3 Things Every Catholic Should Know About Purgatory, In One Infographic

Michie · Nov 25, 2023

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Regarding Purgatory, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states,

"All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned." (CCC 1030-1)

Purification after death from sin (and the consequences of sin) is mentioned in the New Testament in 1 Cor. 3:11-15, Matt. 5:25-26, and Matt. 12:31-32.

According to EWTN,

“Purgatory is the state, after death, where souls who are not yet perfected in their love for God, are purified before admittance to the all-holy God.”

3 Things You May Not Know About Purgatory

1. Purgatory is not a punishment, it is a state of purification.

2. The souls in Purgatory can pray for us, but cannot pray for themselves.

3. We must pray for the souls in Purgatory. The purification process can be painful! However, there is also great consolation in the assurance of salvation.

You can find more information on praying for the dead here.

And finally, some perspective from Saint Augustine:

Continued below.