From the Friars: Purgatory’s Refining Fire

November is the month of the Holy Souls and the Mass readings give us an opportunity to think about the Four Last Things. However, Purgatory, as such, is not one of these “Last Things”, precisely because it is temporary. What exactly is Purgatory?

Before we ask that question, we need to remind ourselves Who God is. God is Love, but He is also a “consuming fire” (Dt 4:24, Heb 12:29). Indeed, His love is like a refiner’s fire (Mal 3:2). When we die, our souls separate from our bodies and our eyes are opened to God’s Presence. Experiencing God’s fiery Love for the first time spiritually “burns” us, because He is both just and merciful. He is just because He refines and purifies us of our sins and He is merciful because He prepares us—rehabilitates and educates us—for Heaven.

Prior to entering Heaven, Purgatory is the process of purification which we undergo, if we still possess unrepentant venial sins or have failed to do sufficient satisfaction for any sins already forgiven. This is so, because at death, most of us are still imperfect (1 Jn 1:8) and in Heaven we will all be made perfect (Mt 5:48; Rev 21:27).

Remember, Divine Justice cannot be any less than human justice. In some sense, more mercy is needed to forgive greater sins than lesser ones and more rehabilitation is needed for greater sinners than for lesser ones. The rehabilitation from our sins and our education for Heaven takes time (especially if we have become attached or addicted to our sins). Therefore, those of us who need more rehabilitation and re-education will spend more time in Purgatory, and those who need less, will spend less time. Recognizing this truth, we should be careful not only to avoid objectively serious sins, but also those sins to which we find ourselves more addicted.

St. Catherine of Genoa reminds us, “There is no joy comparable to that of the suffering souls in Purgatory, except the joy of Heaven.” This is true because the Poor Souls know themselves to be in the Divine Friendship, are confirmed in grace and know that they can no longer offend God since they have been judged worthy of Heaven in their own Particular Judgment.

In the end, all of our sins and attachments will be burned away in Purgatory’s refining fire.

–Rev. Andrew, FPO