As we have already said, the
pain of sense has different degrees of intensity. It is less terrible for those
souls that have no grievous sins to atone for, or who, having already completed
the most rigorous part of their expiation, approach the moment of their
deliverance. Many of those souls surfer then no more than the pain of loss, and
even begin to perceive the first rays of heavenly glory, and to have a foretaste of beatitude.
When St.Perpetua saw her
young brother Dinocrates in Purgatory, the child did not seem to be subjected
to any cruel torture. The illustrious martyr herself writes the account of this
vision in her prison at Carthage, where she was confined for the faith of
Christ during the persecution under Septimus Severus in the year 205. Purgatory
appeared to her under the figure of an arid desert, where she saw her brother
Dinocrates who had died at the age of seven years. The child had an ulcer on
his face, and, tormented by thirst, he tried in vain to drink from the waters
of a fountain which was before him, but the brim of which was too high for him
to reach. The holy martyr understood that her brother was in the place of
expiation, and that he besought the assistance of her prayers. She then prayed
for him, and three days later, in another vision, she saw the same Dinocrates
in the midst of lovely gardens. His face was beautiful, like that of an angel ;
he was clad in a shining robe ; the brink of the fountain was beneath him, and
he drank copiously of those refreshing waters from a golden cup. The saint then
knew that the soul of her young brother now enjoyed the bliss of Paradise.
We read in the Revelations of
St. Gertrude that a young Religious of her convent, for whom she had a special
love on account of her great virtues, died in the most beautiful sentiments of
piety. Whilst she was fervently recommending this dear soul to God, she was
rapt in ecstasy and had a vision. The deceased sister was shown to her standing
before the throne of God, surrounded by a brilliant halo and in rich garments.
Nevertheless, she appeared sad and troubled; her eyes were cast down, as though
she were ashamed to appear before the face of God ; it seemed as though she
would hide herself and retire. Gertrude, much surprised, asked of the Divine
Spouse of Virgins the cause of this sadness and embarrassment on the part of so
holy a soul. “Most sweet Jesus,” she cried, “why does not your infinite
goodness invite your spouse to approach you, and to enter into the joy of her
Lord? Why do you leave her aside, sad and timid? “ Then our Lord, with a loving
smile, made a sign to that holy soul to draw near ; but she, more and more
troubled, after some hesitation, all trembling, withdrew.
At this sight the saint
addressed herself directly to the soul. “What! My daughter,” she said to her, “do
you retire when our Lord calls you? You, that have desired Jesus during your
whole life, withdraw now that He opens His arms to receive you! “Ah ! My dear
Mother,” replied the soul,? ”I am not worthy to appear before the Immaculate
Lamb. I have still some stains which I contracted upon earth. To approach the
Sun of Justice, one must be as pure as a ray of light. I have not yet that degree
of purity which He requires of His saints. Know that if the door of Heaven were
to be opened to me, I should not dare to cross the threshold before being
entirely purified from all stain. It seems to me that the choir of virgins who
follow the Lamb would repulse me with horror.” “And yet,” continued the Abbess,
“I see you surrounded with light and glory!” What you see,” replied the soul “is
but the border of the garment of glory. To wear this celestial robe we must not
retain even the shadow of sin.”
This vision shows a soul very
near to the glory of Heaven; but her enlightenment concerning the infinite Sanctity of God was of a
different order from that which has been given to us. This clear knowledge
causes her to seek, as a blessing, the expiation which her condition requires
to render her worthy of the vision of the thrice holy God. This is precisely
the exact teaching of St.Catherine of Genoa. We know that this saint received particular
light from God concerning the state of the souls in Purgatory. She wrote a work
entitled A Treatise on Purgatory, which
has an authority equal to that of St. Teresa. In chapter viii. she thus
expresses herself. The Lord is all-merciful. He stands before us, His arms
extended in order to receive us into His glory. But I see also that the Divine
Essence is of such purity that the soul, unless she be absolutely immaculate,
cannot bear the sight. If she finds in herself the least atom of imperfection,
rather than dwell with a stain in the presence of the Divine Majesty, she would
plunge herself into the depths of Hell. Finding in Purgatory a means to blot
out her stains, she casts herself into it. She esteems herself happy that, by
the effect of a great mercy, a place is given to her where she can free herself
from the obstacles to supreme happiness, The “History of the Seraphic Order “ i
makes mention of a holy Religious named Brother John de Via, who died piously in a monastery on the
Canary Islands. His infirmarian, Brother Ascension, was in his cell praying and recommending to God the soul
of the departed, when suddenly he saw before him a Religious of his Order, but who
appeared to be transfigured. So radiant was he, that the cell was filled with a
beautiful light. The brother, almost beside himself with astonishment, did not recognize
him, but ventured to ask who he was and what was the object of his visit. “I
am,” answered the apparition,” the spirit of Brother John de Via. I thank you
for the prayers which you have poured forth to Heaven in my behalf, and I come
to ask of you one more act of charity.
Know that, thanks to the Divine
mercy, I am in the place of salvation, among those predestined for Heaven the light
which surrounds me is a proof of this. Yet I am not worthy to see the face of
God on account of an omission which remains to be expiated. During my mortal
life I omitted, through my own fault, and that several times, to recite the
Office for the Dead, when it was prescribed by the Rule. I beseech you, my dear
brother, for the love you bear Jesus Christ, to say those offices in such a
manner that my debt may be paid, and I may go to enjoy the vision of my God.
Brother Ascension ran to the
Father Guardian, related what had happened, and hastened to say the offices required.
Then the soul of Blessed Brother John de Via appeared again, but this time more
brilliant than before, He was in possession of eternal happiness.
