天主教認為，每個人從死亡一刻開始，就在其不朽的靈魂上，將其一生呈報基督的私審判，領受永遠的報應：或者經歷一個煉淨期， 或者直接地進入天堂的榮福，或者直接自我判罪、墮入永罰。其中煉淨所待的處所，就稱之為煉獄。
圖中的聖母，懷抱聖子，身旁為聖若瑟與先知厄里亞，周圍環繞著天使，下方則為一群身處煉獄自我反省中靈魂，有雙手合十，有高舉雙臂，有手帶著鐐銬的，都不約而同地向著聖母祈求。畫面中面帶微笑的聖母正為煉獄的靈魂調解，希望這些靈魂早日得以煉淨，進入天堂。
天主教教理中提到，那些死在天主的恩寵和友誼中的，但尚未完全淨化的人，雖然他們的永遠得救已確定，可是在死後仍須經過煉淨，為得到必需的聖德，進入天堂的福樂中。在世者可紀念亡者，為他們奉獻祈禱，使他們得到煉淨，進入天堂。

According to Catholicism, purgatory is located between heaven and hell. After Jesus Christ sacrificed himself to save people, the souls that have not committed serious sin may go to heaven after introspecting and purifying themselves. In the picture, the Holy Mother is holding her son in her arms. Underneath, there are souls. Some of them are fettered, in purgatory, praying to Holy Mother and asking for her purification so that they can ascend into heaven. The Holy Mother is appeasing the souls in the purgatory with a smile on her face, hoping they will be purified and ascend to heaven soon.