Purgatory Explained...

Purgatory Explained...

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From the book "Purgatory Explained"

Part II, Chapter III

Consolation of the Souls -- St. Stanislaus of Cracow and the Resuscitated

Peter Miles

This contentment in the midst of the most intense suffering cannot be

explained otherwise than by the Divine consolations which the Holy Ghost

infuses into the souls in Purgatory. This Divine Spirit, by means of faith,

hope, and charity, puts them in the disposition of a sick person who has to

submit to very painful treatment, but the effect of which is to restore him

to perfect health. This sick person suffers, but he loves his salutary

suffering. The Holy Ghost, the Comforter, gives a similar contentment to

the holy souls. Of this we have a striking example in Peter Miles raised

from the dead by St. Stanislaus of Cracow, who preferred to return to

Purgatory rather than to live again upon earth.

The celebrated miracle of this resurrection happened in 1070. It is thus

related in the Acta Sanctorum on May 7. St. Stanislaus was Bishop of Cracow

when the Duke Boleslas II governed Poland. He did not neglect to remind

this prince of his duties, who scandalously violated them before all his

people.

Boleslas was irritated by the holy liberty of the Prelate, and to revenge

himself he excited against him the heirs of a certain Peter Miles, who had

died three years previously after having sold a piece of ground to the

church of Cracow. The heirs accused the saint of having usurped the ground,

without having paid the owner. Stanislaus declared that he had paid for the

land, but as the witnesses who should have defended him had been either

bribed or intimidated, he was denounced as a usurper of the property of

another, and condemned to make restitution. Then, seeing that he had

nothing to expect from human justice, he raised his heart to God, and

received a sudden inspiration. He asked for a delay of three days,

promising to make Peter Miles appear in person, that he might testify to

the legal purchase and payment of the lot.

They were granted to him in scorn. The saint fasted, watched, and prayed

God to take up the defense of his cause. The third day, after having

celebrated Holy Mass, he went out accompanied by his clergy and many of the

faithful, to the place where Peter had been interred. By his orders the

grave was opened; it contained nothing but bones. He touched them with his

crosier, and in the name of Him who is the Resurrection and the Life, he

commanded the dead man to arise.

Suddenly the bones became reunited, were covered with flesh, and, in the

sight of the stupefied people, the dead man was seen to take the Bishop by

the hand and walk towards the tribunal. Boleslas, with his court and an

immense crowd of people, were awaiting the result with the most lively

expectation. "Behold Peter," said the saint to Boleslas; "he comes, prince,

to give testimony before you. Interrogate him; he will answer you."

It is impossible to depict the stupefaction of the Duke, of his councilors,

and of the whole concourse of people. Peter affirmed that he had been paid

for the ground; then turning towards his heirs, he reproached them for

having accused the pious prelate against all rights of justice; then he

exhorted them to do penance for so grievous a sin.

It was thus that iniquity, which believed itself already sure of success,

was confounded. Now comes the circumstance which concerns our subject, and

to which we wished to refer. Wishing to complete this great miracle for the

glory of God, Stanislaus proposed to the deceased that, if he desired to

live a few years longer, he would obtain for him this favor from God. Peter

replied that he had no such desire. He was in Purgatory, but he would

rather return thither immediately and endure its pains, than expose himself

to damnation in this terrestrial life. He then entreated the saint only to

beg of God to shorten the time of his sufferings, that he might the sooner

enter the abode of the blessed. After that, accompanied by the Bishop and a

vast multitude, Peter returned to his grave, laid himself down, his body

fell to pieces, and his bones resumed the same state in which they had

first been found. We have reason to believe that the saint soon obtained

the deliverance of his soul.

That which is the most remarkable in his example, and which should most

attract out attention, is that a soul from Purgatory, after having

experienced the most excruciating torments, prefers that state of suffering

to the life of this world; and the reason which he gives for this

preference is, that in this mortal life we are exposed to the danger of

being lost and incurring eternal damnation.

"Purgatory Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints" by Fr.

Shouppe, S.J.