Nothing impure can enter Heaven. Thinking about Purgatory inspires penance and self denial (which we all struggle with). Here are five important means to avoid Purgatory. Our Lady is the Mother of everyone in Purgatory and there is no soul there whose pain is not alleviated by her. Happy is the he who loves with eternity always in view; with a lively faith that he must shortly die and enter into eternity.
The Church's feasts at the end of the liturgical year lead us to contemplate the Four Last Things. The enemies of Christ mind earthly things but those who seek to follow Christ contemplate the world beyond us. Tell yourself often, "I am going to die and I will be judged." This judgment shall be rigorous; are you prepared? Man must perfectly submit his mind to the truths of Christ, which always flow from the truth about who God is. And man must live in accordance with truth. As an example, consider the Church's teaching on Purgatory. It must be true for [...]
Prepare for a happy death, which is not the same as a painless death. To die as softly as one drops off asleep and awaking to find an angry Judge and an everlasting fire is not a happy death. St. Lawrence and St. Agnes had happy painful deaths. A happy death is one in the state of grace, for this — and this alone — means eternal salvation. The less debt one owes to God's justice, the happier one's death. Cease not to pray for the souls in Purgatory, that they may be worthy of God.
Especially during this month of November, we are to turn with greater fervor and faith to the Church beyond this earth. Many are the enemies of Christ; their minds and hearts are always fixed on earthly things. Stay focused on Heaven, on our Savior, and upon His Second Coming. This is one of the great purposes of Holy Mass, where the angels and saints ceaselessly praise and worship the majesty of God. We entreat God to allow our voices and prayers to be one with theirs! We can help the Poor Souls by our suffrages and by offering to God the [...]
We can help the poor souls in Purgatory by our seeking to be reconciled with those who have offended us here on earth. St. Teresa of Jesus liked to forgive her enemies because she would then turn to God and ask Him to fulfill His promise to forgive her all her faults. A powerful example comes from the life of St. Gerard Majella, reputed for his pace-making ability. Through him God shows that our forgiveness can even cancel the debts of the poor souls. This is yet another reason not to let enmity simmer or desire revenge, but to seek a [...]
We belong to God. Thus, we must do our very best to fulfill His holy will and our primary focus has to be on the world to come. During November, Holy Mother Church focuses us on the world to come in a more intense manner. She turns our attention to the saints and poor souls in Purgatory, reminding us that the Church is much more than those here on earth. On the other hand, a common trait shared by the three enemies of our soul's salvation is 'the insatiable craving for things perishable with complete forgetfulness of things eternal.' The more one learns [...]
