St. Stanislaus Chocosca was a Dominican in Poland. One day, he was particularly inspired with a fervent charity for the dead. With this sentiment, he prayed the rosary - a rosary that would change his life forever.

As he prayed, he saw someone appear near him. It was a soul all enveloped in flames. She begged him to have pity on her, and to decrease her intense sufferings caused by the fire of Divine Justice.

At this, Stanislaus asked the poor soul if this fire was more painful than that of earth?

"Ah!" she cried, "all the fires of earth compared to that of Purgatory are like a refreshing breeze!"

Stanislaus was stunned. If what she said was true, the hottest infernos this world can know do not even touch the heat of Purgatory! The thought was staggering, and the holy Dominican could hardly believe it. He sought for more than words to convince him. So, looking in the face of the suffering soul, Stanislaus simply asked.

"I want to have a proof. If God will permit - for your relief, and for the good of my soul - I consent to suffer a part of your pains."

To this, the soul replied: "Alas! You could not do this! Know that no human being could endure such torment and live. However, God will permit you to feel it in a light degree. Hold out your hand."

Stanislaus extended his hand, and she let fall a single drop of sweat. This sweat clearly retained a tiny portion of the incalculable heat that she was constantly consumed by.

The instant that inflamed drop made contact with Stanislaus, he was filled such frightfully intense pain that he screamed and fell fainting to the ground.

His brethren heard the piercing cry, and ran to the spot. They hurried to give him the help he needed in his terrible condition. When restored to consciousness, Stanislaus told them all about the extraordinary event which had just occurred. He concluded by saying.

"Oh my dear Fathers! If we knew the severity of the Divine chastisements, we would never commit sin! And we would not cease to do penance in this life, to avoid expiation in the next!"

Stanislaus was confined to his bed from that moment. He lived one year longer in the most cruel suffering caused by his terrible wound. Then, as he was dying, he once again reminded his beloved brethren to remember the Justice of God.

This striking proof of the suffering of Purgatory sparked fervor in the hearts of the monks - not only of Stanislaus' own monastery, but also of the monks from all the monasteries of that province.