By Father Fred Edlefsen

The snow is on the roses. Death looms over all blossoms. All Saints Day foretells Heaven. November prays for purgatory’s souls. Baptism plunges us into life’s purifying waters. Purification is completed either before or after death.

Do you fear purgatory? St. Therese of Lisieux said, “You have too much fear before the good God. I can assure you that He is grieved over this. You should not fear Purgatory because of the suffering there but should instead ask that you not deserve to go there to please God, who so reluctantly imposes this punishment. As soon as you try to please Him in everything and have an unshakable trust He purifies you every moment in His love and He lets no sin remain. And then you can be sure that you will not have to go to Purgatory.”

Here's an antidote to your fear: “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2). Don’t adjudicate others’ sins. The millstone may be cast on a neck you’ll never see.

Monks of old told this story: “Once a brother was found guilty, and the older brethren assembled and called for the Abbot. But he would not come. Then the priest called for him, saying, ‘Come, for the brothers are assembles and await you.’ The Abbot came. But he took with him a very old basket, filled with sand. He carried it behind him. When they greeted the Abbot, they asked, ‘Father, what is this?’ The old man said to them, ‘My sins follow me, and I do not see them, and I have come to judge the sins of another man.’ When they heard him, they said nothing to the brother, but forgave him.”

Love is humble and free. Hell is judicial and forced, like a self-imposed verdict on one who has rejected love, justice, honesty, and penance.

What’s Hell like? Christ told St. Catherine of Siena, “In his ignorance man treats himself very cruelly. My care is constant, but he turns my life-giving power into a source of death.”

What’s Heaven like? St. Thomas Aquinas called it “Happiness”. Gratefully and humbly, ask for it. It’s all yours in Christ Jesus, our suffering Servant, if you repent for your sins.