St. Catharine of Genoa
The Heavenly Father
gave Saint Catherine some of the most extraordinary operations in her soul.
This condition started when she was about twenty-six years old and lasted until
her death. In this state, she received wonderful revelations of which at times she
spoke to those around her. Many of her extraordinary experiences and
revelations where about Purgatory with many of them being written down in one
of her two most celebrated works, "Treatise on Purgatory". Some
extracts from the book follow:
"There is no place to be compared with than of the
souls in Purgatory, { save | except } that of the Saints in Paradise, and this
peace is ever augmented by the flowing of God into these souls, which increases
in proportion as the impediments to it are removed. The rust of sin is the
impediment, and this the fire continually consumes, so that the soul in this
state is continually opening itself to admit the divine communication"
- Treatise on Purgatory (Chapter 2, page 301)
"It is true that the Divine love which overwhelms the
soul gives, as I think, a peace greater than that which can be expressed, yet
this peace does not in the least diminish her pains, nay, it is love delayed
which occasions them, and they are greater in proportion to the perfection of the
love of which God has made her capable."
- Treatise on Purgatory (Chapter 12, page 318)
"So hidden and transformed in God are they, that they
rest content with all His holy will. And if a soul, retaining the slightest
stain, were to draw near to God in the beatific vision, it would be to hear a
mere grievous injury, and inflict more suffering, than Purgatory itself."
- Treatise on Purgatory (Chapter 14, page 321)