Purgatory: Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints

If this book doesn't dramatically change your life, you're already dead! There are three books everyone with any brains MUST read: this one, "Hell", by the same Fr. Schouppe, and "The Four Last Things" by Fr. Martin von Cochem. Then you too will share "the terrible knowledge": the reality that most souls are lost eternally, and almost everyone else, even saints, must suffer for years or centuries in unimaginable agony. The truth is so shocking and frightening, that it's no surprise that 99.99% or more of the world ignores it or disbelieves it. It's just too much for the human mind to grasp. But there ARE ways to avoid Purgatory, and this book will tell you how. If you never read another book in your life, this is one you must read and believe every word, or regret it beyond all imagination.

Purgatory is one of those books where, as the other comment here states, if for the true Catholic who knows purgatory is real. This book not only fortifies the truth but also show how the slightest transgression can consign one's soul to purgatory for a lengthy period of time. This is one book that I am not going to put the "read" book shelf. This book is going to be placed with books I use for reference since it gives a lot of advise on how to lessen (and may even eliminate) purgatory. One thing I already have done is being vested with the Brown Scapular.

Must read for all Christians. Fr. Shouppe dispells the notion, within The Dogma of Purgatory, that a Merciful God cannot have a purgatory or hell. He proves using the lives of the Saints that we all need a better understanding of what is purgatory and how it effects our growth towards holiness. This book can be used as a general reference and as a study guide for your writing and sermons.If you do not understand or believe in purgatory you will when you finish this book, or you will when you get there!

"Purgatory"; "Explained By The Lives And Legends Of The Saints", by Fr. F.X. Schouppe, S.J. Tan Books, Rockford, Illinois. This book received its IMPRIMATUR on October 11, 1893, so these writings of the Jesuit priest, F.X. Schouppe, are more than a century old. Fr. Schouppe collected and compiled the descriptions of Purgatory as recorded in the lives of saints and various holy people. Some of the saints are well known (St. Catherine of Genoa and St. Gertrude) while others are less familiar, e.g. St. Odilo, or, for example, Blessed Stephana Quinziani. The book is divided into two parts, "Purgatory: the Mystery Of God's Justice" and "Purgatory: the Mystery Of God's Mercy". If you read only the first part, it would, in my opinion, be very easy to lose hope. The suffering of the souls in Purgatory is real and they suffer for great things and for the least little offense. The Foreword, selected from St. Matthew's Gospel, makes Fr. Schouppe's point, "... that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment" Matt. 12:36.The second part of the book, written, you will recall, before the 20th Century St. Faustina was born, is called "Purgatory: the Mystery Of God's Mercy" and the good Jesuit author makes the point that God's charity will not be out done. In this second part of the book, as in the first, the author relates examples of "... how efficacious are the smallest prayers, the shortest supplications, to alleviate the sufferings of the poor souls". P.237. Schouppe gives examples of the efficacy of, first of all, The Mass, and then, the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross, in the relief of the suffering of souls in Purgatory. This book presents some frightening aspects of the punishment in Purgatory, thereby providing motivation for good works in this life and the earning of indulgences.Read this book to learn about Purgatory, the place.

After reading this book I can honestly say that it the best and most informative piece of information I have encountered on the subject. This is a must read for every Catholic and for anyone else who believes that there is a God and that we must be in a state of grace before we see Him. For the first time purgatory makes sense and for the first time I believe I have a much truer understanding of just what it is I have to do before my life ends here on this earth. Additionally, the book also covers the topic of why it is so important to pray for our dead and there is a section of appropriate prayers in this book as well. And for those who may be wondering, it is marked "Nihil Obstat" and "Imprimatur" thus making it a reliable source for those seeking authentic Catholic teachings.