The Consolations of Purgatory

Henri Faure examines the concepts of Christian purgatory, and how believers must mourn their lost friends and family, while praying for their salvation and receival by the Lord God. Designed as an aid to comfort recently bereaved families, The Consolations of Purgatory was well-received upon its original publication in France. Translated here to English by W. Humphrey Page, we discover a manual informed by the author’s scholarship in Christian subjects, but also his experiences in speaking with and consoling believers who had recently lost somebody near to them. A tone of warm reassurance and guidance defines this book, and its humanity resonates to the modern day. Much of this work concentrates on how to treat souls that are presently in purgatory; what good deeds and works can be done to aid their passage in the afterlife, and what prayers and condolences the living may offer to assist those departed. Christian virtues such as charity and good will are frequently alluded to, with the author also embarking on an examination of scripture for insight into apparitions of spirits that remain within purgatory.