“They are continually in that fire which torments more severely than any earthly fire.”
“Another pain which greatly torments these blessed souls, arises from the remembrance of the time which they lost, and in which they could have merited so much glory in paradise, and from the conviction that this loss is now irreparable.”
“Another pain which tortures these blessed souls, is the frightful appearance of the sins for which they are suffering. In this life, the deformity of sin is not understood, but, in the next, it is fully comprehended. This is one of the severest torments of the souls in purgatory.”
“The pain which still more afflicts these holy souls, the spouses of Jesus, is the thought of having, during life, displeased, by their sins, that God whom they so ardently love. […] The souls in purgatory understand far better than we do the claims which God has to our love: they love Him with all their strength. Hence, at the thought of having offended Him during life, they experience pain which surpasses all other pain.”
“Another great torment of these blessed souls, arises from not knowing when their pains shall cease, or how long they shall remain in that fire. They feel certain that they shall be one day liberated; but the uncertainty of the duration of their sufferings torments them severely.”
“…they are tormented by the thought of having been ungrateful during life for these two great benefits of the love of Jesus Christ. [His passion and the holy Sacrament of the Altar]”
“The pains of these blessed souls are increased by all the particular favours which they received from God, such as to have been made Christians, to have been born in a Catholic country, to have been allowed time for repentance, and to have obtained the pardon of their sins. All these favours make them feel more sensibly their past ingratitude to God.”
“Another very severe torment of these blessed souls, is caused by the thought that, during life, God showed to them so many special mercies not shown others, and that, when they had by their sins compelled him to hate them, and to condemn them to hell, He, through his pure mercy, had pardoned and saved them.”
“Great, indeed, are all the pains of these blessed souls: the fire, the tediousness, the darkness, the uncertainty of the time of their deliverance from that prison; but, of all the pains enduring by those holy spouses, the greatest is caused by their being at a distance from their Spouse, and by the privations of the sight of Him.”
The graces…
“It is a pious belief that God manifests to them our prayers for them, that they also may pray for us. […] St. Catharine of Bologna, when she wished to obtain any grace, had recourse to the souls in purgatory, and her prayers were immediately heard; she declared that, by praying to those holy souls, she obtained many favours which she had sought through the intercession of the saints, but had not obtained.” “I hold for certain, that a soul delivered from purgatory, by the suffrages of a Christian, will, when it enters paradise, not fail to say to God: “Lord, do not suffer to be lost the person who has liberated me from the prison of purgatory, and has brought me to the enjoyment of thy glory sooner than I deserved.”
CALL TO ACTION: “Let us, moreover, remember that these souls, being in the condition of debtors for their sins, cannot assist themselves. This thought should impel us to relieve them according to the best of our ability. And, by assisting them, we shall not only give great pleasure to God, but shall also acquire great merit for ourselves. And in return for our suffrages, these blessed souls will not neglect to obtain for us many graces from God, but particularly the grace of eternal life.”
Source: Quotes taken from “Keys of Heaven”; St. Liguori’s “Devout Exercise” (for the Nine Days preceding All Souls’ Day, for the Repose of the Suffering Souls in Purgatory), pages 387-406; Catholic Publications Press (copyright 1925); Imprimatur: Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop, New York; Nihil Obstat: Arthur J. Scanlon, S.T.D., Censor Lib.