Dialogue with the dead: some truths about the Souls of Purgatory

The German princess Eugenia von der Leyen (died in 1929) left a diary in which she narrates the visions and dialogues she had with purging souls that appeared to her over a period of about eight years (1921-1929). He wrote on the advice of his spiritual director. Always a healthy woman with a cheerful character, "there was absolutely no talk of hysteria" in her regard; maiden, deeply religious, but not at all bigoted. Here are some facts from that Diary, leaving out details of secondary importance.

"I never thought of my soul"

11 July (19251. Now I have seen U ... sixteen times Isabella. Me: "Where are you from?". She: "Out of torment!". Me: "Were you a relative of mine?". She: "No!" : «Where are you buried?» She: «In Paris.» Me: «Why can't you find peace?» She: «I never thought about my soul!» Me: «How can I help you?» She: "A Holy Mass." Me: "You had no more relatives?" She: "They have lost faith!" Me: "Have you always been here at the castle all this time?". She: "No Me: "And why now?" She: "Why are you here?" Me: "But when you were alive, have you been here long?" She: "Yes, I was the friend of many." impeccable, very accomplished ...
August 11. Poor Martino came to me again in the garden. Me: «What do you want again? I do what I can for you ». He: "You could do even more, but you think too much of yourself." Me: «You don't say anything new to me, unfortunately. Tell me more, if you see something bad in me. " He: "You pray too little and lose strength going around with people." Me: «I know, but I can't live only for you. What do you still see in me, perhaps sins for which you must suffer? ». Not him. Otherwise you would not be able to see or help me ». Me: «Tell me even more». He: «Remember that I am only soul».
Then he looked at me with such amiability that it filled me with joy. But I would have liked to know even more from him. If I could only devote myself to poor souls, it would be a great thing, but ... men!

"The dead can't forget ..."

On August 23, a soul in the form of an old man is presented to Eugenia. He returned on August 27th.
The princess tells:
He speaks. He shouted at me: "Help me!" Me: «Willingly, but who are you?». "I am the unexpiated guilt!" Me: "What do you have to expiate?" He: «I was a defamer!». Me: "Can I do something for you?" He: "My word is in the writing and continues to live there, and so the lie does not die!" [...].
August 28. Me: «Do you feel better? Did you realize that I offered Holy Communion for you? ». He: "Yes, so you expiate my sins of language." Me: "Can't you tell me who you are?" He: "My name must never be made again." Me: "Where are you buried?". He: «In Leipzig» [...].
September 4. He came to me smiling. Me: "I like you today." He: «I go in splendor». Me: «Don't forget me!». He: "The living think and forget, the dead cannot forget what Love has given them". And disappeared. In the end another consolation. Who was? I asked many, but I had no answer.

"I see everything so clear!"

April 24 (1926). For over fourteen days a very sad and miserable man has been coming in. April 27. He was very agitated and crying.
April 30. He broke into my room in broad daylight as if he had been chased, his head and hands were bloodied. Me: "Who are you?" He: "You must also know me! ... I am buried in the abyss!" [this word suggests the first verse of Psalm 129, the most used in the liturgy of suffrage for the dead].
May 1. He came again in the daytime […]. He: «Yes, I am forgotten in the abyss». And he went away crying [...].
May 5. It occurred to me that it could have been Luigi ...
May 6. Then it's just like I thought. Me: "Are you Mr. Z. of the mountaineering injury?" He: «You free me» ... I: «You are saved». He: «Saved, but in the abyss! From the abyss I cry out to you ». Me: "Do you still have to expiate so much?" He: «My whole life was without a content, a value! How poor I am! Pray for me!". Me: «So I did for a long time. I myself don't know how he can do it ». He calmed down and looked at me with infinite gratitude. Me: "Why don't you pray yourself?" He: "The soul is subjugated when it knows the greatness of God!". Me: "Can you describe it to me?" Not him! The excruciating desire to see her again is our torment »[...]. He: "We don't suffer near you!" Me: «But go rather to a more perfect person!». He: «The way is marked for us!».
May 7. He came to breakfast in the morning. It was almost unbearable. I was finally able to leave, and almost at the same instant he was next to me again. Me: "Please don't come while I'm among the people." He: "But I only see you!" [...]. Me: «Do you realize that I was at Holy Communion today?». He: «This is precisely what attracts me!». I prayed for a long time with him. Now she had a much happier expression.
May 9. Luigi Z ... was here very long, and continued to sob. Me: «Why are you so sad today? Aren't you better off? » He: «I see everything so clear!». Me: "What?" He: «My lost life!». Me: "Does the repentance you have now help you?" He: «Too late!». Me: "Were you able to repent immediately after your death?" Not him!". Me: «But tell me, how is it possible that you can only show yourself as you were alive?». He: «By the Will [of God]».
May 13. Z ... is agitated here [...]. He: "Give me the last thing you have, then I'm free." Me: «Well, then I don't want to think about anything else». He was gone. In truth, what I promised him is not so easy.
May 15. Me: "Are you happy now?" He: «Peace!». Me: "Is it over you?" He: «Towards the dazzling light!». During the day he came three times, always a little happier. It was his parting.

An oppressor of the poor

July 20 (1926). He is an old man. He wears the costume of the last century. I: "It took some time before you managed to show yourself properly." He: "You are responsible for it! [ …] You have to pray more! "She left to go back two hours later. I had slept; I am so tired I can't take it anymore. All day I hadn't had a free moment for myself! I:" Come , now I want to pray with you! "He seemed happy. He approached me. He is an old man, with a brown doublet and a gold chain. Me:" Who are you? ". He:" Nicolò. "Me:" Why you have no peace? "He:" I was an oppressor of the poor, and they cursed me "[...]. I:" And how can I help you? ". He:" With sacrifice! ". I:" What do you mean by sacrifice? "He:" Offer me all that weighs on you the most! "I:" Prayer no longer benefits you? ". He:" Yes, if it costs you! " to always be the offering of my will together? "He:" Yes. "There was still a lot [...].
July 29. Nicolò put his hand on my head and looked at me with such sympathy, that I said: "You have such a happy face, can you go to the good Lord?" Nicolò: «Your suffering has freed me» [...]. Me: "You won't come back?"
Not him" […]. He went over to me again and put his hand on my head. It wasn't a scary thing; or maybe I'm insensitive now.

Eugenie von der Leyen, Meine Gespràche mit armen Seelen, Editorial Arnold Guillet, Christiana Verlag, Stein am Rhein. The Italian translation carries the title: My talks with the poor souls, 188 pp., And is edited by Don Silvio Dellandrea, Ala di Trento (to whom those who wish to purchase the book must turn, being an out of print edition) . Here they are mentioned, of the ed. Italian, pp. 131, 132-133, 152-154 and 158-160.