‘Pains of Purgatory Diversity of the Pains — King Sancho and Queen Guda …’ – ‘Purgatory’ by Rev. Shouppe; 1929; Chapter XX; p. 62-64, part II
Chapter XX ~ Diversity of the Pains — King Sancho and Queen Guda — St. Lidwina and the Soul Transpierced — Blessed Margaret Mary and the Bed of Fire.We read in the Life of Blessed Margaret Mary that a soul was tortured in a bed of torments on account of her indolence during life ; at the same time she was subjected to a particular torture in her heart, on account of certain wicked sentiments, and in her tongue, in punishment of her uncharitable words. Moreover, she had to endure a frightful pain of an entirely different nature, caused neither by fire nor iron, but by the sight of a condemned soul. Let us see how the Blessed Margaret describes it in her writings.
" I saw in a dream," she says, " one of our sisters who had died some time previous. She told me that she suffered much in Purgatory, but that God had inflicted upon her a suffering which surpassed all other pains, by showing her one of her near relatives precipitated into Hell.
"At these words I awoke, and felt as though ray body was bruised from head to foot, so that it was with difficulty I could move. As we should not believe in dreams, I paid little attention to this one, but the Religious obliged me to do so in spite of myself. From that moment she gave me no rest, and said to me incessantly, f Pray to God for me ; offer to Him your sufferings united to those of Jesus Christ, to alleviate mine ; and give me all you shall do until the first Friday in May, when you will please communicate for me.' This I did, with permission of sr. superior.
" Meanwhile the pain which this suffering soul caused me increased to such a degree that I could find neither comfort nor repose. Obedience obliged me to seek a little rest upon my bed ; but scarcely had I retired when she seemed to approach me, saying, ' You recline at your ease upon your bed ; look at the one upon which I lie, and where I endure intolerable sufferings.' I saw thot bed, and the very thought of it makes me shudder. The top and bottom was of sharp flaming points, which pierced the flesh. She told me then, that this was on account of her sloth and negligence in the observance of the rules. ' My heart is torn,' she continued, ' and causes me the most terrible suffering for my thoughts of disapproval and criticism of my superiors. My tongue is devoured by vermin, and, as it were, torn from my mouth continually, for the words I spoke against charity and my little regard for the rule of silence. Ah ! would that all souls consecrated to God could see me in these torments. If I could show them what is prepared for those who live negligently in their vocation, their zeal and fervour would be entirely renewed, and they would avoid those faults which now cause me to suffer so much.'
" At this sight I melted into tears. ' Alas ! ' said she, 'one day passed by the whole community in exact observance would heal my parched mouth ; another passed in the practice of holy charity would cure my tongue ; and a third passed without any murmuring or disapproval of superiors would heal my bruised heart ; but no one thinks to relieve me.'
" After I had offered the Communion which she had asked of me, she said that her dreadful torments were much diminished, but she had still to remain a long time in Purgatory, condemned to suffer the pains due to those souls that have been tepid in the service of God. As for myself," adds Blessed Margaret Mary, " I found that I was freed from my sufferings, which I had been told would not diminish until the soul herself should be relieved."
Image: Gabrielle Dell’Otto ~ Purgatorio Canto 20 Terremoto
