“You are not sufficiently trusting, you fear God too much. I assure you that this grieves Him. Do not be afraid of going to purgatory because of its pain, but rather long not to go there because this pleases God who imposes this expiation so regretfully. From the moment that you try to please Him in all things, if you have the unshakable confidence that He will purify you at every instant in His love and will leave in you no trace of sin, be very sure that you will not go to purgatory.” - St. Therese of Liseux
 
During the month of November, we remember all those who have died, beginning with All Saint’s Day on November 1 and All Soul’s Day on November 2. While All Saint’s Day celebrates all our brothers and sisters in Heaven, especially all those unknown saints, All Soul’s day remembers all our brothers and sisters in Purgatory eagerly awaiting God and the fulfillment of all their greatest desires in Heaven.
 
Most of us have probably heard the joke that a certain action or doing something you don’t like will earn you “Time off in Purgatory,” but why do we say this? Many Catholics falsely believe that Purgatory is an unavoidable part of death. However, if you read the above quote from Doctor of the Church St. Therese, we can see that God Himself does not desire us to go to Purgatory. After all, we can’t earn Heaven, why do we think that Purgatory is different and something we can earn by our actions? St. Therese again says, “How greatly you injure the good God when you believe you are going to Purgatory. For one who loves there can be no Purgatory.”

So what is Purgatory then? Purgatory is exactly what it sounds like, it is a place designed to “purge” us of all that is keeping us from entering the gates of Heaven. I believe that often the very thing that sends us to Purgatory, is our own unacceptance and belief that we MUST be purged before we enter Heaven, because we are not “good enough.” But the truth is, none of us are “good enough,” and if we are waiting until we are worthy to enter Heaven, we would not only never enter, but we would struggle even to allow ourselves to enter the gates of Purgatory.
 
For example, there is a saying often on motivational posters in schools that says, “Reach for the moon! Even if you miss you will still end up among the stars!” While scientifically this phrase is incorrect, the same concept can be applied to Purgatory. We should aim for Heaven, not Purgatory. After all, if we “miss Heaven” God’s mercy and justice will lead us to Purgatory, but falling below into the depths of Hell is a punishment I would not desire for the worst of sinners in the whole world.
 
While this isn’t something the Church specifically says, I have my own belief on what Purgatory is like, formed by many of the private revelations of the Saints. I believe that when we die, if we truly love God, we will be given the opportunity for complete and incomprehensible mercy. When we love God completely, even as sinners, we will be drawn to accept this mercy, a mercy that can cleanse and purge us in a single moment, a single gaze of love. Purgatory is not required when we trust God in great love. After all, the great suffering in Purgatory is separation from God, a separation causing great pain not only for us, but for God who is also separated from His beloved children. Like children, we can ask for punishment instead of mercy. Like our own children, we can ignore all the love and mercy our Heavenly Father wants to give us, but instead continue to believe the lie of Satan that we are not worthy of Heaven. It is true that we aren't worthy of Heaven OR Purgatory, but God choses to give us HIS worth and His mercy and begs us to accept it so we may join Him in Heaven. When we are already living a life of Faith and love of God, this also makes it much easier to accept God’s mercy.
 
If we don’t accept this mercy, praise the Lord that we have another chance in Purgatory to accept His love! But ultimately it is us who make the choice to be purged through suffering rather than mercy, In a sense, our original thought of earning “time off of Purgatory” is true in as far as we are able to use our suffering to form us into saints. Our suffering on earth can bring us closer to accepting God’s mercy or help others, including the poor souls in Purgatory, accept this great Mercy. For when we accept our crosses on this earth, we are purged. We are purged not by our own worth or actions, but by the cross of Christ. And it is ultimately His love and mercy that saves us not only from Hell, but even from the fires of Purgatory. Have hope and trust in love. ~ Trisha Trout