Friar who died and spent 3 hours in purgatory named venerable
Brother Daniele Natale, a spiritual son of Padre Pio, was declared venerable on October 24 for a life of heroic virtue. The declaration makes Natale a candidate for beatification and canonization; a miracle attributed to his intercession is needed for the next step. The article recounts the claim that Natale briefly died, experienced purgatory, and then returned to live another 42 years.
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Brother Daniele Natale, a Capuchin friar and spiritual son of Padre Pio, was declared venerable on October 24, recognizing his life of heroic virtue and making him a candidate for beatification and canonization. The account also recalls his reported experience after being pronounced dead in 1952: he said he had spent three hours in purgatory before returning to life. 1
“Venerable” is a recognition of heroic virtue; beatification and canonization would require a miracle attributed to Natale’s intercession. 1
Natale was born in San Giovanni Rotondo, the same town as Padre Pio, and later joined the same religious order. The two were close, and Padre Pio features in Natale’s account of his reported experience. 1
Natale was diagnosed with a form of spleen cancer in 1952. After surgery, he fell into a coma and was pronounced dead; according to the story he later recounted, he stood before God and was sentenced to three hours in purgatory. 1
The article says Natale described the experience as intensely painful, particularly the feeling of separation from God. He also said he saw the Virgin Mary and asked her to intercede for him; Padre Pio then appeared and asked Mary to ease Natale’s suffering. Natale said he was pardoned and returned to life. 1
Natale lived for another 42 years and died in 1994. He organized prayer groups and served at the monastery in several roles, including cook, sacristan and porter, while ministering to poor and suffering people and helping others with their spiritual lives. 1
Catholic theology understands purgatory as postmortem purification
Yes. In Catholic theology, purgatory is the purification after death of people who die in God’s grace and friendship but are not yet fully purified. They are already assured of eternal salvation; purgatory is not a second chance to choose God, nor a temporary form of damnation. Its purpose is to prepare them for the holiness and full communion with God that heaven entails.
The underlying conviction is that nothing in a person still opposed to God’s holiness can remain unchanged in the full encounter with him. The International Theological Commission explains that purification concerns not only the effects of forgiven sin but also lesser sins and attachments that impair a person’s friendship with God. Those who need this purification after death undergo it before the vision of God.
The Church does not require a literal, physical location or specify a detailed mechanism for this purification. Pope John Paul II described purgatory as a “condition of existence,” and stressed that it is not an extension of earthly life in which someone can reverse their ultimate choice.
Purgatory must also be distinguished sharply from hell. The International Theological Commission cautions against treating purification as merely a lesser degree of damnation: purgatory is centered on love, because the person being purified is already living in Christ’s love.
This teaching is also why Catholics pray for the dead. The Church’s prayer presumes that the faithful departed can be helped on their way through purification.