A Touch of the Pain in Purgatory

Short Summary: Catherine of Racconigi, a Dominican mystic, experienced a vision of Purgatory and endured a painful spark on her cheek to better understand the suffering of souls, later receiving insights about her prayers for the conversion of sinners and the souls in Purgatory.

Details

Location: Racconigi, Italy

Year: 1514

Prayer: Lord, You love us all especially your faithful in purgatory. Just as Catherine suffered a taste of the agony our friends are enduring, give me a little suffering and a little trouble that I can offer for the holy souls. Unite us all to your suffering so we can be with you forever. Amen.

Verse: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. -Daniel 12:2

Full Story

Catherine of Racconigi, a Dominican mystic, developed a special relationship with the souls of Purgatory. One evening while Catherine was in bed stricken with a fever, she was enraptured in ecstasy and had a vision of Purgatory. She saw souls suffering the most atrocious pains. While reflecting on their sufferings, she heard a voice saying to her, “You do well to think of those pains; but in order that you may better realize their intensity, you shall experience them for a short while.” A spark of fire then suddenly struck her left cheek. Some fellow sisters present witnessed this spark. Immediately the face of Catherine swelled and remained altered for some time. She confessed that all the pains she had ever suffered were nothing compared to the spark. Years later, Catherine had another vision, this time of Jesus with a stream of blood flowing from his wounded side. Half of the blood descended to the earth, and half descended to Purgatory. Catherine understood this to mean that half of her prayers were to be offered for the conversion of sinners, and half for the suffering souls of Purgatory. Many other supernatural events were reported during Catherine’s life, with many testimonies involving angels, lights, and healings.

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