1. Of how great importance Purgatory is, neither tongue can express nor mind comprehend; yet I see it to be of as much pain as Hell: and nonetheless I see the soul which feels in itself the slightest stain of imperfection receive it as a mercy (as has been said), in a certain way making no account of it in comparison with that stain that impedes its love.
2. And it seems to me I see the pain of the souls being purified to be greater — by their seeing that they have in themselves something that displeases God, and that they did it willingly against such goodness — than any other pain they feel in Purgatory itself. This is because, being in grace, they see the truth and the importance of the impediment, which does not let them draw near to God.
3. All these things that have been said, in comparison with that of which I am certified in my mind (so far as I have been able to comprehend it in this life), are of such extremity that every sight, every word, every feeling, every imagination, every justice, every truth seem to me lies and things of nothing. I remain still confounded, not knowing how to find more extreme words.
About this translation
This English translation from the Italian was drafted with AI assistance using SWE-2 Max and prepared as a reading edition for this library. Review has included source provenance, section structure, and selected source comparisons and corrections. It has not included a complete independent, sentence-by-sentence translation audit.
Catherine’s teaching was transmitted by her disciples and first printed in 1551. This translation follows the supplied Italian transcription; the introductory note is editorial.
This is a reading copy, not a critical edition. No professional translation certification or ecclesiastical approval is claimed for this modern edition.
No general reuse licence is specified for this modern translation or its source transcription. The age of the original work does not by itself establish their reuse terms.
Remember Eternity · remembereternity.org. AI-assisted English translation drafted with SWE-2 Max from the Italian; selected source comparisons and corrections only. No complete independent translation audit or ecclesiastical approval is claimed. Catherine’s teaching was transmitted by her disciples and first printed in 1551. This translation follows the supplied Italian transcription; the introductory note is editorial. No general reuse licence is specified for this modern translation or its source transcription.