Less Time In Purgatory

“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job 7:11

I came across a German Mystic named Anne Marie Lindmayr the other day. She was a 17th Century Carmelite nun who is known as a Purgatory Mystic. She stated of purgatory that, “the types of souls that dwell the least amount of time in purgatory are those that willingly accept death.”

In hearing this quote, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. “Of course,” I thought to myself. This is because acceptance of death is an acceptance of the consequences of sin.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

It is a complete and total recognition that death is not God’s fault, and we accept it. It is the opposite of what Adam did in the garden.

 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Genesis 3:12

Do you see what Adam did there? He blamed God for his sin. Never mind that God had given Adam a gift, a help-mate, and that he gave Adam explicit instructions and told Adam to have dominion and keep the garden. Never mind that Adam ignored the instructions, gave away his dominion, and did not keep the garden. Adam didn’t want to take responsibility. Adam blamed God and his gifts for his own transgression. And each of us suffered the consequence because God is infinitely good so his blaming God carries on through infinite generations with us being marked in original sin. It is why we need baptism.

But for those who trust and know that God is always good, they know He should not be blamed. They accept the consequence of what is and they request mercy to make their way back to God.

This explains why the hour of death is so important. It explains why we pray for Mary to pray for us at the hour of our death, why we ask Saint Joseph to intercede for a happy death, why we pray a chaplet of Mercy for the dying. For those who accept the consequence of sin willingly, no matter where they are or how it happens, have demonstrated that they understand what they deserve and thereby humble themselves enough to warrant eternal life, possibly spending a short time in purgatory, but being granted the merits of the Cross. We see this demonstrated by the two thieves, one who mocks God, and one who accepts his consequences.

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?  Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43

Death is not God’s fault. God is good all the time. God turned death into everlasting life by sending us His Son.

In the same way, suffering is not God’s fault either. Sin begets suffering. It is not God who wills our suffering. Suffering is actually the fruit of sin and is in and of itself an evil that God did not will. But once it was here Jesus came to show us what to do with it and how suffering well brings redemption.

Unfortunately, because we are all connected, sometimes suffering happens because of someone else’s sin. I have seen this so much lately. People are suffering immensely at the hands of another. The suffering often brings discouragement, discouragement can bring despair. Despair is what Satan uses to make us blame God.

If you find yourself in this situation it is okay to lament to God. We have an entire book in the bible called Lamentations. We read all throughout the book of Job of his immense suffering that is not due to his own fault. We see him complain to God. But there is one thing Job does not do. He does not blame God. He does ask God why, but his question isn’t like the thief on the cross who is mocking Jesus, it’s a heartfelt asking. At no point does Job blame God, even as he wishes he were never born.

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.  Job 3:1

Do not blame God for evil. This is key to the times we are in. We should do our best when we are suffering not to complain to other people. This is because discouragement can spread because most people try to fix suffering and when they can’t they get discouraged too. Take your lamentations directly to God. He understands it.

And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46

Even Saint Paul, who “rejoices” in his suffering (Colossians 1:24), rejoices not in the pain, but in the knowledge of the goodness of God who uses it to build up the church. Paul is even no stranger to speaking of his sufferings.

I am a better one: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death. Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea;  on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked.  And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11: 23-30

Why does Paul boast of his weakness? Because he knows that when we are weak we rely totally on God. We know we aren’t the Savior and we know the only way through the situation is to love God and rely on his grace and goodness.

God did not cause the evil that we see surrounding us. God came to save us from it and redeem it all.

My people, what have I done to you? or in what way have I offended you? Answer me. What more should I have done, and did not do? I led you out of the land of Egypt, and you prepared a cross for me. I opened the Red Sea before you, and you opened my side with a lance. I gave you a royal sceptre, and you have given me a crown of thorns. With great power I lifted you up, and you have hung me upon a cross. My people what have I done to you, or in what way have I offended you? Answer me. (from the Reproaches of Good Friday)

Suffering well means praising God’s goodness even if you complain to God about the pain of suffering. Suffering well means loving God and loving others even if you are too exhausted to speak. This is the way of the Saints. It’s messy and ugly and sometimes even feels like you are failing God. But if you stay trusting in His goodness, then it is not failure. It is grace pouring down and the promise of redemption. Trust that because God is good.