Although the Catholic Church proclaims the concept of Purgatory, I see that today a majority of people are not believing in purgatory. Most people see purgatory as a place full of punishments and sorrow, something like locking up the souls and beating them. Some others see it as a place of comfort as they can attain Heaven, after spending sometime in purgatory, just like a holiday resort. Many doubts and misconceptions arise in most people nowadays, as not much is taught about it at churches and during caticism.

Purgatory is the place where most of the souls go after death. I say this, because even the saints are going to heaven after spending some time at purgatory. The difference is only in the duration of the time they have to spend there.It is a place where the soul is given pains, but it also represents a state of love, hope and peace. Because if a soul needs to be with God in heaven after death, it must have attained complete purity. Thus we understand that God made purgatory because of His abundant love for us.

“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10). Thus if one needs to be with God, he/she has to be made pure in the flames of sacrifice. And if this purification doesn’t happen if he is in his earthly body, then it happens after death at purgatory.

The selfish love we have for ourselves increases the distance between us and God. At purgatory, this selfish love is burnt and destroyed completely. Thus by submitting ourselves completely to God, only God’s love remains in that soul. Thus it becomes eligible to join God and live in eternity.

Sins, their trails, selfish love for ourselves all these impurities make a HARD CRUST on the surface of our love to God. But we are not even knowing the formation of this crust. Whenever we do sins, refuse God and do things against His will, we are increasing the thickness of this hard crust.

Only the selfless love to God can melt down the hard crust formed. All saints throughout their lives were constantly trying to melt down this crust completely. For this, they prayed a lot and did a lot of deeds of penance. These will melt the hard crust very easily. Yes, our sins are forgiven through confession, but to clear the debt of our sins, deeds of penance are needed. Thus the saints were able to go either directly to heaven or spend only a very little time at the purgatory.

See the picture above? It shows Mother Mary helping souls in purgatory. All souls are seen there together with their own guardian angel (Fravashi), who help them at the purgatory.

So actually what does a soul experience at the purgatory? What is happening when we pray for them? A hundreds of questions may arise in your mind. Be patient. I will be writing on those very shortly. Keep checking back this site for The Purgatory – Part 02.

Prayer for Souls in Purgatory:-

O Almighty and Eternal Father, as by your will we pray for the souls in purgatory. I dedicate to you through the most pure hands of Mary, all the masses that are offered today, for your glory and for the release of the souls in Purgatory. I humbly beg you to forgive them their sins, through the grace of your beloved Son and to have mercy on them.

In reparation for the failures of these souls to show you praise, love, honor and gratitude, and for the merits which they failed to gain, I offer to you all the praise, love, honor, gratitude, and suffering with which your Son praised you while He was on Earth.

In reparation for all the negligence and indifference showed by these souls, I offer you the ardent eagerness with which Your Son accomplished all his deeds on Earth, deeds which endure and glorify you in all the Holy Masses.

In reparation for all the mistakes and faults of these souls, i offer you all the virtues of your Son, which continue to glorify you in all the Holy Masses.

In expiation of the sins of these souls, I offer you the divine Blood which your Son spilled while on earth, and which He still offers to you for us in all the holy Masses.

As recompense for all the punishments and tortures which these souls suffer, I offer you the terrible suffering and death of your beloved Son, which are renewed by him in all the holy Masses.

For the liberation of these souls from the darkness of sin, I offer you the merits which your Son had on earth, and which he still offers in all the holy Masses.

Finally to appease your strict justice, I offer you all the virtues of the most Holy Mother of God and all your saints, who suffered greatly to make up for what the souls in purgatory failed to fulfil. May the merits which they obtained, united with the suffering and death of your beloved Son attain for the souls in purgatory ever lasting freedom and peace. Amen.