There are few who might not avoid Purgatory
if they were only willing to adopt the requisite
means. These means are:
1. A spirit of charity to others, and of self-denying
charity. Charity shall hide a multitude of
sins, and it will hide them in such a way that they
shall be entirely blotted out, leaving behind them
no debt of punishment still due. Our Lord has
promised that what measure we mete out to others,
the same shall be measured to us again. If we mete
out to others a perfect charity. God will mete out
to us a complete remission of our sins in the particular
judgment without a trace of penalties to
be suffered in the flames of Purgatory.
2. A spirit of great generosity to the poor for
Christ's sake. God is always generous to those who
deal generously with others; and almsgiving carries
with it wonderful rewards. There appears to be an
allusion to Purgatory in the words of Holy
Scripture that alms deliver the almsgiver from
sin, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness;
and in the precept, "Give alms of thy goods,
and never turn away thy face from any poor man,
so shall not the face of the Lord be turned away
from thee." Am I really generous to the poor?
3. A spirit of great compassion for the suffering
souls who are now in Purgatory. If we desire to
escape Purgatory, we must help to pay the debt of
others. We must aid many on the road to Heaven,
if we desire to travel the same road without being
detained on the way. Here, too. God will deal with
us as we have dealt with others. What do I do for
the Holy Souls? Pray God to teach you how to
avoid Purgatory?