The Reality of Purgatory

The Reality of Purgatory
Purgatory is a state of purification for those who have died in God’s grace but still require cleansing from the temporal effects of sin before entering heaven (CCC 1030). Every sin, even when forgiven, leaves behind something that must be purified. This is why the Church encourages prayers, sacrifices, and Masses for the dead, especially those souls suffering in purgatory.

For more information, watch Precious Time, Fleeting Time.

• View Read Me or Rue It

• How To Avoid Purgatory

Understanding the Fire of Purgatory
"The fire of Purgatory, in its nature, is like the fire of Hell. The difference between them is that the fire of Purgatory is temporary, while the fire of Hell is eternal."
"The least pain in Purgatory," says the doctors of the Church, "exceeds the greatest suffering in this life. It is a torment of fire."
"In Purgatory, the soul suffers more intensely than any suffering on earth because of the great desire to be with God."

"The souls in Purgatory are tormented by the remembrance of the graces they received on earth and the sins they committed."

– Read Me or Rue It

St. Thomas Aquinas explains that “The fire in Purgatory is equal in intensity to the fire of Hell, and the slightest contact with it is more dreadful than all the possible sufferings of this Earth” (Summa Theologica). This vivid imagery highlights the severity of the purification that souls endure in purgatory, making the need for prayers and indulgences even more urgent.

Furthermore, Read Me or Rue It by Father Paul O'Sullivan offers additional insight:
“The doctrine of purgatory is a call to action, an urgent plea for prayers, sacrifices, and Masses. Every time we remember the souls in purgatory, we are showing the greatest act of charity, helping those who cannot help themselves. The souls in purgatory are in great anguish, but they are saved and destined for heaven. However, their purification is beyond what we can imagine—burning away the remnants of sin.”

O'Sullivan emphasizes: “If we knew the power of our prayers to relieve the suffering souls in purgatory, and how they will repay us many times over, we would not forget them” (Read Me or Rue It).