Can a person go straight to heaven?

[scarlettstara]

I was just listening to Bishop Fulton Sheen’s file on Purgatory, and it sounded like no one could go straight to heaven after death because one would have to completely pure and sanctified.

So do all believers go thourgh purgatory before going to heaven?

 

[LilyM]

Not true. This is where we get into the weird and wonderful world of indulgences. The idea behind an indulgence is that certain prayers or pious acts are specified as having benefits in terms of one’s punishment in Purgatory. These basically either shorten or completely eliminate one’s stay there.

A plenary indulgence (which totally eliminates one’s time in Purgatory) is difficult to obtain, since one needs to be free of attachment to sin. Which seems to mean one needs to be free of habitual or recurring ‘pet’ sins.

But it is at least possible, by obtaining indulgences, to avoid Purgatory altogether.

 

[scarlettstara]

But what if a person is free of attachment to sin? Would that person need an indulgence to avoid purgatory?

 

[LilyM]

But what if a person is free of attachment to sin? Would that person need an indulgence to avoid purgatory?

Well just because you’re not a habitual sinner doesn’t mean you will be free of ALL sin.

 

[scarlettstara]

So back to my original question: So do all believers go through purgatory before going to heaven?

The answer would be yes?

 

[Zooey]

Hmmmmm…I’m thinking that if someone were to die, immediately after being baptized…
Wouldn’t that mean that they would be free of sin? Or am I not understanding something??

 

[scarlettstara]

All this is very confusing. But my question came from this thought, “If you don’t know where you’re going to go after you die, how can you be at peace?”

I don’t think I understand purgatory very well. I’ve always thought of it as a “temporary hell.” I think I’m wrong in thinking that. But see, that stemmed from my thinking that non-Christians can go to purgatory. I’m talking about those people who are nice, loving, kind… saintly, but those who firmly follow other religions or simply cannot understand the gospel. The people who have heard the gospel and considered it, thought about it, but have died before accepting it. They’re “nonbelievers”, of course, but I’ve always thought they would be spared the eternal separation.

 

[Zooey]

I think purgatory is like having a chance for a nice hot bath, brushing your teeth, changing into clean clothes, & combing your hair, before you see Jesus face to face.
You really want to run right on in, but you know you probably look kinda awful, & He is the King, after all…

Does that make any sense???

 

[scarlettstara]

Thanks, Zooey. That explains it quite nicely.

 

[Ghosty]

I think purgatory is like having a chance for a nice hot bath, brushing your teeth, changing into clean clothes, & combing your hair, before you see Jesus face to face.
You really want to run right on in, but you know you probably look kinda awful, & He is the King, after all…

Does that make any sense???

Bingo!

And yes, someone who is just Baptised, or was Baptised and died before being old enough to personally sin, would not go through any Purgatory whatsoever. Likewise, someone who has received a Plenary Indulgence and hasn’t sinned venially since then wouldn’t require any Purgatory.

Purgatory is like “make-up” penances and reform, not a mini-Hell. It’s how we get caught up in our Holiness before beholding the total Glory of God.

Peace and God bless!

 

[LilyM]

So back to my original question: So do all believers go through purgatory before going to heaven?

The answer would be yes?

Absolutely not. The point of indulgences is to pay the penalty of your sins here on earth. If you gain a plenary indulgence, or else enough partial indulgences (which don’t have the requirement of being free of attachment to sin) then you will go straight to heaven.

It’s like if you were to be allowed to start doing your community service for a crime before three weeks before the judge even passed sentence. If he decided that the sentence should be three weeks community service, and you’d already done that much … see what I mean?

Nothing confusing about it.

 

[allischalmers]

Baptist Do

 

[Cat]

Martyrs go straight to heaven.

 

[thistle]

So back to my original question: So do all believers go through purgatory before going to heaven?

The answer would be yes?

Baptism takes away original sin and personal sin. If a person dies immediately after baptism they go straight to Heaven.

 

[dylanschrader]

The Blessed Virgin Mary did not have to suffer Purgatory.

If it weren’t possible to avoid Purgatory, that would mean that it is necessary to have some attachment to sin. If it were necessary to have some attachment to sin, then why would this attachment need to be cleansed in Purgatory?

Obviously, it is impossible without God’s grace, but with his grace it is certainly possible if improbable for most of us.

 

[MrS]

Baptist Do

thanks for making me smile.

Presumption is a sin… and no one gets into Heaven who is not perfectly clean…

 

[George_Craft]

I was just listening to Bishop Fulton Sheen’s file on Purgatory, and it sounded like no one could go straight to heaven after death because one would have to completely pure and sanctified.

So do all believers go thourgh purgatory before going to heaven?

Good morning,

The answer is an emphatic yes, and the perfect chance for those of us who don’t lead saintly lives comes up in 11 days on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Here’s a website dedicated to it and the explanation about how to perform the duties necessary to receive this mercy from our Lord:

divinemercysunday.com/

I hope and pray we all take part in this special day of mercy that our Lord gives to us.

With love,
George

 

[VociMike]

I was just listening to Bishop Fulton Sheen’s file on Purgatory, and it sounded like no one could go straight to heaven after death because one would have to completely pure and sanctified.

So do all believers go thourgh purgatory before going to heaven?

It is possible that one can die in a perfected state and thus go to heaven without further need of purification. How often this happens, nobody has any idea.

But remember that purgatory is not a bad thing, Rather, it is God’s final mercy. Even though we have wasted much of the grace and the opportunities God has given us to become sanctified, still He continues the process at our death. There is no limit to His patience and His love for us.

 

[bilop]

All this is very confusing. But my question came from this thought, “If you don’t know where you’re going to go after you die, how can you be at peace?”

I don’t think I understand purgatory very well. I’ve always thought of it as a “temporary hell.” I think I’m wrong in thinking that. But see, that stemmed from my thinking that non-Christians can go to purgatory. I’m talking about those people who are nice, loving, kind… saintly, but those who firmly follow other religions or simply cannot understand the gospel. The people who have heard the gospel and considered it, thought about it, but have died before accepting it. They’re “nonbelievers”, of course, but I’ve always thought they would be spared the eternal separation.

I think you are confusing purgatory with the concept of the “outer regions” of hell.

Purgatory is for the purification of imperfections (venial sins, attachment to sin etc.) before a soul can enter the presence of God.

It’s hard to think of a non-believer entering purgatory, unless they had invincible ignorance (i.e. never learned about Christ). If a person learned about the gospel, but didn’t believe, it’s hard to see how they could get to purgatory, b/c everyone in purgatory must eventually get to heaven.

Theologists and philosophers have speculated that there are “outer” regions of hell, where “good” non-believers are seperated from God but do not suffer. Limbo for unbaptized children is thought to be part of this region, except, not only don’t they suffer, but the souls there have perfect “natural” happiness. Still, they are not, nor never will be in Heaven. This is traditional Catholic theology, but not Magisterial teaching, so take it for what it is.

 

[MrS]

It is possible that one can die in a perfected state and thus go to heaven without further need of purification. How often this happens, nobody has any idea.

But remember that purgatory is not a bad thing, Rather, it is God’s final mercy. Even though we have wasted much of the grace and the opportunities God has given us to become sanctified, still He continues the process at our death. There is no limit to His patience and His love for us.

or as Fr Groeschel says… It is a final rinse.