Prison of Suffering. Saint Faustina Kowalska was one of the greatest mystics of the 20th century. In Poland in the 1920s and 1930s, she experienced many supernatural visions of Jesus and various saints, and was given the Divine Mercy Chaplet, among other things.
Vision of Purgatory
During one of her mystical experiences, Saint Faustina had a vision of Purgatory: "My guardian angel ordered me to follow him. In a moment, I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid."
She got to speak to the Souls in Purgatory. "I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God."
Star of the Sea
Then she saw someone you probably wouldn't expect. "I saw Our Lady visiting the Souls in Purgatory. The souls call her The Star of the Sea. She brings them refreshment." Amazing! Let this be a reminder that we should all be praying regularly for the Souls in Purgatory.
Here’s the full passage about Purgatory in Saint Faustina's Diary:
"I saw my guardian angel, who ordered me to follow him. In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid. The flames, which were burning them, did not touch me at all. My guardian angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God."
"I saw Our Lady visiting the Souls in Purgatory. The souls call her The Star of the Sea. She brings them refreshment. I wanted to talk with them some more, but my guardian angel beckoned me to leave. We went out of that prison of suffering, and I heard an interior voice, which said, 'My mercy does not want this, but justice demands it.'
"Since that time, I am in closer communion with the suffering souls." (Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, 20)
May the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace!
+JMJ+
Article Copyright © ChurchPOP. All Rights Reserved. Original article here.
Author Copyright © ChurchPOP Editor. All Rights Reserved.
Photograph Copyright © ChurchPOP Images. All Rights Reserved.
Mass Cards: Request Perpetual Mass Enrollments or Mass Intentions or Gregorian Masses for Loved Ones.
Our Catholic Faith: Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican Website)
Watch all of our 2-minute, family life videos as seen on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).