Purgatory--Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive Description of the Place.
Review: "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.

Rating:
Summary: There is always hope.
Review: In reading this book (3X's) I must say that it truly shows God's love for us. This book is not written to convert those non-believers but rather to show God's infinite wisdom, and his knowledge of human weekness. Although it is frightning at times in the first half of the book, the second half is truly uplifting! If you read this book pray that the Holy Spirit guides you through and that you will truly be touched....

Rating:
Summary: Growth in Holiness
Review: 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!