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Seriously, though, and this is not me being snarky for once on this thread.

Be wary that what God expects is perfection; no amount of soul-shining will be satisfactory. The way that many Catholics I know talk about Purgatory is that they treat it like a payment for their sins, as if suffering can atone or turn the dead body of sin into a living body of Christ.

Yes, I know that the theology is different, but there’s a difference between what’s confessed and what you actually believe, and actions reflect that.

You gotta depend on what Christ has done for you; all good works follow from that. Otherwise, from everything I’ve seen, it’s almost impossible to not get caught in the cycle of do-good-works-be-proud-realize-that-it’s-sin-try-to-make-up-for-it-with-good-works-again. Or worse, just do-good-works-be-proud-abandon-Christ-for-self-worship.

Soul- shining? There's a punch line there somewhere... and bring the snark_ it's all good... as long as one doesn't "jump the snark" which is to be expected... but as difficult as it maybe, never dismiss that your Faith is rooted in, and born from the Catholic Church - 1500 years of it

1. Asking Catholics to define Church Doctrine to you can be dicey at best. Many are so poorly catechized the can't explain The Real Presence of the Eucharist and the Holy consecration of it either - which is core to their Faith... and as it traced back to the 1st century Christians. Think of it as asking for directions in a foreign country. Hit or miss... youre better off with your own research.

2. Its all about learned perspective as well. Youre instructed to see Purgatory as unnecessary and superfluous to Sanctification... in that the "Once for All" Sacrifice becomes insufficient or incomplete if Purgatory is allowed. We see that we can ONLY believe in this purification process BECAUSE OF Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross... and ONLY then has his suffering in fact has made it possible for us to be Purified.

3.The roots of a Purgatory state pre-date the developed Doctrine of the Church- although the Church has declared it so... in the same way The Trinity was defined as Church doctrine. The concept of purification - in one form or another- was held by pre-Christian Jews, post-Christian Jews, early Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox. While it was excepted for centuries throughout the World- the desire to deny its existence waited until the Protestant Reformation began - and so now we have the overblown brouhaha today with only Protestants denying it. Overblown because it is not a central to the Faith- and we just don't know what it absolutely entails.

The section on purgatory in the Church Catechism is only three paragraphs OUT OF 2800... Basically then it is boils down to ONLY 3 points about Purgatory that are doctrinal.

1- that there is a sanctifying purification after we die bodily
2- that this purification will include some kind of pain or discomfort - Not a walk in the park as some may think
3- that God in fact assists those in this purification in response to the actions of the living. (Bet ya didnt know about that one..huh?)

The Church has never defined Purgatory as a place - existentially or otherwise.. nor set down time factors or process details- so details beyond the Catechism that may be bandied about are usually falsely attributed to the Church.

Works- well... I can only give you some of our Scriptural guidance...

Our works are meant to be for the Glory of God - not us.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

That we were created for Good works

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them

That our Works grow and compliment with our Faith...as CS Lewis said.."Like 2 blades of a pair scissors, necessary for each other...useless without the other"(sic)

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

there is a lot more..but thats the best this unworthy Catholic can do for now.... I would suggest your own research and a Sunday Mass to understand it in your own way.