In 1873, near the lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida, the Pittee sisters were riding in a construction cart down to the water. In a tragic turn of events, the cart flipped, trapping the poor girls underwater and causing their deaths. Since then, tourists claim to see apparitions of little girls playing hide-and-seek or wandering the property.
In another ghostly tale, nightly visitors to the historic Fort Holmes on Mackinac Island in Michigan swear that they saw ghostly figures — three soldiers — conversing with each other. When they approached the soldiers, they seemingly vanished into the mist.
Throughout the centuries, humanity has relished in ghostly accounts such as these. Some listeners instinctively dismiss these tales with logic: “They’re just elaborate pranks,” “It was just your imagination,” or the classic, “There’s no such thing as ghosts.” Others may be “true believers” — despite how ridiculous they might sound, they believe that the stories are as real as the storyteller before them.
As Catholics, we should never actively seek out contact with the dead (see Catechism 2116). But some of us may inadvertently experience what can only be described as paranormal. Many theologians and exorcists would err toward these experiences being evidence of demonic activity. Much of the time, this may be the case, and we would do good to be extremely cautious in such circumstances.
But in some cases, perhaps the answer is not so straightforward. Perhaps we are indeed receiving visits from beyond the grave, and perhaps they are asking a great favor of us.
A Plea for Prayers
It may come as a surprise to consider that some of the saints had “ghost stories” of their own. St. Joan of Arc declared that she received visits from St. Michael the Archangel and St. Catherine of Alexandria. Others like the Fatima children detail their terrifying apparition of those suffering in the pits of Hell. Still others experience chilling encounters with ghostly visitors who are neither demonic nor angelic.
One such visit occurred when Padre Pio was praying in the chapel. Looking up at the sanctuary, he noticed a friar bustling about, dusting around the high altar. Padre Pio, thinking it was his fellow friar, Fra Leone, told him to leave but quickly realized that this was not Fra Leone, but rather, an apparition.
The ghost identified himself as a friar who had served his novitiate at the monastery and was given the task of setting up the altar for Mass. However, due to instances of irreverence he committed in life, the ghostly friar was still in Purgatory, seemingly doing penance by performing his earthly duty with greater diligence.
The poor soul begged Padre Pio to pray one Mass for him so he might be freed from the suffering of Purgatory and finally enter Heaven. Padre Pio assured the soul that the next Mass in the following morning would be offered for him. The saintly friar thought this was a reasonable and even generous course of action, but to his surprise, the suffering soul cried out, “You are cruel!” and vanished. Padre Pio felt a wound in his heart, saying, “I, who through divine delegation could have sent that soul immediately to Heaven, condemned him to remain another night in the flames of Purgatory.”
A Place of Final Preparation
The doctrine of Purgatory is perhaps one of the defining characteristics of the Catholic faith. Other Christian denominations question the biblical and theological basis for this key belief, which may make some Catholics pause and wonder, “Why do we believe in Purgatory?”
The Catholic Church acknowledges that many of us will likely die in friendship with God, but with some remaining attachment to sin. Any slight cling to evil is not permitted in Heaven, but does not mean that we should be automatically thrown into Hell. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. (CCC 1030-1031)
C.S. Lewis, a non-Catholic Christian, even asserts the need for Purgatory so that we might be truly happy in Heaven:
Our souls demand Purgatory, don’t they? Would it not break the heart if God said to us, ‘It is true, my son, that your breath smells and your rags drop with mud and slime, but we are charitable here and no one will upbraid you with these things, nor draw away from you. Enter into the joy.’? Should we not reply, ‘With submission, sir, and if there is no objection, I’d rather be cleaned first.’ ‘It may hurt, you know.’ ‘Even so, sir.’
I assume that the process of purification will normally involve suffering. Partly from tradition; partly because most real good that has been done me in this life has involved it. (Letters to Malcolm, Letter XX)
Lewis beautifully proposes that we would actually desire to go to Purgatory, even if it hurts, if we were not ready for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. However, Purgatory is still a place separated from God, which causes our souls immense sorrow and pain. We would be like the ghostly friar who visited Padre Pio — greatly longing to arrive at the Feast as soon as possible.
The Purgatory Museum
While Padre Pio’s tale may sound like an isolated incident, it is quite the contrary. There is a small museum of artifacts that tell stories of souls who seemingly come back to beg for prayers from their loved ones. The Purgatory Museum, found in the back of the Sacro Cuore del Suffragio in Rome, is filled with books, clothing and even a desk that bear the marks left by those who are suffering and awaiting their turn to enter the gates of Heaven.
Perhaps one of the most jarring artifacts is Margherite Demmerlé’s book. One night, Margherite was visited by her deceased mother-in-law, who asked her to go on a pilgrimage and have two Masses said so that she might go to Heaven. Margherite asked for a sign that her mother-in-law was indeed in Purgatory, and the ghostly apparition laid a hand on a nearby book. Today, you can view these pages, dramatically altered by what can only be described as a burnt handprint. Other books and clothing bear similar burn marks, witnessing to the fact that not only does Purgatory exist, but those who are in Purgatory are desperate for our prayers.
Our Spiritual Duty
Again, we should never actively try to contact the dead, no matter our seemingly good intentions. But when we hear a ghost story or feel a chill down our spine while visiting an old, historic manor, don’t immediately dismiss it. Perhaps, like Padre Pio, you are being entrusted with a “divine delegation” to pray for some poor soul who is suffering in Purgatory. Even if your goosebumps are a result of a well-timed breeze from a window, the poor souls will still be grateful to be remembered. They long to gaze upon the face of God; what does it matter how and when you remember to pray for them? And consider this as well: When these grateful souls enter into Heaven, how else can they respond except by praying for you in return?
