Spiritual Corner - Often Pray for The Souls in Purgatory

Through the diary of Sister Faustina, we understand the importance of praying for the souls in purgatory. Once Jesus personally instructed Sister Faustina to bring to Him the souls imprisoned in purgatory. He said, “Today bring to me the souls imprisoned in purgatory. Throw them into the abyss of my mercy. Let me pour my holy blood onto them to cool off the burning fire.” In her diary, Sister Faustina recorded in details what she saw in purgatory, which reveals the situation of the souls in there. In her vision, Sister Faustina’s guardian angel brought her to a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, only the faithful on earth can come to their aid. Sister Faustina asked them what their greatest suffering was. They answered in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God. Sister Faustina saw Our Lady visiting the souls in purgatory. The souls greeted her as “The Star of the Sea”. Sister Faustina also recorded the soul of a young woman asking her for help, hoping to receive her prayers. This shows that the souls in purgatory would sometimes ask for help from the faithful in the world. Based on these visions, Sister Faustina encourages the faithful to pray in every way for the souls in purgatory, for example, by praying the “Chaplet of Divine Mercy”. Sister Faustina in her diary explains that when we offer to our Eternal Father in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world, the whole world includes all people and the souls in purgatory. And also through this treasury of the Church, we can obtain plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory and pay off their debts. This can also be done through our personal acts of mercy and sacrifices. Through her personal ascetic living, fasting and
all kinds of sufferings, Sister Faustina has atoned for sinners and souls in purgatory. This encourages the faithful to offer their sacrifices and sufferings to help the souls in purgatory. All in all, the faithful should often offer their acts of mercy and sacrifices to help the souls suffering in purgatory.

Yours,
Fr. John Wang