- from CatholicCulture.org
Purgatory is often one of the most misunderstood beliefs of the Church. While our sins are forgiven during the sacrament of Reconciliation, that does not fully remove the punishments we must face before we can be truly ready to enter Paradise. One of the best analogies for Purgatory is to think of it like taking a bath. Even after taking a bath, while you are clean there is usually some dirt and residue left in the tub. Purgatory is like scrubbing the tub itself so that everything is fresh and clean. We really do not know what Purgatory is like or how long it lasts for. It could last until the Second Coming of Christ or it could be an instantaneous purification which occurs when we finally see God face to face. What we do know is that those souls in Purgatory are destined to spend eternity in Paradise. However, they need our prayers and we need theirs. This is why the Church celebrates All Souls' Day on Nov. 2 and sets aside November as a time for us to pray for these souls. Say some extra prayers this month for those souls still awaiting Paradise.