Why are some souls assayed in Purgatory flames?
St John Vianney said: “If one knew what we may obtain from God by the intercession of the Poor Souls, they would not be so much abandoned. Let us pray a great deal for them, they will pray for us”. St Theresa of Avila said that “She always obtained the favours which she asked from God, through the intercession of the Poor Souls in Purgatory”.
The
prayer of St Gertrude the Great
Eternal
Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,
in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the
Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the
Universal Church, those in my own home, and within in my own family.
Amen.
Hat tip to Linen on the Hedgerow for posting the St. Gertrude prayer today.
Thanks for this Mary. I am sure that you and the others involved in the pro-life work you do- your works will be tested by fire and will duly receive your reward. I believe people are wearing black today to mourn all the babies lost by abortion. God bless, Stella
ReplyDeleteI am not certain why some are assigned to purgatory although spontaneously I would say because they arrived at that place flying by the seat of their pants.
ReplyDeleteHad they practiced diligently and graciously the faith they may have done a fly by of purgatory, seen it from a bird's eye view, decided not to land then headed from there straight to heaven.
Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic faith has to say about Purgatory:
ReplyDeleteIII. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY
1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.608
1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."609 From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.610 The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.611