As I read what’s been stated, I’m a bit uncomfortable with the certainty that some speak of with regards to the nature and rules that govern Purgatory. In reality, we simply do not know for sure, and the good father’s suggestion seems a bit formulaic. For example, seven years for each forgiven mortal sin? Are we not outside of time once we die and move into eternity?
I certainly agree that we don’t know that Purgatory has time and that if it does we don’t know how it flows. I also understand that when there are 40 day indulgences or 6 month indulgences - these do not mean we get 40 days or 6 months out of purgatory. It means (as far as I understand it) we get as much “time” of purgatory as 40 days or 6 months of penance would afford us.
(note that “time” is in quotes because again we don’t know, this could just mean it affects the magnitude of instantanious event)
However, the only person to claim a certian time here was my quoting St. Francis of Rome. Sure maybe he’s wrong, but I see no reason to be sure of it. Another Saint, St. Robert Bellarmine, doctor of the church said, “There’s no doubt that the pains in purgatroy are not limited to 10 or 20 years and they last in some cases entire centuries.” ← Doctor of the Church
Is one truly conducting a sincere act of repentance if the set outcome of asking for extra penance is a reduction of time in Purgatory? Instead of dying to self, it seem like a most self-serving act.
Penance is a virtue because sin offends God. To perform such acts of penance for any other reason, including personal gain, IMHO, detracts from the virtue.
Is one truly seeking to conform to God’s will in life, if they are just trying to do enough to make the last cut and slip into the lowest batch in purgatory?
We weren’t made for purgatory, we were made for heaven. Every single soul in purgarory wants to be in Heaven, but they all also realize that they must be perfected before they may enter. But, would it be true that they can never be perfected and thus leave purgatory because they all want to “personal gain” of being with God? No, I’m sure we all see that is foolish.
If it is true that one can ask for greater penance and thru it remit time in purgatory…must we assume they are doing it because they don’t want to suffer there? And if so, what is the suffering there anyway?
St. Thomas explains there are 2 pains in purgatory:
1st At the delay of the Beatific vision (but knowing full well it’s magnitude)
2nd A cleaning fire that purges our souls of our last attachments to sin.
Seeing what the pain is in purgatory shows why we shouldn’t want the pains. To suffer the first pain without need is idiotic - once pain 2 is paid, pain 1 is over cause we’re in. In asking for the 2nd pain now on Earth, we can offer now for our sin and have less of that suffering and of the first once we die.
I believe it was St. Bonaventure and several others who said, ‘The least pain in purgatory is greater than the largest pain on Earth.’
If so, why plan on going there? We do have the ability to skip purgatory if we are willing.
Matthew 5:26 “truly, I say at you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.”
Luke 12:59 “I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper”
A second Fr. Wolfism, “I’m going to make a parenthetical comment. God sends un everything we need to die and go straight to Heaven. Exactly the amount of suffering we need to make amends for everything. Evactly the amount of suffering we need to grow in virtute, and if we don’t that’s our own fault. That’s the point of the cross, that’s why we have crosses in our lives, so we’ll become saints.”
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