A Nun Returned from Purgatory… and Left a Burnt Handprint

Is Purgatory just a theological idea—or can it leave behind physical evidence?

In this powerful episode, Ken and Janelle share one of the most astonishing Catholic mystical encounters ever recorded: the 1859 apparition of Sister Teresa Gesta, a holy nun who returned from Purgatory to leave a burnt handprint on a wooden door in her convent near Foligno, Italy.

This remarkable event was thoroughly investigated by the Church and even documented by respected Catholic figures like St. Thomas Aquinas, Monsignor de Ségur, and Father F.X. Schouppe in The Dogma of Purgatory. It’s a chilling reminder that Purgatory is real, that even the smallest sins are purified after death, and that our prayers for the dead truly matter.

🎙️ In this episode, we explore:

• The chilling apparition of Sister Teresa Gesta from Purgatory
• What Catholic Saints and theologians say about souls appearing to the living
• The official Church investigation that validated this supernatural event
• How Masses, prayers, and sacrifices help the Holy Souls in Purgatory
• Why Purgatory is a place of hope, not despair

Whether you're new to Catholic teaching or deepening your devotion, this story will ignite your faith and deepen your love for the suffering souls in need of our prayers.

Transcript

what if I told you that there's physical evidence of purgatory being real is Purgatory real I don't know a burnt handprint seared into wood left behind by a soul in agony hi last night the question of purgatory came up this is an apparition that happened in Felino Italy

[Music] hey welcome back this is our transition into our series now on Purgatory we're finished hell Janelle yeah that was a lot of episodes 10 I think all together yeah so are you tired of Hell let's move into purgatory there's at least hope in purgatory that's the thing this is and introducing to you if we haven't met before this is our recent Theologian in the Yasinski family Louis he's how many months now uh he about two and a half two and a half months so we want to thank you for those of you who've been journeying with us thank you for all your comments we want to thank you particularly our supporters you know what you've been watching is physically impossible to do without our monthly supporters and so we want to thank you and if you want to join our support team we' greatly appreciate it uh if you haven't noticed all our videos are free and that's because uh we do have a support team that helps us monthly you know we're real people we have a real family we have real real bills so we'd be very grateful if you would partner with us in this mission to proclaim the beauty of the Catholic faith to a hurting World our mission is really to fortify people in their faith and so we'd greatly appreciate that uh if you're that's a possibility you can head head over to Ken and Janelle. thank you so much for the consideration now this story is about a soul that has come back to a certain place from purgatory now some might be wondering is this actually even possible well St Thomas aquinus thought it was St Thomas Aquinas states it is also credible that this may occur sometimes to the Damned and that for man's instruction and intimidation they be permitted to appear to the living or again in order to seek our suffrages as to those who are detained in purgatory in 1859 something extraordinary happened in a Convent near CC Italy a nun named sister Teresa Gesta who had lived a holy life appeared after her death in a terrifying way this event caused a lot of talk in the area and after an investigation it was confirmed as true sister Teresa was known as a faithful nun she was in charge of the novices in her community and she was also in charge of the Sacred things in the Sacristy and she did this for a long time Faithfully uh her spiritual director commented on what she he thought was her level of sanctity then on November 4th 1859 she suddenly died from a stroke 12 days later on November 16th another Nun Sister Anna Felicia who had taken over Teresa's duties went to the sacy as she approached she heard moaning coming from inside she hesitated but finally opened the door there was no one there yet the moaning continued growing louder and clearer although normally Brave sister Anna Felicia felt terrified Jesus Mary she cried what can that be she had not finished speaking when she heard a plaintive voice accompanied with a painful sigh oh my God how I suffer the sister stupified immediately recognized the voice of poor sister Teresa then the room was filled with a thick smoke and the spirit of sister Teresa appeared moving towards the door and gliding Along by the wall having reached the door she cried aloud Behold a proof of the mercy of God saying these words she struck the upper panel of the door and there left the print of her right hand burnt in the wood as with red hot iron she then disappeared sister Anna was terrified and so she screamed and the commotion drew the other sisters into the area and when they came in they noticed the smell of something burnt well sister Anna then explain what had happened and then showed them the burnt handprint and they were shocked because the handprint was small just like Sister Teresa's hand so filled with fear and conviction they went to the Chapel to pray for her soul and the next that he also received Holy Communion and offered The Graces for her release from purgatory and the story began to spread in the area and other people began to pray for Sister Teresa's Soul then two days later a second Vision happened on the 3D Day November 18th sister Anna Felicia on going in the evening to her cell heard herself called by her name and recognized perfectly the voice of sister Teresa at the same instant a globe of brilliant light appeared before her Illuminating herself with the brightness of daylight she then heard sister Teresa pronounce these words in a joyful and triumphant voice I died on a Friday the day of the passion and behold on a Friday I enter into eternal glory be strong to Bear the cross be courageous to suffer love poverty then on November 23rd 1859 a few days later an official investigation happened where they opened up the coffin of sister Teresa and made note of the size of her hand and the burnt handprint and it matched now you might be listening to this and think did this really happen is this really a trustworthy story story well now I want to draw your attention to something that might help validate the story and that is to monor sen did I pronounce that right I say seure seure okay thanks and we mentioned him on Ash Wednesday he's a well-known Bishop in France in the 1800s wrote extensively uh we drew attention to his book called and at the beginning of his book he has a personal endorsement from Pope Pas I 9th so mon this mon sior this Archbishop was trusted by and at least enough by the pope at the time to get a personal endorsement from him in his book now monor writes about this 35 years later it was then translated into English and put into something called The Sacred Heart Review a publication that was distributed in the Boston area in the late 1800s early 1900s so that's how the story I think comes to us in English this is what the Archbishop said about this event from the Sacred Heart Review from mon singer sigure a canonical inquiry was opened immediately by the bishop of Felino and the magistrates of the city November 23rd in presence of a great number of witnesses the tomb of sister Teresa was opened and the burnt imprint on the door was found exactly conformable to the hand of the Dead sister the result of the inquiry was an official judgment which confirmed the certainty and and authenticity in every respect of what we have here related the door with a burnt impression is preserved in the convent with re veneration the mother abbis witness of the fact has dained to show it to me herself and I repeat it my companions of the pilgrimage and myself we have seen and touched this wood which Witnesses in a manner so frightful that the Souls which suffer in the other world are penetrated and burnt with fire so again this comes from maneno SE highly respected man in France this story then is put into a book called The dogma of purgatory from by father Shupe who's also from France but he adds some additional information in his book uh and one he he contacted the actual Bishop of that dases to get information to confirm that the story was true and that an investigation did take place and that Bishop from that area confirmed it but also he faxed father chupe an image of this burnt handprint I did some research yes faxes actually did exist that technology it started in the early mid 1800s so it was new technology at the time he got the image faxed uh further validating the story now what could have a nun done that deserved Purgatory mono seio has some additional information in the Sacred Heart Review in one of her apparitions to Sister Felicia sister Teresa reveals by his just and fearful decree I was condemned to suffer during 40 years the terrible Pains of purgatory by reason of the weakness I often showed towards some of our sisters I thank you and your sisters for so many prayers which in his goodness the Lord has dained to apply exclusively to my poor soul and especially for the seven penitential Psalms which have done me so much good then with a smiling face she added oh blessed poverty which procures so great a joy to all those who observe it faithfully and she disappeared so what can we learn from this account I think three things stand in my mind number one that Purgatory is real number two that even the smallest sin has to be accounted for and number three that our prayers for the suffering Souls really do make a difference so I want you to share with us below what stood out to you and why and also again an invitation if you would like to become a supporter of this work we'd really appreciate it you can head over to kenen chanel.com for that opportunity and so we'll end with a

prayer Eternal Father I offer Thee the most precious blood of thy Divine son Jesus in Union with the masses said throughout the world today for all the holy souls and Pur Purgatory for Sinners everywhere for sinners in The Universal Church those in my own home and within my family amen [Music]