Merciful Lord,
Thank You for a new day and for Your promise, which echoes in my heart. You are the God of life, and Your will is that no one who believes in You should remain in the darkness of death, but live forever.
“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” (John 6:40)
Yesterday, I rejoiced at the thought of the countless saints, souls who have already reached their destination. Their journey is finished, their robes are washed clean, and now they behold You face to face.
Today, however, my heart turns to those who died in Your grace but are not yet fully prepared for that encounter.
You, in Your infinite wisdom, know that only a perfectly pure heart can endure the splendor of Your glory. Therefore, Your mercy has created a path, a final station of purification, which we call Purgatory.
This is not a place of punishment, but a workshop of Your love, where You complete Your work.
“Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Lord, this call to purity is for me as well, here and now. Help me not to wait for my passage into eternity, but to begin this purification today. I ask You to help me release all the small attachments and sins that tarnish my love for You and prevent me from truly living the truth that You are my only treasure.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:12)
At times, the thought of Purgatory filled me with fear, Lord. But now I understand that it is but an expression of Your faithfulness.
You do not give up on me; You do not leave me alone with even the smallest stain that would burden me in eternity. Your love is so ardent that You desire me to be completely free for eternal joy.
“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
This purification is like a merciful washing of garments, so that I may enter, clean, through the gates into the heavenly Jerusalem.
Perhaps it is painful, just as every farewell to sin is painful, but the fruit it bears is unimaginable freedom and perfect union with You.
“Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates.” (Revelation 22:14)
Therefore, today, Lord, with all my heart I pray for all the souls who long for You in the place of purification. I pray for my relatives, friends, and all those whom no one remembers. May my prayer for them be a holy and devout thought, an offering that will help them on their way to You.
“But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin.” (2 Maccabees 12:45)
Thank You for the gift of Purgatory, for this final opportunity to become holy. Into Your hands I surrender my emotions, my fear, and my trust.
I ask You, pour out Your mercy upon all the faithful departed and also upon me, so that one day we may all sing together the glory of Your love in heaven.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Amen.
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