True Stories of Purgatory

The following incident took place in America, in the year 1859. Near the village of Latrobe, there was an Abbey of the Benedictines. Within this Abbey, there occurred a series of apparitions from a deceased Benedictine who had not yet been released from Purgatory.

The American press related the story. But they made light of this very grave matter. There was great danger to the people reading what the press so flippantly told them. These Americans would either be scandalized by this bad attitude in their papers, or worse, become infected with it.

In order to put a stop to this, the Abbot Wimmer, superior of the house, addressed the following letter to the newspapers.

"The following is a true statement of the case: On September 10th, 1859, in our Abbey of St. Vincent, near Latrobe, a novice saw an apparition of a Benedictine in full choir dress. This apparition was repeated every day from September 18th until November 19th. It would take place either at eleven o’clock, at noon, or at two o’clock in the morning.

"It was only on the 19th of November that the novice, in presence of another member of the community, asked the spirit why he was appearing.

"The spirit replied that he had been suffering in Purgatory for seventy-seven years because he did not offer seven Masses, which he was required to offer.

"The spirit added that he had already appeared at different times to seven other Benedictines, but not one of them came to his aid. If this novice did not help him now, he would have to wait in Purgatory for eleven more years before appearing to ask for help again.

"Having said all that, the spirit asked that the seven Masses be celebrated for him. Beyond this, the novice had to make a retreat for seven days, and keep strict silence. And for thirty days, he had to recite the psalm Miserere, three times each day - praying this psalm with his feet bare, and his arms extended in the form of a cross. All the conditions were fulfilled between November 20th and December 25th. And on that day, after the celebration of the last Mass, the apparition disappeared.

"During the period that the novice was helping this spirit, the latter appeared several times. He urged the novice to pray for the souls in Purgatory. For they suffer frightfully, and are extremely grateful to those who co-operate in freeing them.

"Sad to relate, the spirit added that, of the five priests who had died in our Abbey, not one had yet entered Heaven; all were suffering in Purgatory. I do not draw any conclusion, but this is correct."


	Apparition in America
	The following incident took place in America, in the year 1859. Near the village of Latrobe, there was an Abbey of the Benedictines. Within this Abbey, there occurred a series of apparitions from a deceased Benedictine who had not yet been released from Purgatory. The American press related the story. But they made light of this very grave matter. There was great danger to the people reading what the press so flippantly told them. These Americans would either be scandalized by this bad attitude in their papers, or worse, become infected with it. In order to put a stop to this, the Abbot Wimmer, superior of the house, addressed the following letter to the newspapers. "The following is a true statement of the case: On September 10th, 1859, in our Abbey of St. Vincent, near Latrobe, a novice saw an apparition of a Benedictine in full choir dress. This apparition was repeated every day from September 18th until November 19th. It would take place either at eleven o’clock, at noon, or at two o’clock in the morning. "It was only on the 19th of November that the novice, in presence of another member of the community, asked the spirit why he was appearing. "The spirit replied that he had been suffering in Purgatory for seventy-seven years because he did not offer seven Masses, which he was required to offer. "The spirit added that he had already appeared at different times to seven other Benedictines, but not one of them came to his aid. If this novice did not help him now, he would have to wait in Purgatory for eleven more years before appearing to ask for help again. "Having said all that, the spirit asked that the seven Masses be celebrated for him. Beyond this, the novice had to make a retreat for seven days, and keep strict silence. And for thirty days, he had to recite the psalm Miserere, three times each day - praying this psalm with his feet bare, and his arms extended in the form of a cross. All the conditions were fulfilled between November 20th and December 25th. And on that day, after the celebration of the last Mass, the apparition disappeared. "During the period that the novice was helping this spirit, the latter appeared several times. He urged the novice to pray for the souls in Purgatory. For they suffer frightfully, and are extremely grateful to those who co-operate in freeing them. "Sad to relate, the spirit added that, of the five priests who had died in our Abbey, not one had yet entered Heaven; all were suffering in Purgatory. I do not draw any conclusion, but this is correct."