particular for disembodied spirits. Likewise with regards to time; a
different temporal modality––called aeviternity––operates in the next life
for humans which is distinct from the ordinary flow of events experienced
on earth. After the General Resurrection and Final Judgment, purgatory
will no longer operate and all humanity will be in either heaven or hell.
Christians can pray for the souls in purgatory and assist them through good
works and penances, especially the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: “But if he
was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep
in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement
for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin” (2 Macc. 12:45).
Each good action of a just man possesses a double value––that of merit,
and that of satisfaction or expiation. Merit is personal and cannot be
transferred to another, but satisfaction can be applied for the benefit of
others. God accepts the charitable acts of others to abate the temporal
punishment of the souls in purgatory and these same souls will pray for us
out of gratitude when they reach heaven.
It should also be noted that purgatory is not all pain. Since the soul is closer
to God than when it was on earth, it experiences correspondingly greater
joys. St. Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) wrote in her Treatise on
Purgatory:
“An incessant communication with God renders their happiness daily
more intense, and this union with God grows more and more
intimate, according as the impediments to that union, which exist in
the soul, are consumed...With regard to the will of these souls, they
can never say that these pains are pains, so great is their contentment
with the ordinance of God, with which their wills are united in
perfect charity.”
The ex-Protestant convert, James Akin, lists some of the other
“advantages” of purgatory:
“(a) Freedom from the committing of sin; (b) freedom from the
desire to sin; (c) closer unity with God and Christ; (d) certainty of
one’s final salvation in a way not possible in this life; (e) a final and
full appreciation of just how gracious God has been to one; (f) a final
and full appreciation of just how much God loves one; (g) the
unencumbered and pure love we will feel for God and for others; (h)
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