An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unpublished-Manuscript-Purgatory-Sister-Cross-ebook/dp/B07Y3ZBSVG



"If only sometimes they would think of eternity. What is life compared to that day which will have no evening for the elect, or to that night which will have no dawning for the damned? On earth, people attach themselves to everything and everyone except to Him, who alone ought to have our love and to whom we refuse it. Jesus in the Tabernacle waits for souls to love Him and He finds none. Hardly one soul in a thousand loves Him as it should. You love Him and make up to Him for this guilty indifference which exists all over the world."

"All things pass and pass quickly. Do not fret so much about things that will end one day. Aim at what will never end."

This manuscript contains very interesting statements about the life beyond the grave, particularly about Purgatory.

The details are intermingled with much spiritual direction. Its authenticity is beyond doubt. A nun, identified for us merely as Sister Mary of the Cross, of a convent at V., without warning began to hear prolonged sighs beside her. This was in November 1873. She cried out, "Oh, who are you, you frighten me. Whatever you do, don't show yourself. Tell me, who are you?" No answer was forthcoming. The sighs continued and even came nearer. In vain did the poor Sister multiply her prayers, communions, ways of the cross, and rosaries. The sighs did not cease and remained unexplained until February 15, 1874, when a voice she recognized was heard saying: "Do not be afraid, you will not see me in my sufferings. I am Sister Mary Gabriel." Sister Mary Gabriel was a nun who had died at V., a victim to devotion and duty, February 22, 1871, at the age of 36.

The suffering soul then told her former companion whose advice she had often despised, that she would come frequently in order to help her sanctify herself. The plan of God was that Sister Mary of the Cross by her holy life should relieve and ultimately deliver her, who in years past, had tried her patience so sorely. The answer did not lessen the fears of Sister Mary of the Cross, who requested her visitor to depart and never again return. But it was useless. She was told that she had only to bear it as long as God willed it. This was just what she dreaded. For several years the mysterious relation continued between the living nun and the departed religious. It was Sister Mary of the Cross, herself, who related these events from 1874 to 1890, in the manuscript which is here given to the public.

 

I just downloaded this little book yesterday and began to read it before going to sleep last night. Of course I have read this several times before as it is quite famous and their are copies of it everywhere. But it really is fascinating, a dead nun in purgatory visiting a living one and describing purgatory. Fascinating. So I thought it well worthwhile to give it another read, especially with the month of the dead looming on the horizon.

 

As soon as I started reading the little book I started to laugh. Why? Poor Sister Mary of the Cross really, really, really did not want visits from a soul from purgatory and did everything she did everything she could to put a stop to it all. This nun was a very common sensed , down to Earth teacher with a very high reputation and the very last thing she wanted were ghostly visits. To make things worse the nun from Purgatory Sister Mary Gabriel had not got on the least little bit whilst she was alive so that would not have helped matters.

The first question I suppose might be did these things really happen? Is it all just nonsense?

Well there can be no doubt at all that there was an actual nun who claimed to have seen these things and the nun from purgatory who visits did exist too.

But did Sister Mary Gabriel actually have these visits? I have to say there are very ,very grounds to say she did. The nun herself had a very high reputation for holiness and there is not the slightest sign of her being a nut job. This whole deal was investigated by several prominent priest/theologians who gave it the thumbs up. One of the priests was the same priest who brought forward the case of St Therese of Liseaux for canonisation. Another was in Charge of a Religious Congregation.

So anyway I have no difficulty in believing it all. But I suppose of course if folks don;t believe in purgatory it might be hard to swallow.

 

Sister Mary Gabriel the soul who visits from purgatory was a young nun who did not lead a good religious life and was now very deep in purgatory indeed. Over the next few years she gave a series of advice and commentary which I admit I find a bot overwhelming and even scary. Why? Well it reminds me of the very high degree of holiness God expects from us all. It also reminds me how terrible purgatory can be.

 

I was going to say that purgatory is "de fide", but then I'm reminded that a lot of nominal Catholics don't believe in many Catholic dogmas (either out of ignorance or apostasy).

 

The thing that really concerns me most at the moment are the number of Catholics who do not believe that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ. This leads us on to wonder how many Eucharists that are taken are done do unworthily. Actions have consequences and St Paul warns that those who do this eat and drink their own condemnation and that it may even result in physical illness and even death:

https://ascensionpress.com/blogs/articles/examination-before-communion

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.”

(1 Corinthians 11:27-30)

“Only the living can eat bodily food. So, too, only those living the life of grace can be nourished by the food of the Eucharist. If someone in mortal sin goes to Communion, he receives no more nourishment than a dead man would if food were forced down his throat. It would even be worse, since it would be a sacrilege.”

The Baltimore Cathechism


“Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us – that is, charity – necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation …

“It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell.”

CCC 1855-1856, 1861


“A distinction must be made among sinners: some are secret; others are notorious, either from evidence of the fact, as public usurers, or public robbers, or from being denounced as evil men by some ecclesiastical or civil tribunal. Therefore Holy Communion ought not to be given to open sinners when they ask for it …

“But if they be not open sinners, but occult , the Holy Communion should not be denied them if they ask for it. For since every Christian, from the fact that he is baptized, is admitted to the Lord’s table, he may not be robbed of his right, except from some open cause… Nevertheless a priest who has knowledge of the crime can privately warn the secret sinner, or warn all openly in public, from approaching the Lord’s table, until they have repented of their sins and have been reconciled to the Church; because after repentance and
reconciliation, Communion must not be refused even to public sinners, especially in the hour of death.”

 

Even worse than this are priests who celebrate Mass in a state of Mortal sin. Not only priests but Bishops and Cardinals. Jesus described these people in one vision as, 'Butchers'.

 

A terrifying prospect.

 

Our priest frequently says that we receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus. He makes it known at many of the Masses we offer. Almost all of them. At the least, he has done his duty to inform his parishioners.

 

Our priest frequently says that we receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus. He makes it known at many of the Masses we offer. Almost all of them. At the least, he has done his duty to inform his parishioners.


Observations of mediocrity are heartrending even as the example of your priest puts joy in my heart! What is our response? This past weekend, my injured foot prompted me to stay home as the weight-bearing at Holy Mass would amplify my difficulties; this I experienced when participating at the Holy Sacrifice last Wednesday. Whether Holy Mass lacks solemnity or not, each valid Holy Mass pours graces upon the world. I believe the devil is pleased when we forfeit the opportunity of attending the Holy Sacrifice on the basis that it lacks the majesty it deserves.

"The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!"

 

This is a heartfelt post. You are right about the innumerable graces that flow from the Mass. Our parish has a wheelchair to borrow for a Mass.
Thanks for speaking highly of our priest. He also has talked about sin and Hell.
He uses those words. He has a line to Confession. We are blessed.
I must keep praying for your foot. I know it must really hurt.

 

Prayers for your poor foot Terry.

 

“For no crime is there heavier punishment to be feared from God than for the unholy or irreligious use of the Eucharist.” (Trent, De Euch v.i.)

The Catechism of Pope St. Pius X says: “He who goes to Communion in mortal sin receives Jesus Christ but not His grace; moreover, he commits a sacrilege and renders himself deserving of sentence of damnation.”

I went to Mass with a very,very famous priest in Ireland. He has written many books and is on the legacy media all the time. Like a movie star, TV , Radio , you name it.
As he went to the altar I saw several demons accompanying his to the altar. There appeared full of glee. At one point it was as if the horns of two of the demons held his throat by their horns. It was clear from their behaviour they totally owned him.

I met him one time and he was the nicest person you could ever meet. He has huge charisma.

What I saw that day was a big lesson and warning to me.

 

https://www.virgosacrata.com/priest-giving-sacrilegious-mass.html

The Horror of a Priest in Mortal Sin Giving a Sacrilegious Mass


Many Catholic Saints and theologians have written about the horror of those in Mortal Sin receiving the body and blood of Our Lord.

The Catechism of Pope St. Pius X says: “He who goes to Communion in mortal sin receives Jesus Christ but not His grace; moreover, he commits a sacrilege and renders himself deserving of sentence of damnation.”

Furthermore, the Council of Trent (an infallible Council) says: “For no crime is there heavier punishment to be feared from God than for the unholy or irreligious use of the Eucharist.” (Trent, De Euch v.i.)

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HORROR OF A PRIEST IN MORTAL SIN ?
This revelation comes from the Complete Works of St Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church: “Dignity and duties of the priest: or, Selva; a collection of materials for ecclesiastical retreats. Rule of life and spiritual rules”, Volume XII.

… This horror the Lord made known in the following manner, in the year 1688, to his servant Sister Mary Crucified, of Palma, in Sicily. At first she heard a doleful trumpet, which uttered, in a tone of thunder, audible over the entire earth, the following words: Ultio, pœna, dolor (vengeance, punishment, pain).

She then saw several sacrilegious ecclesiastics singing psalms with discordant voices, and in a confused and irregular manner. She next saw one of them rise up to go to the Altar and say Mass. While he was putting on the sacred vestments, the church was covered with darkness and mourning. He approaches the Altar, and, in saying the Introibo ad altare Dei, the trumpet sounds again and repeats, Ultio, pœna, dolor.

In an instant the Altar appeared to be surrounded by flames of fire, which denoted the just fury of the Lord against the unworthy celebrant; and at the same time a great multitude of Angels were seen with swords in their hands as if to execute vengeance on him for the sacrilegious Mass which he was going to offer.

When the monster came near the Consecration, a crowd of vipers sprung from the midst of the flames to drive him away from the Altar; these vipers represented his fears and stings of conscience. But they were all useless; the impious wretch preferred his own reputation to all these stings of remorse.

Finally he pronounced the words of Consecration; and instantly the servant of God felt a universal earthquake, which caused Heaven, earth, and Hell to tremble. She saw Angels around the Altar bathed in tears; but the Divine mother wept still more bitterly at the death of her innocent Son, and at the loss of a sinful child, (the priest).

After a vision so tremendous and dismal, the servant of God was so overpowered with fear and sorrow that she could do nothing but weep.

The author of her life remarks that it was in the same year the earthquake happened which produced such havoc in the city of Naples and in the surrounding country. Hence we may infer that this earthquake was a punishment for the sacrilegious Mass at which Sister Mary was present.

It was revealed to St. Bridget that “priests who are sinners will find themselves deeper in hell than all the other damned. Oh! how great the rejoicing of the devils when a priest enters hell? All hell is in confusion to meet the priest who comes”.

“Hell below“, says Isaias, “was in an uproar to meet thee at thy coming. All the princes of the earth have risen from their thrones. All the princes of that land of woe rise up to give the first place of torment to the damned priest”. “All”, continues the prophet, “shall answer and say to thee”:

Thou also art wounded as well as we, thou art become like us priest, you once ruled over us, you have so often made the Incarnate Word descend on the altars, you have delivered so many souls from hell, and now you have become like us, miserable and tormented as we are: Thy pride is brought to hell.

Your pride, by which you have despised God and your neighbor, has in the end brought you to this land of misery, Thy carcass is fallen down : under thee shall the moth be strewed, and worms shall be thy covering? As a king you shall have a royal couch and a purple robe: behold, fire and worms shall forever corrode your body and your soul.

Oh! how shall the devils then scoff at all the Masses, sacraments, and sacred functions of the damned priest! And have mocked at her sabbaths?

By St Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church.

Related: The Attacks Made by Heretics upon the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

“On Communion with Counterfeit Church: Faithful have the right to know …

“On Communion in the Hand and Similar Frauds” by Michael Davies

 

If there is one very old Indian spiritual belief which I believe is true it is that of Karma. the principle of cause and effect. That actions have consequences.

If there is one thing that fills me horror in the World today (which Our Lady of Medugorje said is worse than it has ever been, worse even than in the time of Noah) is that as Pope St John Paul said, it has lost its sense of sin.

Alongside that it has lost its sense of Karma. That evil actions have evil consequences. That you can do whatever evil you like and get away with it both in this world and the next.

But you don't and you can't.

 

Often when I look at peoples conversions they come about by grace which is often supplicated for by one who is suffering and praying for them. It doesn't seem to happen by an exchange during discussion, though it can appear that way. This grace is healing for the mind, body and spirit. So I believe Purple Flower is right in that all we can do is offer loving prayer and sacrifice. Which I think everyone on this board is already doing. We just keep taking the lashing and giving love. Not to be confused with fake love.

Christ comes through in a greater way by this.

 

I love this post and the way you have expressed the reality.

 

Many years ago (close to 20 years ago), I confess I took the Eucharist unworthily, and I swear that it led to my absolute disintegration and to some of my biggest regrets. I have confessed that sin, and I regret it whole-heartedly, for hurting God , but does this still mean that even though I confessed it, I would still receive damnation?

I'll be honest though.... It scares me to go up to the Eucharist. I have scrupulosity and an overactive mind, and while I confess everything I can remember in the Confessional, I still feel scared if I remember something I forgot to confess, and I say so many acts of contrition on the way up. I'm paranoid about being unworthy, because I don't want to hurt God again. Can I be forgiven?