In the writings of St. Faustina, she talks about the flames of purgatory burning great crowds of suffering people. Is it true that in purgatory you burn?

While many saints have given us visions of what heaven, hell and purgatory may be like, it is important to make a distinction between public and private revelation in the Church. The writings of St. Faustina, although beautiful and praiseworthy, are a private revelation of one particular individual and therefore Catholics are not bound to understand or follow it. Our belief and understanding in the existence of Purgatory is rooted in Sacred Scripture which are an important part of public revelation. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 may well be the most straightforward text in all of Sacred Scripture when it comes to Purgatory: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble--each man’s work will become manifest’ for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved but only as through fire.” The references to burning and fire does not harm the soul, in fact, it will help it. It is a burning love of God that purifies the soul, enabling it to enter the fullness of the presence of God in Heaven. The truth is: both the works of the individual and the individual’s soul will go through the cleansing “fire” described by St. Paul in order that “he” might finally be saved and enter into the joy of the Lord. Purgatory is not something to be afraid of or run from but rather embraced! In Purgatory the love of God cleanses our souls, making them ready to enter into our heavenly inheritance. Everyone in Purgatory is on their way to heaven and our prayers help them get there.