Fire of Love!: Understanding Purgatory

by Catherine of Genoa

The truth about Purgatory . . . revealed more than 500 years ago to a canonized saint! Here is the sensible view of Purgatory, tainted by neither childish superstition nor modern skepticism. From these holy pages by St. Catherine of Genoa, you'll

Genres: Theology, Catholic, Religion, Spirituality, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian

91 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1551

About the author

Saint Catherine of Genoa (Caterina Fieschi Adorno, 1447 – 15 September 1510) was an Italian Roman Catholic saint and mystic, admired for her work among the sick and the poor and remembered because of various writings describing both these actions and her mystical experiences. She was a member of the noble Fieschi family, and spent most of her life and her means serving the sick, especially during the plague which ravaged Genoa in 1497 and 1501. She died in that city in 1510.

Her fame outside her native city is connected with the publication in 1551 of the book known in English as the Life and Doctrine of Saint Catherine of Genoa.

She and her teaching were the subject of Baron Friedrich von Hügel's classic work The Mystical Element of Religion (1908).

Reviews

[Felicitas Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

revelación privada

Este libro es una revelación privada sobre el purgatorio. Tiene una visión que anima. Es un tema poco conocido, pero para tener en cuenta los que tenemos fe en una vida eterna.

[David Blynov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a Catholic missionary in Poland after we had a discussion on CS Lewis' "The Great Divorce." I mentioned that the idea of hell being self-imposed is an interesting one Lewis explores, and she recommended me this book on purgatory.

As I understand it, purgatory is the state of a soul desiring God but being unable to approach Him due to one's own sinfulness. Such a soul is gradually cleansed of its sin in purgatory until it can finally approach God and enter into paradise.

A few things confuse me as a non-Catholic protestant Christian: (1) What is the difference between sanctification and purgatory? It seems that the function sanctification serves in protestant theology, purgatory serves in Catholic theology. (2) What is the Biblical basis for purgatory? (3) Why is post-death purgatory necessary to cleanse sins? Isnt faith in Jesus' blood enough to wash one completely clean?

4.2/5

"I believe no happiness can be found worthy to be compared with that of a soul in Purgatory except that of the saints in Paradise. And day by day this happiness grows as God flows into these souls, more and more as the hindrance to His entrance is consumed. Sin's rust is the hindrance, and the fire burns the rust away so that more and more the soul opens itself up to the divine inflowing."

"After death free will can never return, for the will is fixed as it was at the moment of death."

"The souls in Purgatory bear only pain, for their guilt was wiped away at the moment of their death when they were found to be ill content with their sins and repentant for their offenses against divine goodness. Therefore their pain is finite and its time ever lessening, as has been said."

"The soul in which there is even the least note of imperfection would rather cast itself into a thousand Hells than find itself thus stained in the presence of the Divine Majesty."

[Gabriel S.F · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Agora que vejo claramente estas coisas na luz divina, me vem um desejo ardente de gritar com um grito tão forte, que pudesse espantar a todos os homens do mundo, dizendo-lhes:
Oh, miseráveis! Por que vos deixais cegar assim pelas coisas deste mundo, que para uma necessidade tão importante, como na que vos haveis de encontrar, não tomais precaução alguma? Estais todos amparados sob a esperança da misericórdia de Deus que, já disse, é tão grande. Mas não vedes que tamanha bondade de Deus se vos tornará em juízo, por terdes atuado contra suas vontades? Sua bondade deveria vos obrigar a fazer tudo o que Ele quer, mas não deve vos dar a esperança de cometer o mal impunemente. A justiça de Deus não pode falhar, e é preciso que seja satisfeita de um modo ou de outro plenamente.
Não te confies, pois, dizendo: eu me confessarei e conseguirei depois a indulgência plenária, e ao momento me verei purificado de todos os meus pecados. Pensa que está confissão e contrição, que são necessárias para receber a indulgência plenária, é coisa tão difícil de conseguir que, se o soubesses, tremerias com grande temor, e estarias mais certo de não a ter que de podê-la conseguir.” - Santa Catarina de Gênova, pg. 34-35.

“Se alguém disser que a qualquer pecador penitente, depois que recebeu a graça da justificação, é perdoada a culpa e cancelado o débito da pena eterna, de tal modo que não lhe fique débito algum de pena temporal para descontar neste mundo ou no futuro, no purgatório, antes que lhe sejam abertas as portas do reino dos céus: seja anátema.” - Papa Pio IV na sexta sessão do Concílio de Trento.

[Pat aka Tygyr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short book. She describes mostly Purgatory, but some of Hell as well. She explains that Purgatory and Hell are both painful. But in Hell they feel their guilt as an added pain and they are broken permanently from God. In Purgatory there is no guilt and they know that God and Heaven are in their future. They see the smudges or rust on their souls and are willing to endure the pain to be purified. I enjoyed the book.

[Anya]

The fire of purgatory -- the fire of pure love.

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tratado del Purgatorio" de Santa Catalina de Génova es una obra muy breve pero profundamente espiritual que ofrece una visión detallada y reflexiva sobre el concepto cristiano del purgatorio. Escrito en el siglo XVI, este libro no es un tratado teológico formal, ni de cerca, sino una colección de experiencias místicas y revelaciones de Santa Catalina. A través de su escritura, presenta el purgatorio no tanto como un lugar de sufrimiento físico, sino como un proceso espiritual donde las almas experimentan una purificación intensa y amorosa, deseando estar cada vez más cerca de Dios.

Catalina describe el purgatorio como un proceso de purificación del alma, a través del fuego cegador y amorosísimo de Dios, en el que el dolor y el sufrimiento provienen más del deseo de gozar de la presencia divina que de cualquier castigo físico. Para ella, el purgatorio es una manifestación del amor profundo y total de Dios, ya que da la oportunidad a las almas manchadas por el pecado de purificarse, donde las almas avanzan poco a poco hacia la luz, liberándose de los apegos humanos y las impurezas que impiden su completa unión con El Creador.

El "Tratado del Purgatorio" es una lectura enriquecedora para quienes buscan profundizar en el entendimiento de la vida después de la muerte desde una perspectiva católica mística, inspirando una visión más esperanzadora y amorosa del purgatorio, un lugar de purificación, en lugar de verlo como una sucursal del Infierno.

[OSCAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opúsculo edificante, donde lejos de mostrarnos a las almas de los difuntos en tono sufriente, nos muestra la visión de almas que sufren por ser imperfectas ante el amor profundo e inconmensurable de Dios. No es una mirada patética ni satura de "temor y temblor". La versión que revisé contenía comparaciones de la doctrina de Juan de la Cruz con la de Catalina de Génova para contextualizar, mostrando diferencias y semejanzas y cerraba con la doctrina católica enmarcada en el CIC.

Considero que más allá de esta glosa, si la gente entendiera lo hermoso del amor de Dios, realmente, como gritó Catalina de Génova, se vaciaría del amor propio y de las futilidades. Y lejos de aguantar ayunos y sufrimientos para aplacar al tirano divino, al saberse amada la persona, aceptaría gozosa todo tipo de penurias porque no serían en realidad cargas aquéllas sino elementos para alejar de nosotros lo netamente idiota, lo particular. El tratadito debería leer con mayor asiduidad. Sin embargo, en mi primera lectura, creo que cegado ante su mensaje, pasé la página. Me agradó ahora leerlo por segunda vez, ahora que tengo más herramientas para entenderlo.

[Galicius · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Catherine presents purgatory not as a place of external punishment, but as a state of profound inner purification. Souls in purgatory experience a burning love for God and a deep sorrow for their sins, which cleanses them in preparation for union with the Divine.

The treatise emphasizes that the suffering of purgatory is willingly embraced by souls because they see clearly how much they need purification to be united with God. This conception of divine love is characterized by a simultaneous sense of pain and beauty.

Catherine's insights, stemming from her own mystical experiences, portray purgatory as a transformative journey rather than a punitive one. The soul undergoes a gradual process of purification, during which it becomes increasingly detached from all that hinders its connection with the divine.

The work is characterized by an overwhelming sense of divine mercy. Despite the affliction, the soul is sustained by hope and the assurance of eventual union with the divine.

[Caleb Vogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even as a Protestant, I found this to be a beautiful picture of the glorification of saints. St. Catherine describes the joy of suffering the purifying flame of holiness, a joy which all Christians must experience to some degree or another. She definitely drifts a bit Gnostic in the latter half of the book, as she draws the analogy between the saints in Purgatory and her own life. But her writing still inspires me to more zealously pursue righteousness, that I might one day stand confidently in the presence of God without spot or blemish, gazing on the Beatific Vision in grateful purity.

[Shenuka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. Tldr; even souls in purgatory will the painful suffering more and more as they are purified. They will this as their will is more closely united with God's. Purgatory is an extension of God's mercy, and hell is the worst suffering because we will know how much God loves us, and then be unable to love Him back because of the wickedness.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I disagree very strongly with this book. Catherine renders the cross of christ as relatively ineffective.either the full payment of your sin was paid by christ on the cross or none of it was and it is all upon you. That being said this is a very interesting piece of medieval theology and Christian history nonetheless

[Talea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t really express how I feel right now after reading this. All I know is I feel closer to God and I love it. This book is being added to my must own collection as I will be returning to it often.

[FR ADRIAN G HEAD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most informative

Purgatory is still very mysterious. But much was revealed to St Catherine of Genoa. This information is extremely helpful for our spiritual life, and it encourages us to live very godly lives. And to take religion very seriously.

[Kim Padan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful reflections that explore the Catholic teaching on Purgatory.
Dates are approximate. Our Dominican Laity group read & discussed this at our December meeting. Everyone enjoyed this little book that is packed with gems to ponder over and over again!

[Vashti Desai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esse livro é um tesouro para nós católicos. Conhecer melhor a existência do purgatório é essencial para nosso caminho a santidade, a desejar o Céu com todo o nosso coração e alma. Porque fuimos feitos para Deus.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to understand due to the Times in which it was written but gives me a little better understanding of purgatory

[Seamus McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique perspective on Purgatory

I reread this book every November. It is always very nourishing to the soul. A unique perspective on purgatory. I highly recommend it.

[Silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un pequeño libro que explica como es el purgatorio según las experiencias de Santa Catalina de Génova

[Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very easy, quick read that I highly recommend. I read this book out of a desire to better understand heavenly realities. St. Catherine really has a lot of fascinating things to say about the nature of purgatory that will stick with you. One of the most fascinating things which will forever stay with me is when she used a metaphor:

Imagine you are starving, and there is one single loaf of bread that can totally sustain you, but it's far far away. Purgatory is knowing that one day you will get that bread. Hell is knowing that you will never get that bread, ever.

Whoa! Powerful stuff, no? As you can see, while her powerful descriptions elucidate the nature of purgatory, they also do a much more important thing: motivate you to conform your will to God's! I'd much rather do it now in this lifetime as best I can rather than leave it up to the fire of purgatory, or dare I say, risk the fires of hell.

[Emily Montellano · Rating 5 out of 5]

St Catherine of Genoa was a mystic. God have her the grace of experiencing purgatory before passing from this life. She explains that in purgatory we experience the cleansing fire mentioned in the Bible. It is painful but we wish nothing but to go through it to be closer to God. The hardest part she says, is being so close to God, but not yet with him.
Our souls never once wish we could pass through purgatory faster and just get it over with because we recognize that we deserve to be there and actually WANT to be there so we can be pure before entering fully into God’s presence.

I heard about this book from Fr Hugh Barbour in Catholic Answers TV series, season 3, episode 2.

Great insight into Purgatory.

[Angela Lambkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a clear sided ebook on The Treatise on Purgatory!

What a treatise? And about purgatory too! This is very Linley my very first time to be reading and then doing a review on such a reading. So, I wanted to give this five stars for what was said and for being so brave as to share this info as an ebook. I would recommend the for those who really like reading this type of info very often. I received this ebook for free and in return,here is my honest review. Great work Author! By Angela

[J.T. Therrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Treatise on Purgatory is St. Catherine of Genoa's attempt to understand and put into words the difference between Hell and Purgatory. It is based on her own physical torments that gave rise to this Divine insight. Her clear and concise words offer the reader hope of one day attaining eternal salvation.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book for understanding Purgatory.

[Guilherme Soares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reflections on the love between God and man’s soul. Short and profitable read. Recommend to everyone.

[John Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The joy of the souls of purgatory is so great that only that of the saints in heaven exceeds it" by st, Catherine of Genoa

[Carlos Carrasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breve tratado, lenguaje claro.