Purgatory in the thought of the Saints
WHAT IS PURGATORY?
Every minimum penalty of Purgatory is more serious than the maximum penalty in the world. The penalty of the fire of Purgatory differs from our fire as much as our fire differs from the painted one.
St. Thomas Aquinas
After death, rare souls who go directly to Heaven: the multitude of others who die in the grace of God must be purified from the very bitter pains of Purgatory.
St. Robert Bellarmine
The Lord orders that many souls make their Purgatory on earth and among us, both by education of the living and by suffrage of the dead.
St. Thomas Aquinas
I do not believe that after the happiness of the Saints who enjoy in glory, there is a joy similar to that of purging souls. It is certain that these souls reconcile two apparently irreducible things: they enjoy a supreme joy and at the same time suffer innumerable torments without the two things so opposite being mutually exclusive and destructive.
Saint Catherine of Genoa
THE SOULS OF THE PURGATORY HELP US
My religious and priestly vocation is an immense grace that I attribute to my daily prayer for the souls of Purgatory, which I still learned from my mother as a child.
Blessed Angelo D'Acri
When I want to obtain some grace from God I resort to the souls of Purgatory and I feel I am granted for their intercession.
Saint Catherine of Bologna
On the street, in the spare time, I always pray for the souls of Purgatory. These holy souls with their intercession saved me from so many dangers of soul and body.
Saint Leonard of Porto Maurizio
I never asked for thanks to the souls of Purgatory without being answered. Indeed, those that I have not been able to obtain from the heavenly spirits I obtained through the intercession of the souls of Purgatory.
Santa Teresa D'Avila
Every day I listen to the Holy Mass for the holy souls of Purgatory; I owe so many graces to this pious custom that I continually receive for myself and my friends.
San Contardo Ferrini
OUR SUFFRAGES
For four reasons we must meditate on Purgatory and pray for purgative souls.
1. The pains of Purgatory are more immature than all the pains of this life.
2. The penalties of Purgatory are very long.
3. Purging souls cannot help themselves, but only we can support them.
4. The souls of Purgatory are many, they remain very long there, they suffer innumerable pains. San Roberto Belarmino
The devotion of purging souls is the best school of Christian life: it pushes us to works of mercy, teaches us prayer, makes us listen to Holy Mass, accustomed to meditation and penance, spurs us to do good works and to give alms , avoids mortal sin and fears venial sin, the sole cause of the permanence of souls in Purgatory.
Saint Leonard of Porto Maurizio
Prayer for the dead is more acceptable to God than prayer for the living because the dead need it and cannot help themselves, as the living can do.
St. Thomas Aquinas
To show your love to your dead, offer not only violets, but above all prayers; not only treat the funeral pump, but support them with alms, indulgences, and works of charity; do not worry only for the construction of sumptuous tombs, but especially for the celebration of the holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The external manifestations are a relief for you, the spiritual works are a suffrage for them, long awaited and desired by them.
St. John Chrysostom
It is certain that nothing is more effective for the suffrage and the liberation of souls from the fire of Purgatory, than the offering to God for them of the Sacrifice of the Mass.
Saint Robert Bellarmine
During the celebration of Holy Mass how many souls are freed from Purgatory! Those for which we celebrate do not suffer, speed up their expiation or fly straight to Heaven, because Holy Mass is the key that opens two doors: that of Purgatory to get out of it, that of Heaven to enter it forever.
St. Jerome
Always pray to the Blessed Virgin for the souls of Purgatory. Our Lady awaits your prayer to bring her to the throne of God and immediately free the souls for whom you pray.
Saint Leonard of Porto Maurizio
The main means by which we can help and free the souls of Purgatory are:
1. Prayer and almsgiving
2. Holy Mass and Holy Communion
3. Indulgences and good works
4. A heroic act of charity
Jugie