Thursday

What is Purgatory

The Catholic Church defined the existence of purgatory at the Council of Florence in 1439 and also the Council of Trent. However, many Catholics believed in the reality of purgatory long before these councils convened. The practice of praying for the dead can be found in liturgies in the early centuries.

The Council of Trent taught, in accordance with Scripture (Num. 20,12; 2 Macc. 12:44) that God does not always remove all of the punishment for our sins, even though the sins have been forgiven. Nothing defiled can enter heaven (Wisd. Solo. 7:25; Isa. 25:8; Heb. 1:13; Rev. 21:7). In their freedom some people have failed to respond fully to Jesus. All those who die in sin or with punishment unpaid therefore must atone in purgatory.

We believe in Jesus' power to wash away our sins. We know we are completely forgiven through His blood. But to be forgiven and justified doesn't mean we can ignore our responsibility for what our sins have inflicted on others. The evil consequences of our sin live on in others while we are alive and after our death. This responsibility to atone for our sins is fulfilled by us in purgatory and through the prayers and acts of reparation of those still on earth. This is why we pray for the dead at Mass.

Purgatory is not inevitable for everyone. Peter tells us that our responsibility for evil done can be overcome by prayer and action while we are still living on the earth, for "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Pet. 4:8)
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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

i just read puratory is place of purging get punished for sins sin purged out so if this is true then jesus blood is wortless you are dead wrong its all about the blood without the sheding of blood there is no remission of sin what part of NO dont you understand

11:13 PM
Anonymous said...

Hi there anonomous...

It is truly through Jesus' blood that we are saved, meaning, if HE is the way.

How does purgatory contradict this? It doesn't.

If the idea of purgatory was invented, why was there absolutely no challenge to it, right form the start of Christendom?
The Catholic church defined it, once it was being challenged. Just like how the stance on stem cell research was not defined until it became an issue.

How you can hate the Catholic church, which brings people TO JESUS, shows me that you cannot be fuelled by Jesus. Jesus' kingdom cannot be divided.

Pray for you.

10:30 AM
Gormelytus Hazwell said...

Clearly, the issue of eternal salvation...from the penalty of sin, which is spiritual and then physical death...to the eternal state of eternal life, has nothing to do with what a person can DO by his works of any kind, be it mourning, praying, sacrificing, suffering, recompense to those wronged or whatever.

Ephesians 2:8-9 declares: "For by grace you HAVE BEEN saved (in Greek perfect tense which means "in the past with results that continue forever"...Paul was addressing believers)through faith, it is the GIFT of God, NOT OF WORKS LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. Catholics who believe they MUST earn their salvation, or participate in it, by performing good works, deny the whole principle of grace. Read the book of Hebrews. If grace is free, it can never be linked to works. For if it is by works, it is no more grace. This idea of "helping God by good works as part payment" greatly insults the infinite sacrifice of our Savior. As the offense of man created an infinite barrier, only infinite "work" (Christ's death on the cross) can remove it. And if His work was infinite, nothing can be added to it...certainly not by sinful, finite man.

Many Christians confuse the "bema" or Judgment Seat of Christ (where worthless human works of believers are "burned" and only those works performed in the power of the Spirit survive as "gold, silver and precious stones") with the Last Judgment (Great White Throne of Revelation..where only those who rejected Christ will appear. The concept of a "purgatory" where those who have been saved from sin and its penalty must suffer anguish for even a limited time, is foreign to Scripture. Many not familiar with the orginal languages, their grammar and syntax, are often misled by well-meaning but misinformed teachers. This is not true only of Catholics but many Protestants. Ah, it is too lengthy for a blog. Find a good Bible teacher who teaches from the Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic texts, not some sloppy translation.

By His Grace Alone,

G. Hazwell

4:04 AM
Gormelytus Hazwell said...

Clearly, the issue of eternal salvation...from the penalty of sin, which is spiritual and then physical death...to the eternal state of eternal life, has nothing to do with what a person can DO by his works of any kind, be it mourning, praying, sacrificing, suffering, recompense to those wronged or whatever.

Ephesians 2:8-9 declares: "For by grace you HAVE BEEN saved (in Greek perfect tense which means "in the past with results that continue forever"...Paul was addressing believers)through faith, it is the GIFT of God, NOT OF WORKS LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. Catholics who believe they MUST earn their salvation, or participate in it, by performing good works, deny the whole principle of grace. Read the book of Hebrews. If grace is free, it can never be linked to works. For if it is by works, it is no more grace. This idea of "helping God by good works as part payment" greatly insults the infinite sacrifice of our Savior. As the offense of man created an infinite barrier, only infinite "work" (Christ's death on the cross) can remove it. And if His work was infinite, nothing can be added to it...certainly not by sinful, finite man.

Many Christians confuse the "bema" or Judgment Seat of Christ (where worthless human works of believers are "burned" and only those works performed in the power of the Spirit survive as "gold, silver and precious stones") with the Last Judgment (Great White Throne of Revelation..where only those who rejected Christ will appear. The concept of a "purgatory" where those who have been saved from sin and its penalty must suffer anguish for even a limited time, is foreign to Scripture. Many not familiar with the orginal languages, their grammar and syntax, are often misled by well-meaning but misinformed teachers. This is not true only of Catholics but many Protestants. Ah, it is too lengthy for a blog. Find a good Bible teacher who teaches from the Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic texts, not some sloppy translation.

By His Grace Alone,

G. Hazwell

4:05 AM
Anonymous said...

Adam and Eve were punished based on a work that was against the command of the Creator.
Cain's status in life was determined by his fratricidal work.
Lot's wife was turned into a salt statue based on her work in opposition to God's command.
The delivery of the Israelites from Egypt was based on the following of the directions given to them by God. Works, right?
God's people had to circumcize all males. Works, right?
God's people had to go to Jerusalem once per year to offer sacrifice. Works, right?
Jesus had to obey His Father and preach, teach, suffer and die for our salvation. Works, right?
Jesus told us to go forth and baptize all nations... Works, right?
We know that salvation is a gracious and gratuitous gift from God, but we have to respond to its presence in our lives per His very own directions (commands). If we do not participate in God's gift of salvation, we will not enjoy its fruits. Catholics do not believe that they cause the gift of salvation to be given. We believe that we have to participate in the grace of the gift.
Finite we are, corporaly, but infinite we are in God's image and resemblance. As receptacles of His life through Grace, we participate in His divinity and as such, are called to emulate His life here on earth. This way we do not add to the gift, we respond to it and live in its all encompassing reality. To refrain from doing so is a sure way to be condemned to hell for all eternity.
For this reason also, the temporal human ashes which form the remnant of our sins, forgiven but not fully atoned are purged from our eternal souls by a stage in purgatory, the final participation in the salvific gift of the Infinitely Loving God, Our Savior Jesus Christ.

3:14 PM
Anonymous said...

Amen to the last comment. You said it perfectly and I am so glad someone out there is not judging but actually stating it the way it truly is. Thank you.

8:00 PM
Fr Mike Manning said...

Thank you, Wally, for sending on the blog of Gormelytus Hazwell. Yes, salvation is God’s free gift, not to be earned. Still, something is left unsettled in my heart by the evil effects my sin has on other people. There is a cry for responsibility. This is where purgatory enters into my thoughts.

Blessings,
Fr Mike Manning

11:48 AM
Anonymous said...

I can second Fr Mike. There is a cry for responsibility, but it is meant to be acted on in this life. That is the message Jesus gave. I realize many will never have enough Faith to rely on Grace freely given.They will believe they must pay or it is worthless. God wants us to follow the teachings of the Savior. We are to take up His cross in this World. "Find your own Calcutta" right in your own back yard. Don't rely on Prayers for the Dead to "Refine" your spirit. Do what will make your Father proud while you are in this life. Rely on God for the rest.

1:41 PM

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