A MOTHER STILL IN PURGATORY

Father Giuseppe Tomaselli recounts an experience he had with his own deceased mother:

“My mother was a great example, and I owe my priestly vocation to her in large part. She went to Mass and received Communion every day, even in her old age. She never stopped praying the Rosary. Charitable, to the point of losing an eye while performing a great act of charity for a poor woman. Always in accordance with God’s will, so much so that when my father lay dead in our house, when I asked myself, ‘What can I say to Jesus at this moment to please Him?’ she told me to repeat, ‘Lord, Thy will be done.’ On her deathbed, she received the Last Rites with fervent faith.”  A few hours before her death, suffering greatly, she repeated: “Oh Jesus, I would like to ask you to lessen my sufferings! But I do not want to oppose your will; do your will!” Thus died the woman who brought me into this world.

Keeping very mindful of Divine Justice, and paying little attention to the praise that acquaintances and even priests might offer my mother, I intensified the prayers for her soul. I offered a great number of Holy Masses, many works of charity, and wherever I preached, I exhorted the faithful to offer Communion, prayers, and good works for her soul.

Two and a half years after her death, she suddenly appeared here in my room, looking very sad, and the following conversation took place:

“You left me in Purgatory!”

“Have you been in Purgatory all this time?”

“And I still am! My soul is surrounded by darkness, and I cannot see the Light, which is God!”  I am at the gates of Paradise, close to eternal joy, and the desire to enter it tears at me, but I cannot! How often I have said: If my children knew my terrible torment, they would come quickly to my aid!

"And why didn't you come sooner to tell me?"

"I wasn't allowed."

"Haven't you seen the Lord yet?"

"As soon as I breathed my last, I saw God, but not in all His light."

"What can we do to free you immediately?"

"I only need a Mass. God has allowed me to come and ask for it."

"As soon as you enter Heaven, come back and tell me!"

"If the Lord permits! What light! What splendor!"

Two Masses were celebrated, and a few days later he appeared again and said, "I am in Paradise!"

Reflecting on what I have said, I tell myself: she led such an exemplary Christian life, and so many prayers were offered for her soul... and yet she remained in Purgatory for two and a half years! Our judgments are so mistaken!

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Let us continue to pray fervently for our deceased, even if they seemed very holy, lest we leave them in Purgatory for too long, thinking they are already in Heaven.

Blessed be Jesus and Mary.