True Stories of Purgatory

Caesar Costa was Archbishop of Capua. He was also the uncle of a certain priest named Father Mancinelli.

One day, as the Archbishop was walking outside, he came across his holy nephew. The weather was brutally cold, and Fr. Mancinelli was in very poor clothing. So his uncle, in all charity, gave him some money to buy himself a cloak.

A short time afterwards, the Archbishop died. Then one day, the good priest went out to visit the sick. It was still cold, and he was wrapped in his new cloak. On his way, he met his deceased uncle, enveloped in flames. The burning soul came toward him, begging him to lend him his mantle. So, the good priest gave it to him. As soon as the Archbishop put it around his back, the flames were extinguished!

Fr. Mancinelli understood that his uncle was suffering in Purgatory. He also realized that his uncle had asked for his help - in return for an act of charity which the poor soul had done for his sake.

At this point, the Archbishop was not yet freed from Purgatory; he was still being cleansed from his sins. Yet God saw to it that this poor soul’s pains were decreased - in reward for a simple good deed which he had done during life.

As Fr. Mancinelli took back his cloak, he promised to pray for his suffering uncle with all possible fervor - especially at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.


	A Cloak of Charity
	Caesar Costa was Archbishop of Capua. He was also the uncle of a certain priest named Father Mancinelli. One day, as the Archbishop was walking outside, he came across his holy nephew. The weather was brutally cold, and Fr. Mancinelli was in very poor clothing. So his uncle, in all charity, gave him some money to buy himself a cloak. A short time afterwards, the Archbishop died. Then one day, the good priest went out to visit the sick. It was still cold, and he was wrapped in his new cloak. On his way, he met his deceased uncle, enveloped in flames. The burning soul came toward him, begging him to lend him his mantle. So, the good priest gave it to him. As soon as the Archbishop put it around his back, the flames were extinguished! Fr. Mancinelli understood that his uncle was suffering in Purgatory. He also realized that his uncle had asked for his help - in return for an act of charity which the poor soul had done for his sake. At this point, the Archbishop was not yet freed from Purgatory; he was still being cleansed from his sins. Yet God saw to it that this poor soul’s pains were decreased - in reward for a simple good deed which he had done during life. As Fr. Mancinelli took back his cloak, he promised to pray for his suffering uncle with all possible fervor - especially at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.