356. The amount of time you spend in Purgatory
356. THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SPEND IN PURGATORY
The Church has attached numbers to the indulgences she grants for specific good works, such as “300 days in Purgatory” for a novena. What is the basis for this? Is does not seem to be purely speculative and imaginary. On the other hand, it cannot be literal, because the souls in Purgatory are no longer in the universe and subject to earthly time. So it must be something between these two. How can this be explained?
Whether one person is delivered from this punishment sooner than another?
Objection 2. In point of duration, unequal merits receive equal retribution both in Heaven and in Hell. Therefore seemingly it is the same in Purgatory.
Reply to Objection 2. Mortal sin, which deserves the punishment of Hell, and charity, which deserves the reward of Heaven, will after this life be immovably rooted in their subject. Hence as to all there is the same duration in either case. It is otherwise with venial sin, which is punished in Purgatory.
On the contrary, is the comparison of the Apostle, who denotes the differences of venial sins by wood, hay and stubble (1 Cor 3:12). Now it is clear that wood remains longer in the fire than hay and stubble. Therefore one venial sin is punished longer in Purgatory than another.
I answer that Some venial sins cling more persistently than others, according as the affections are more inclined to them and more firmly fixed in them. And since that which clings more persistently is more slowly cleansed, it follows that some are tormented in Purgatory longer than others. . . (Appendix I,2,6).
Divine justice is not less than human justice; thus it requires equal punishments for equal sins and unequal punishment for unequal sins. Divine mercy requires the same, for more mercy is needed to forgive great sins than small ones, and more rehabilitation is required for great sinners than lesser sinners. Rehabilitation and education takes time, therefore those who need more of it will spend more time in Purgatory and those who need less of it, less time.
This is true of venial sins, which are relative and finite and can be quantified, at least analogically. In contrast, mortal sin is total loss of Heaven. It is not a matter of degree. And salvation as such is also a simple either / or, an absolute. Both are irrevocable, unchangeable, and eternal. Purgatory is only temporal, temporary.
Its time, however, cannot be literally measured by earthly clocks. Therefore the language about “years in Purgatory” or “days in Purgatory” is true symbolically and analogically, not literally. However time is measured there, “300 days” means simply “twice as much as 150 days”. Even if Purgatory is not temporal but instantaneous, like taking a bandage off a wound all at once (which is possible though not likely), its pains are measurable in degrees of severity.
Infinite bliss in Heaven, and infinite misery in Hell, are not matters of degree, as are the pains in Purgatory. Although there will be degrees of bliss in Heaven and degrees of misery in Hell, the difference between bliss and misery is not itself a matter of relative degree but is absolute. A woman is either pregnant or not, though she may be one month pregnant or nine.
Sins to which we are more addicted need longer time for purgation. This is so even in this life. So we should be careful not only to avoid sins that are the most objectively serious (e.g., murder is worse than theft) but also sins to which we are more addicted. A weakly repentant pornography addict may have to spend more time in Purgatory than a sincerely repentant one-time rapist. (Of course, neither will go to Purgatory, and thus eventually to Heaven, unless they repent.)