True Stories of Purgatory

Father Michael de la Fontaine was one of the first missionaries who labored for the salvation of the people of Peru. When instructing the new converts, he took great care to inspire them with a deep horror of sin. But more importantly, he made it his goal to lead these new Catholics to possess a loving devotion to Our Blessed Mother. He spoke of Her wonderful virtues, and taught them pray the Rosary in Her honor. Mary, on Her part, did not refuse the favors asked of Her.

While he was among the people of Peru, Father Michael poured himself completely into his work. Notwithstanding the exhaustion that he felt from such hard labor, the good priest pressed on. His love for those people was too intense - no matter what it cost, he would work to see them all converted and saved. But one day, fatigue got the better of him, and he could only lay limp in the dust. He did not even have the strength to rise.

As the poor priest laid there, weak and weary, he looked up and was surprised beyond words to see Someone very dear to him. It was Mary, the Comforter of the Afflicted. She lovingly reanimated his courage, saying to him,

"Confidence, my son! Your fatigues will take the place of Purgatory for you. Bear your sufferings patiently, and on leaving this life your soul will be received into the home of the blessed."

For the rest of his life, this vision was a source of extreme consolation for Father Michael. The promise of going straight to Heaven when he died was an incredible reward, beyond what he would possibly ask for. In gratitude for this wonderful favor, he practiced some particular penance each week.

He was in Valencia, Spain, when his soul left his body on February 11, 1606. At the moment of Father Michael’s death, a very virtuous Religious saw the soul of the good priest take its flight to Heaven in company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, together with the Prince of the Apostles, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Ignatius, the founder of the Company of Jesus.


	This will replace your Purgatory
	Father Michael de la Fontaine was one of the first missionaries who labored for the salvation of the people of Peru. When instructing the new converts, he took great care to inspire them with a deep horror of sin. But more importantly, he made it his goal to lead these new Catholics to possess a loving devotion to Our Blessed Mother. He spoke of Her wonderful virtues, and taught them pray the Rosary in Her honor. Mary, on Her part, did not refuse the favors asked of Her. While he was among the people of Peru, Father Michael poured himself completely into his work. Notwithstanding the exhaustion that he felt from such hard labor, the good priest pressed on. His love for those people was too intense - no matter what it cost, he would work to see them all converted and saved. But one day, fatigue got the better of him, and he could only lay limp in the dust. He did not even have the strength to rise. As the poor priest laid there, weak and weary, he looked up and was surprised beyond words to see Someone very dear to him. It was Mary, the Comforter of the Afflicted. She lovingly reanimated his courage, saying to him, "Confidence, my son! Your fatigues will take the place of Purgatory for you. Bear your sufferings patiently, and on leaving this life your soul will be received into the home of the blessed." For the rest of his life, this vision was a source of extreme consolation for Father Michael. The promise of going straight to Heaven when he died was an incredible reward, beyond what he would possibly ask for. In gratitude for this wonderful favor, he practiced some particular penance each week. He was in Valencia, Spain, when his soul left his body on February 11, 1606. At the moment of Father Michael’s death, a very virtuous Religious saw the soul of the good priest take its flight to Heaven in company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, together with the Prince of the Apostles, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Ignatius, the founder of the Company of Jesus.