A dying monk was given a choice: 3 days in purgatory or 1 more year...
Cameron Riecker@riecker
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Oct 13, 2026
~2 min read
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A dying monk was given a choice:
3 days in purgatory
or 1 more year of sickness.
He chose purgatory.
1 hour later, he begged to take it back. 🧵
3 days in purgatory
or 1 more year of sickness.
He chose purgatory.
1 hour later, he begged to take it back. 🧵
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This story comes from Purgatory Explained by Fr. F.X. Schouppe, S.J.
An old religious was worn down by sickness after sickness.
He prayed:
"Lord, please just let me die."
Then his guardian angel appeared with an offer:
An old religious was worn down by sickness after sickness.
He prayed:
"Lord, please just let me die."
Then his guardian angel appeared with an offer:
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Die now and spend 3 days in purgatory.
Or stay sick 1 more year, then go straight to heaven.
It seemed obvious.
He chose the 3 days.
Or stay sick 1 more year, then go straight to heaven.
It seemed obvious.
He chose the 3 days.
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After just 1 hour, the angel came to visit him.
The man was furious:
"You promised I would remain here but 3 days!"
The angel asked:
"How long do you think you've been here?"
"At least several years."
The man was furious:
"You promised I would remain here but 3 days!"
The angel asked:
"How long do you think you've been here?"
"At least several years."
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Then the angel told him the truth:
"Know that you have been here only 1 hour.
The intensity of your pain deceives you as to the time.
It makes an instant appear a day, and an hour years."
"Know that you have been here only 1 hour.
The intensity of your pain deceives you as to the time.
It makes an instant appear a day, and an hour years."
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He begged to be sent back to Earth.
To suffer as long as God wanted.
Anything but these fires.
But that's nothing compared to the second story.
To suffer as long as God wanted.
Anything but these fires.
But that's nothing compared to the second story.
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Two holy religious.
One was about to die.
God revealed to him he would be released from purgatory after just ONE Mass was said for him.
He died the next morning.
His friend immediately began that Mass.
One was about to die.
God revealed to him he would be released from purgatory after just ONE Mass was said for him.
He died the next morning.
His friend immediately began that Mass.
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The next day, the dead man appeared to him, radiant and in glory.
But he had a question:
"Why did you delay so long to say that one Mass for me?"
But he had a question:
"Why did you delay so long to say that one Mass for me?"
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"Delay? I do not understand you."
"Did you not leave me to suffer more than a year?"
"I began Mass immediately after your death. Not a quarter of an hour had passed."
"Did you not leave me to suffer more than a year?"
"I began Mass immediately after your death. Not a quarter of an hour had passed."
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The soul replied:
"How terrible are those pains, since they made me mistake minutes for a year."
Did you hear that?
Minutes. For a year.
"How terrible are those pains, since they made me mistake minutes for a year."
Did you hear that?
Minutes. For a year.
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So what's the point?
St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that the least pain of purgatory is greater than the greatest pain of this life.
St. Augustine:
"This fire of purgatory will be more severe than any pain that can be felt, seen, or conceived in this world."
St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that the least pain of purgatory is greater than the greatest pain of this life.
St. Augustine:
"This fire of purgatory will be more severe than any pain that can be felt, seen, or conceived in this world."
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We've all been sick.
Minutes feel like hours.
Hours feel like days.
In purgatory, that is multiplied.
And here's the part that should keep you up at night:
Minutes feel like hours.
Hours feel like days.
In purgatory, that is multiplied.
And here's the part that should keep you up at night:
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They cannot help themselves.
They cannot merit their own release.
They are entirely dependent on our prayers.
On you.
They cannot merit their own release.
They are entirely dependent on our prayers.
On you.
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But you can help them.
Once a day, you can gain a plenary indulgence and offer it for a soul in purgatory.
Every soul you help free will be especially indebted to you.
It's like gaining another guardian angel.
Another patron saint.
Once a day, you can gain a plenary indulgence and offer it for a soul in purgatory.
Every soul you help free will be especially indebted to you.
It's like gaining another guardian angel.
Another patron saint.
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The angels and saints are never outdone in generosity.
If you want to become a man who fights for the souls of his family, living and dead, book a call to join House of Joseph:
apply.thehouseofjoseph.org/calendar
If you want to become a man who fights for the souls of his family, living and dead, book a call to join House of Joseph:
apply.thehouseofjoseph.org/calendar