One has had a glimpse of Love, but Love has pulled away. The reason for this is similar to the particular judgement which happens immediately when we die.
Christ reveals Himself to us and we see our sins in the face of His Purity and Goodness.
Then, if one goes to purgatory, one is deprived of the Beloved until one has paid the price of sin.
One must be totally in agony and bereft of love, after having seen Christ and then being removed from His Presence.
These words in the Song of Songs reflect the agony of those who have seen the Bridegroom and have lost Him.
Verses 6 and 7 of Chapter One:
O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou liest in the midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of thy companions. If thou know not thyself, O fairest among women, go forth, and follow after the steps of the flocks, and feed thy kids beside the tents of the shepherds
St. Bernard of Clairvaux notes that the Bridegroom tells the the Bride that she must find out her true self, she must seek self-knowledge, and is this not what happens in purgatory?
We come to know our true selves. Purgatory gives us the opportunity to see ourselves and our sins so that we can become pure.
To be continued....
