The Enchiridion 69
69 It is Not Impossible that Some Believers May Pass Through a Purgatorial Fire in the Future Life PL 40, 265
And it is not impossible that something of the same kind may take place even after this life. It is a matter that may be inquired into, and either ascertained or left doubtful, whether some believers shall pass through a kind of purgatorial fire, and in proportion as they have loved with more or less devotion the goods that perish, be less or more quickly delivered from it. This cannot, however, be the case of any of those of whom it is said, that they “shall not inherit the kingdom of God,” unless after suitable repentance their sins be forgiven them. When I say “suitable,” I mean that they are not to be unfruitful in almsgiving; for Holy Scripture lays so much stress on this virtue, that our Lord tells us beforehand, that He will ascribe no merit to those on His right hand but that they abound in it, and no defect to those on His left hand but their want of it, when He shall say to the former, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom,” and to the latter, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.”
Ignis etiam purgatorius quidam post hanc vitam. Tale aliquid etiam post hanc vitam fieri, incredibile non est, et utrum ita sit, quaeri potest: et aut inveniri, aut latere, nonnullos fideles per ignem quemdam purgatorium, quanto magis minusve bona pereuntia dilexerunt, tanto tardius citiusque salvari; non tamen tales de quibus dictum est, quod regnum Dei non possidebunt, nisi convenienter poenitentibus eadem crimina remittantur. Convenienter autem dixi, ut steriles in eleemosynis non sint, quibus tantum tribuit Scriptura divina, ut earum tantummodo fructum se imputaturum praenuntiet Dominus dextris, et earum tantummodo sterilitatem sinistris; quando his dicturus est, Venite, benedicti Patris mei, percipite regnum: illis autem, Ite in ignem aeternum .