souls who are on their way from purgatory to paradise. They stopped here to thank me because I remembered them during Holy Mass this morning."

Saint Padre Pio

"It is not the case that they have died and we are alive. It is actually they who are alive, while we are the ones dying."

The late Father Piotr Pawlukiewicz.

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in eternal peace through the infinite mercy of God. Amen."

The favor of God was upon him

Do you know the favor of the Lord? After Jesus' birth, Mary fulfills the Jewish right of purification after childbirth. Since she could not afford the customary offering of a lamb, she gives instead two pigeons as an offering of the poor. This rite, along with circumcision and the redemption of the first-born point to the fact that children are gifts from God. Jesus was born in an ordinary home where there were no luxuries. Like all godly parents, Mary and Joseph raised their son in the fear and wisdom of God. He, in turn, was obedient to them and grew in wisdom and grace. The Lord's favor is with those who listen to his word with trust and obedience. Do you know the joy of submission to God? And do you seek to pass on the faith and to help the young grow in wisdom and maturity?

The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of the Savior of the world 

What is the significance of Simeon's encounter with the baby Jesus and his mother in the temple? Simeon was a just and devout man who was very much in tune with the Holy Spirit. He believed that the Lord would return to his temple and renew his chosen people. The Holy Spirit also revealed to him that the Messiah and King of Israel would also bring salvation to the Gentile nations. When Joseph and Mary presented the baby Jesus in the temple, Simeon immediately recognized this humble child of Bethlehem as the fulfillment of all the messianic prophecies, hopes, and prayers. Inspired by the Holy Spirit he prophesied that Jesus was to be "a revealing light to the Gentiles". The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of the Lord to those who are receptive and eager to receive him. Do you recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord with you?

The 'new temple' of God's presence in the world 

Jesus is the new temple (John 1:14; 2:19-22). In the Old Testament God manifested his presence in the "pillar of cloud" by day and the "pillar of fire" by night as he led them through the wilderness. God's glory visibly came to dwell over the ark and the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38). When the first temple was built in Jerusalem God's glory came to rest there (1 Kings 8). After the first temple was destroyed, Ezekiel saw God's glory leave it (Ezekiel 10). But God promised one day to fill it with even greater glory (Haggai 2:1-9; Zechariah 8-9). That promise is fulfilled when the "King of Glory" himself comes to his temple (Psalm 24:7-10; Malachi 3:1). Through Jesus' coming in the flesh and through his saving death, resurrection, and ascension we are made living temples of his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Ask the Lord to renew your faith in the indwelling presence of his Spirit within you. And give him thanks and praise for coming to make his home with you.

Mary receives both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow 

Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph and he prophesied to Mary about the destiny of this child and the suffering she would undergo for his sake. There is a certain paradox for those blessed by the Lord. Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. She received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. But her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take way. Do you know the peace and joy of a life surrendered to God with faith and trust?

The Holy Spirit renews our hope in the promise of God

Simeon was not alone in recognizing the Lord's presence in the temple. Anna, too, was filled with the Holy Spirit. She was found daily in the temple, attending to the Lord in prayer and speaking prophetically to others about God's promise to send a redeemer. Supernatural hope grows with prayer and age! Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. She is a model of godliness to all believers as we advance in age.

Advancing age and the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not have our hope rightly placed. Anna's hope in God and his promises grew with age. She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope. Her hope and faith in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and service of God's people.

Our hope is anchored in God's everlasting kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy

What do you hope for? The hope which God places in our heart is the desire for the kingdom of heaven and everlasting life and happiness with our heavenly Father. The Lord Jesus has won for us a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The Holy Spirit gives hope to all who place their trust in the promises of God. God never fails because his promises are true and he is faithful. The hope which God places within us through the gift of the Spirit enables us to persevere with confident trust in God even in the face of trails, setbacks, and challenges that may come our way.

Is there anything holding you back from giving God your unqualified trust and submission to his will for your life? Allow the Lord Jesus to flood your heart with his peace, joy, and love. And offer to God everything you have and desire - your life, family, friends, health, honor, wealth, and future. If you seek his kingdom first he will give you everything you need to know, love, and serve him now and enjoy him forever.

Lord Jesus, you are my hope and my life. May I never cease to place all my trust in you. Fill me with the joy and strength of the Holy Spirit that I may boldly point others to your saving presence and words of eternal life.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East