I never look at Purgatory as a place to be punished–but to be CLEANSED. As Saint Paul says of Purgatory in 1 Corinthians 3: 10-15

[quote:28mtg3m3]According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.
If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,
the work of each will come to light, for the Day 7 will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one’s work.
If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage.
But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, 8 but only as through fire.[/quote:28mtg3m3]

All of our straw and wood and hay will be burned up, and thus making us ready for Heaven. Will it be painful? Yes, but not in the same way of pain that we think of on Earth, most likely. It is God’s purifying fire which will ready us for Heaven.