Okay im currently learning much about the many different Christian denominations and I have another question for the Catholics. What is purgatory? Why is it needed?? Where did this belief come from???
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Purgatory
- Thread starter Trizm
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Rising_Suns
'Christ's desolate heart is in need of comfort'
Trizm, peace be with you,
If you look at the top of this forum where the stickies are, you'll see a sticky regarding purgatory. That pretty much covers alot of the what/why/when/how's of purgatory. Also, below is something I wrote covering this subject, but the one in the sticky is more in depth;
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23. The Nature of Purgatory
All Christians can agree that sin does not exist in heaven; nothing impure shall enter into heaven [Rev 21:27], but as we stand now, we live in a fallen nature. Even after we have surrendered our lives to Christ and are washed clean by Baptism, we still sin. Even though our salvation may have already been granted if we died right now, we still continue to falter. So long as we live on this earth, we always will live in a fallen nature. Therefore, in order to enter heaven, our purified spirit must first be separated from our fallen nature, and this is exactly what purgatory is; the purifying process by which our perfected spirit is freed from our flesh. It is not a second chance, but rather, a state of final purification for those who are already bound to enter eternal glory.
"All who die in Gods 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" [Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030].
Even though the word purgatory is never mentioned in the Bible, neither is the word trinity, yet all Christians accept the Trinitarian doctrine as truth because together with Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition, the reality of the trinity can be inferred, and likewise, so can the existence of purgatory. For example, on a number of occasions, we are encouraged to pray for the dead (2 Macc 12:44, 2 Tim 1:16, 1 Cor 15:29), but souls in hell or heaven cannot benefit from our prayers. So we are forced to conclude that these souls are in some place other than heaven or hell. Secondly, the idea that we go directly to heaven or hell when we die is, in fact, a recent man-made tradition, one that spurred from the reformation, and when we examine Scripture, we do not find a single passage that confirms that this is true. What we do find, however, is consistent evidence for the existence of a purgative state after death.
" the work of each will come to light, for the day 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, but only as through fire." [1 cor 3:12-15]
Some may argue that purgatory somehow takes away from the sacrifice Jesus made, but this is another false assertion. Jesus is purely the source of our salvation. Purgatory is simply the means by which Christs plan of salvation is, in part, carried out. Going back to the theme park analogy, purgaotry would come in after we got on the ride; going from earth to heaven. So Christ is still the source of this whole series of events.
"By one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy." [Hebrews 10:14].
Make every effort to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord [Heb 12:14]
Scripture is clear. Although we are made perfect in Christ, we still need to be made holy. Why? Again, nothing unclean shall enter into heaven. So we absolutely must be made holy by God before we can enter heaven. And what has not been finished in this life will be finished in purgatory. So you see, purgatory is in itself a profound grace. Without it, we would all have to be perfect and righteous saints in order to enter heaven. In fact, to deny the existence of purgatory implies a poor idea of God and a flattering idea of self; it is a delusion to think we are worthy enough to enter into heaven as we now stand. This again goes back to the premise of natural law; God is not illogical; He is logical and perfectly balanced. He is perfectly merciful and perfectly just. So although Gods perfect mercy allows us entrance into heaven by the blood of Jesus Christ, His perfect justice requires this purgative state for the souls upon entrance; you will not be released until the last penny has been paid [Matt 5:26] As in the vision of purgatory, Jesus appeared to Saint Faustina and said; My mercy does not want this, but my justice demands it.
If you look at the top of this forum where the stickies are, you'll see a sticky regarding purgatory. That pretty much covers alot of the what/why/when/how's of purgatory. Also, below is something I wrote covering this subject, but the one in the sticky is more in depth;
.
.
.
.
.
23. The Nature of Purgatory
All Christians can agree that sin does not exist in heaven; nothing impure shall enter into heaven [Rev 21:27], but as we stand now, we live in a fallen nature. Even after we have surrendered our lives to Christ and are washed clean by Baptism, we still sin. Even though our salvation may have already been granted if we died right now, we still continue to falter. So long as we live on this earth, we always will live in a fallen nature. Therefore, in order to enter heaven, our purified spirit must first be separated from our fallen nature, and this is exactly what purgatory is; the purifying process by which our perfected spirit is freed from our flesh. It is not a second chance, but rather, a state of final purification for those who are already bound to enter eternal glory.
"All who die in Gods 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" [Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030].
Even though the word purgatory is never mentioned in the Bible, neither is the word trinity, yet all Christians accept the Trinitarian doctrine as truth because together with Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition, the reality of the trinity can be inferred, and likewise, so can the existence of purgatory. For example, on a number of occasions, we are encouraged to pray for the dead (2 Macc 12:44, 2 Tim 1:16, 1 Cor 15:29), but souls in hell or heaven cannot benefit from our prayers. So we are forced to conclude that these souls are in some place other than heaven or hell. Secondly, the idea that we go directly to heaven or hell when we die is, in fact, a recent man-made tradition, one that spurred from the reformation, and when we examine Scripture, we do not find a single passage that confirms that this is true. What we do find, however, is consistent evidence for the existence of a purgative state after death.
" the work of each will come to light, for the day 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, but only as through fire." [1 cor 3:12-15]
Some may argue that purgatory somehow takes away from the sacrifice Jesus made, but this is another false assertion. Jesus is purely the source of our salvation. Purgatory is simply the means by which Christs plan of salvation is, in part, carried out. Going back to the theme park analogy, purgaotry would come in after we got on the ride; going from earth to heaven. So Christ is still the source of this whole series of events.
"By one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy." [Hebrews 10:14].
Make every effort to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord [Heb 12:14]
Scripture is clear. Although we are made perfect in Christ, we still need to be made holy. Why? Again, nothing unclean shall enter into heaven. So we absolutely must be made holy by God before we can enter heaven. And what has not been finished in this life will be finished in purgatory. So you see, purgatory is in itself a profound grace. Without it, we would all have to be perfect and righteous saints in order to enter heaven. In fact, to deny the existence of purgatory implies a poor idea of God and a flattering idea of self; it is a delusion to think we are worthy enough to enter into heaven as we now stand. This again goes back to the premise of natural law; God is not illogical; He is logical and perfectly balanced. He is perfectly merciful and perfectly just. So although Gods perfect mercy allows us entrance into heaven by the blood of Jesus Christ, His perfect justice requires this purgative state for the souls upon entrance; you will not be released until the last penny has been paid [Matt 5:26] As in the vision of purgatory, Jesus appeared to Saint Faustina and said; My mercy does not want this, but my justice demands it.
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There is a sticky thread above that would explain your question.
Purgatory is where one is "purged" of their sins. Every forgiven sin that is commited leaves kind of a dept that has to be paid back, either in this world or the next. Also, if one dies with venial sins on thier souls, it has to be cleansed for nothing unclean can enter Heaven.
Purgatory is not a second chance. The souls in Purgatory have already been judged fit for eternal life in Heaven. It's just a matter of when they will get there.
Purgatory is where one is "purged" of their sins. Every forgiven sin that is commited leaves kind of a dept that has to be paid back, either in this world or the next. Also, if one dies with venial sins on thier souls, it has to be cleansed for nothing unclean can enter Heaven.
Purgatory is not a second chance. The souls in Purgatory have already been judged fit for eternal life in Heaven. It's just a matter of when they will get there.
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tjboie2001
I can forgive can you
Purgatory is where you go to be judged when you die. It is in the middle and you go where ever from there. Hey wait a minute I started a thread about purgatory a while ago in here.
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Benedicta00
Well-Known Member
Trizm said:
We dont know if it is a 'place' like heaven or hell is a place or if it is a state of soul, but in any event, it is the process where you are purified from all of your attachments and desires to sin. It is NOT in any way, shape of form forgiveness for sins unreported for. This is not where Catholics have a second chance at forgiveness, it s where we get rid of all the baggage that our sins have caused, this where we atone for the temporal effects of sin, not the eternal.
Non Catholics also believe in purgatory but they do not have a doctrine or have it defined. We all, even non Christians believe before any of us will enter heaven, because nothing unclean shall enter, that will undergo some kind of purification that will rid us of our imperfections, that is what purgatory is.
The deposit of faith the Christ left with His apostles.
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InnerPhyre
Well-Known Member
tjboie2001 said:
This is not so. All souls in purgatory are destined for heaven. They are simply in a state of purification in which God removes their sinful nature. I hesitate to call purgatory a place where you "go." I think it's more accurate to say it's a process you go through.
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