The Treatise On Purgatory
By St. Catherine of
Genoa
The state of souls in purgatory
They are exempt from all self-love
This holy soul, while
still in the flesh, was placed in the purgatory of the burning love of God, in
whose flames she was purified from every stain, so that when she passed from
this life she might be ready to enter the presence of God, her most sweet love.
By means of that flame of love she comprehended in her own soul the condition
of the souls of the faithful in purgatory, where they are purified from the
rust and stain of sins, from which they have not been cleansed in this world.
And as in the purgatory of that divine flame she was united with the divine
love and satisfied with all that was accomplished in her, she was enabled to
comprehend the state of the souls in purgatory, and thus discovered concerning
it: “As far as I can see, the souls in purgatory can have no choice but to be
there; this God has most justly ordained by his divine decree. They cannot turn
towards themselves and say: ‘I have committed such and such sins for which I
deserve to remain here;’ nor can they say: ‘Would that I had refrained from
them, for then I should at this moment be in paradise;’ nor again: ‘This soul
will be released before me;’ or ‘I shall be released before her.’ They retain
no memory of either good or evil respecting themselves or others which would
increase their pain. They are so contented with the divine dispositions in
their regard; and with doing all that is pleasing to God in that way which he
chooses, that they cannot think of themselves, though they may strive to do so.
They see nothing but the operation of the divine goodness which is so
manifestly bringing them to God that they can reflect neither on their own
profit nor on their hurt. Could they do so, they would not be in pure charity. They see not that they suffer their pains in
consequence of their sins, nor can they for a moment entertain that thought, for should they do so
it would be an active imperfection, and that cannot exist in a state where
there is no longer the possibility of sin. At the moment of leaving this life
they see why they are sent to purgatory, but never again, otherwise they would
still retain something private, which has no place there. Being established in
charity, they can never deviate therefrom by any defect, and have no will or
desire, save the pure will of pure love, and can swerve from it in nothing. They can neither commit sin, nor merit by refraining
from it.
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