1030 All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.
1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: “Therefore Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church)
As the souls in purgatory are unable to help themselves, they rely on us for assistance. You can help them through several means including:
Usual Conditions
This of course varies according to Our Lord, however something to reflect on are the many Saints accounts of souls from purgatory appearing to them requesting prayers or visions of purgatory including St. Padre Pio, St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Stanislaus Papczynski, St Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, and St. Catherine of Genoa.
A Purgatory Museum located at the Sacred Heart of Suffrage Church in Rome gives testimony to deceased souls who have visited the living.
The Museum of Purgatory in Rome | EWTN Vaticano
VATICANO - A museum dedicated to Purgatory in Rome
Our Lady of Fatima talked about purgatory in her first apparition on May 13, 1971. Sister Lucia, one of the three seers, asked Our Lady about two village friends who recently died. Maria das Neves, whom Our Lady said, “yes, she is” in heaven and Amelia (18-20yrs) whom Our Lady said, “She will be in purgatory until the end of the world.” (Hungry Souls, Gerard J.M. Van Deb Aardweg, 2009)
These accounts should give us pause for reflection and encourage us to remember to pray for the poor souls in purgatory as we ourselves strive for holiness.
Following our catechesis on the reality of heaven and hell, today we consider "Purgatory", the process of purification for those who die in the love of God but who are not completely imbued with that love.
Sacred Scripture teaches us that we must be purified if we are to enter into perfect and complete union with God. Jesus Christ, who became the perfect expiation for our sins and took upon himself the punishment that was our due, brings us God's mercy and love. But before we enter into God's Kingdom every trace of sin within us must be eliminated, every imperfection in our soul must be corrected. This is exactly what takes place in Purgatory. Those who live in this state of purification after death are not separated from God but are immersed in the love of Christ. Neither are they separated from the saints in heaven - who already enjoy the fullness of eternal life - nor from us on earth - who continue on our pilgrim journey to the Father's house. We all remain united in the Mystical Body of Christ, and we can therefore offer up prayers and good works on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Purgatory.
(Pope John Paul II, General Audience, 1999)