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Purgatory, F.X. Schouppe, S.J. [Imprimatur & Nihil Obstat]
CHAPTER XV.
Pains of Purgatory - The Brother of St. Magdalen de
Pazzi - Stanislaus Chocosca - Blessed Catherine de
Racconigi.
ST. MAGDALEN DE PAZZI, in her celebrated vision, where
the different prisons of Purgatory were shown to her, saw
the soul of her brother, who had died after having led a
most fervent Christian life. Nevertheless, this soul was
detained in suffering for certain faults, which it had not
sufficiently expiated upon earth. These, says the saint, are
the most intolerable sufferings, and yet they are endured
with joy. Ah! why are they not understood by those who
lack the courage to bear their cross here below? Struck
with this frightful spectacle which she had just contem-
plated, she ran to her Prioress, and casting herself upon
her knees, she cried out, " O my dear Mother, how terrible
are the pangs of Purgatory! Never could I have believed
it, had not God manifested it to me. . . . And, neverthe-
less, I cannot call them cruel; rather are they advantageous,
since they lead to the ineffable bliss of Paradise." To
impress this more and more upon our minds, it has pleased
God to give certain holy persons a small share in the pains
of expiation, like a drop of the bitter cup which the poor
souls have to drink, a spark of the fire which consumes
them.
The historian Bzovius, in his History of Poland, under
the date 1598, relates a miraculous event which happened
to the Venerable Stanislaus Chocosca, one of the luminaries
of the Order of St. Dominic in Poland. One day, whilst
this Religious, full of charity for the departed, recited the
rosary, he saw appear near him a soul all enveloped in
flames. As she besought him to have pity on her, and to
alleviate the intolerable sufferings which the fire of Divine
Justice caused her to endure, the holy man asked her if
this fire was more painful than that of earth? "Ah!" she
cried, "all the fires of earth compared to that of Purgatory
are like a refreshing breeze" (Ignes alii levis aurae locum
tenent si cum ardore meo comparentur). Stanislaus could
scarcely believe it. "I wish," he said, " to have a proof.
If God will permit, for your relief, and for the good of my
soul, I consent to suffer a part of your pains." "Alas!
you could not do this. Know that no human being could
endure such torment and live. However, God will permit
you to feel it in a light degree. Stretch forth your hand."
Chocosca extended his hand, and the departed let fall a
drop of sweat, or at least of a liquid which resembled it.
At the same instant the Religious uttered a piercing cry and
fell fainting to the ground, so frightfully intense was the pain.
His brethren ran to the spot and hastened to give him the
assistance which his condition required. When restored
to consciousness, he related the terrible event which had
occurred, and of which they had a visible proof. "Ah! my
dear Fathers," he continued, "if we knew the severity of
the Divine chastisements, we should never commit sin,
nor should we cease to do penance in this life, in order
to avoid expiation in the next."
Stanislaus was confined to his bed from that moment.
He lived one year longer in the most cruel suffering caused
by his terrible wound ; then, for the last time, exhorting
his brethren to remember the rigours of Divine Justice, he
peacefully slept in the Lord. The historian adds that this
example reanimated fervour in all the monasteries of that
province.
Chapter of a Book for Thought & Comment: Purgatory
I believe on earth we should be like the holy souls, we have a spirit of 'we cannot do enough' and should try to strengthen our souls so penance and mortification are part of our lives.
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