Separation from God is the
greatest pain of purgatory. In this, purgatory differs
from hell.
“The source of all
suffering is either original or actual sin. God created the soul pure, simple,
free from every stain, and with a certain beatific instinct toward himself. It
is drawn aside from aim by original sin, and when actual sin is afterwards
added, this withdraws it still farther, and ever as it removes from him its
sinfulness increases because its communication with God grows less and less.
“And because there is no good except by participation with God, who, to the
irrational creatures imparts himself as he wills and in accordance with his
divine decree, and never withdraws from them, but to the rational soul he
imparts himself more or less, according as he finds her more or less freed from
the hindrances of sin, it follows that, when he finds a soul that is returning
to the purity and simplicity in which she was created, he increased in her the
beatific instinct, and kindles in her a fire of charity so powerful and
vehement, that it is insupportable to the soul to find any obstacle between her
and her end; and the clearer vision she has of these obstacles the greater is
her pain. “Since the souls in purgatory are freed from
the guilt of sin, there is no barrier
between them and God save only the pains they suffer, which delay the
satisfaction of their desire. And when they see how serious is even the
slightest hindrance, which the necessity of justice causes to check them, a
vehement flame kindles within them, which is like that of hell. They feel no
guilt however, and it is guilt which is the cause of the malignant will of the
condemned in hell, to whom God does not communicate his goodness, and thus they
remain in despair and with a will forever opposed to the good will of God.
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