Catholic Friend Does Believe in Purgatory

[SnowAngels]

Hi everyone!

I have a new friend that has one Catholic parent, was raised a very lukewarm Catholic and had a conversion two summers back. She is now extremely enthusiastic about her faith and often openly talks about it to others. The only thing she doesn’t agree with the Church on is Purgatory; she doesn’t believe it exists. I was a bit shocked and asked her why. She said because of various documentaries where peope claim to have died, seen Heaven, and then come back to life. The Mom of a friend of hers said to have one of these experiences. She also told me that is doesn’t make sense to hear that Jesus died so we could go to Purgatory…but to go to Heaven. Thankfully, she is extremely open about talking about this and has even brought it up twice. I have studied the catechism, and teach CCD so I’m very comfortable spreading and explaining the faith, but I’d wondering if you know of any other resources I can either look at or present to her. Thank you so much! God bless!

 

[Burdock]

Hi everyone!

I have a new friend that has one Catholic parent, was raised a very lukewarm Catholic and had a conversion two summers back. She is now extremely enthusiastic about her faith and often openly talks about it to others. The only thing she doesn’t agree with the Church on is Purgatory; she doesn’t believe it exists. I was a bit shocked and asked her why. She said because of various documentaries where peope claim to have died, seen Heaven, and then come back to life. The Mom of a friend of hers said to have one of these experiences. She also told me that is doesn’t make sense to hear that Jesus died so we could go to Purgatory…but to go to Heaven. Thankfully, she is extremely open about talking about this and has even brought it up twice. I have studied the catechism, and teach CCD so I’m very comfortable spreading and explaining the faith, but I’d wondering if you know of any other resources I can either look at or present to her. Thank you so much! God bless!

There is no mention of purgatory in the bible.

 

[pianistclare]

This may help you.
catholic.com/tracts/the-roots-of-purgatory

The concept of purifying oneself before entry into the Temple has old Hebrew roots.

 

[JerryZ]

There is no mention of purgatory in the bible.

Neither the Trinity is mentioned and yet we confess 1 GOD and 3 persons.

As for Purgatory:

I Corinthians

3:7 And so, neither he who plants, nor he who waters, is anything, but only God, who provides the growth.
3:8 Now he who plants, and he who waters, are one. But each shall receive his proper reward, according to his labors.
3:9 For we are God’s assistants. You are God’s cultivation; you are God’s construction. 3:10 According to the grace of God, which has been given to me, I have laid the foundation like a wise architect. But another builds upon it. So then, let each one be careful how he builds upon it.
3:11 For no one is able to lay any other foundation, in place of that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus.
3:12 But if anyone builds upon this foundation, whether gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble,
3:13 each one’s work shall be made manifest. For the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it will be revealed by fire. And this fire will test each one’s work, as to what kind it is.
3:14 If anyone’s work, which he has built upon it, remains, then he will receive a reward. 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer its loss, but he himself will still be saved, but only as through fire.

3:13 each one’s work shall be made manifest. For the day of the Lord shall declare it,

(The day of the Lord shall declare it = Particular judgement when we die)

because it will be revealed by fire. (The Fire is Jesus)

3:15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer its loss, but he himself will still be saved,** but only as through fire.**

Even though that person is saved St. Paul tells us that entrance to Heaven will be through FIRE. In Other words there will be pain involved.

This “process” of being scrubbed of any residual impurities from our earthly life is what we call “Purgatory”.

So you see it is in the Bible just as the “Trinity” is in the Bible.

---

 

[ServantPD]

She also told me that is doesn’t make sense to hear that Jesus died so we could go to Purgatory…but to go to Heaven.

Going to the Church Suffering or the Church Triumphant after you die is a bit irrelevant in the grand scheme of things - it’s just the completion of your purification that comes with Christ’s salvation. However long the journey may be, Heaven is always the final stop if you end up in Purgatory.

I mean, imagine the Church without Purgatory… The damned/saved ratio would be much higher than what Sacred Tradition suggests us that it already is!

 

[Micosil]

Hi everyone!

I have a new friend that has one Catholic parent, was raised a very lukewarm Catholic and had a conversion two summers back. She is now extremely enthusiastic about her faith and often openly talks about it to others. The only thing she doesn’t agree with the Church on is Purgatory; she doesn’t believe it exists. I was a bit shocked and asked her why. She said because of various documentaries where peope claim to have died, seen Heaven, and then come back to life. The Mom of a friend of hers said to have one of these experiences. She also told me that is doesn’t make sense to hear that Jesus died so we could go to Purgatory…but to go to Heaven. Thankfully, she is extremely open about talking about this and has even brought it up twice. I have studied the catechism, and teach CCD so I’m very comfortable spreading and explaining the faith, but I’d wondering if you know of any other resources I can either look at or present to her. Thank you so much! God bless!

You missed a word in the thread’s title, that confused me.

There is no mention of purgatory in the bible.

This is not correct.

A few days ago I blogged precisely about this; there are quite a few Bible verses that point towards what the Catholic Church now calls Purgatory.

 

[Memaw]

There is no mention of purgatory in the bible.

The word “Purgatory” ( cleansing) isn’t in there but the teaching is. Rev 21:27, Mt 5:26, Mt 12:36, 2 Macc 12; 44-45, 1 Cor 3:15, 2 Tim 1 :16-18. The word Trinity isn’t in the Bible either but the truth is there also. God Bless, Memaw

 

[SnowAngels]

This may help you.
catholic.com/tracts/the-roots-of-purgatory

The concept of purifying oneself before entry into the Temple has old Hebrew roots.

Thank you!

 

[SnowAngels]

You missed a word in the thread’s title, that confused me.

This is not correct.

A few days ago I blogged precisely about this; there are quite a few Bible verses that point towards what the Catholic Church now calls Purgatory.

Oops! Sorry!

Thank you for the link to your blog post!

 

[SnowAngels]

Going to the Church Suffering or the Church Triumphant after you die is a bit irrelevant in the grand scheme of things - it’s just the completion of your purification that comes with Christ’s salvation. However long the journey may be, Heaven is always the final stop if you end up in Purgatory.

I mean, imagine the Church without Purgatory… The damned/saved ratio would be much higher than what Sacred Tradition suggests us that it already is!

Very good point!

 

[Neofight]

There is no mention of purgatory in the bible.

Evidently you haven’t read Macabees…or you are hung up on their not being the word “purgatory” in the bible…“Trinity” does not appear, either, and that is scant justification for claiming there is no Trinity.

Peace and all good!

 

[QuestLove]

Hi everyone!

I have a new friend that has one Catholic parent, was raised a very lukewarm Catholic and had a conversion two summers back. She is now extremely enthusiastic about her faith and often openly talks about it to others. The only thing she doesn’t agree with the Church on is Purgatory; she doesn’t believe it exists. I was a bit shocked and asked her why. She said because of various documentaries where peope claim to have died, seen Heaven, and then come back to life. The Mom of a friend of hers said to have one of these experiences. She also told me that is doesn’t make sense to hear that Jesus died so we could go to Purgatory…but to go to Heaven. Thankfully, she is extremely open about talking about this and has even brought it up twice. I have studied the catechism, and teach CCD so I’m very comfortable spreading and explaining the faith, but I’d wondering if you know of any other resources I can either look at or present to her. Thank you so much! God bless!

Give her time. She is rediscovering her faith. She is moving in the right direction. We all have our own pace. You pushing her may only serve to make her new-found faith in the church more difficult to navigate.

 

[Neofight]

Give her time. She is rediscovering her faith. She is moving in the right direction. We all have our own pace. You pushing her may only serve to make her new-found faith in the church more difficult to navigate.

Very good point…there is often a fine line between catechesis and apologetics…it is far more prudent to wrap people in the real love of the Word than to beat them over the head with the Bible, Catechism, Code of Canon Law, etc.

 

[SnowAngels]

Very good point…there is often a fine line between catechesis and apologetics…it is far more prudent to wrap people in the real love of the Word than to beat them over the head with the Bible, Catechism, Code of Canon Law, etc.

I completely agree! The only reason I ask about resources is because she has brought it up twice, asking me why I believe in Purgatory, what basis my belief is found on. She wants to discuss it and is thirsty for truth.

 

[rose_kelly]

Give her time. She is rediscovering her faith. She is moving in the right direction. We all have our own pace. You pushing her may only serve to make her new-found faith in the church more difficult to navigate.

Very good point…there is often a fine line between catechesis and apologetics…it is far more prudent to wrap people in the real love of the Word than to beat them over the head with the Bible, Catechism, Code of Canon Law, etc.

Very wise words from these two posts.

 

[rose_kelly]

I completely agree! The only reason I ask about resources is because she has brought it up twice, asking me why I believe in Purgatory, what basis my belief is found on. She wants to discuss it and is thirsty for truth.

Tell her to try to be patient, and wait for God to reveal the truth to her in stages.

 

[Micosil]

Evidently you haven’t read Macabees…or you are hung up on their not being the word “purgatory” in the bible…“Trinity” does not appear, either, and that is scant justification for claiming there is no Trinity.

Peace and all good!

The problem here is that 2 Maccabees is deuterocanonical and thus not part of the Protestant Bible canon, so if one is debating a Protestant, they may not accept the inspired nature of 2 Maccabees. Regardless of the inspired nature, it still is a historical account of Jewish beliefs and practices.

Not a problem of course for the OP, as the friend is Catholic.

 

[rose_kelly]

Incidentally, as a young adult I remember asking a priest about Purgatory because I wasn’t as educated and informed about church doctrine as some Catholics are.

Obviously not wishing to go into great detail, his reply was “Think of it as a resting place, a waiting period before entering Heaven”. I was satisfied with that answer and have been so ever since.

 

[pianistclare]

Incidentally, as a young adult I remember asking a priest about Purgatory because I wasn’t as educated and informed about church doctrine as some Catholics are.

Obviously not wishing to go into great detail, his reply was “Think of it as a resting place, a waiting period before entering Heaven”. I was satisfied with that answer and have been so ever since.

Plus, if you’ve made it to Purgatory…you’ve made it!

 

[slh3016]

Coming into the Catholic Church from Protestantism, I can definitely say that Purgatory is an uncomfortable topic and there is a lot of confusion/misinformation inside and outside of Catholicism about what Purgatory truly is.

1. Purgatory is NOT a second chance. If you’re in Purgatory, heaven awaits you! Rejoice!
2. The catechism doesn’t define whether Purgatory is a place or a process but there has been much theological speculation about both. I’m of the opinion that it is a process and a beautiful one at that. Here is an article that helped shaped my understanding of it:

catholiceducation.org/en/religion-and-philosophy/apologetics/purgatory-holy-fire.html

What I found most interesting and compelling is this:

“The day of judgment is coming, to burn like a furnace,” Malachi 4, verse 1. chapter 3, verse 2, “the refiners for silver and gold.” Hebrews 12, verse 29, tells us that our God is a consuming fire. That’s the kind of love He has. It just burns out of control. Our God is madly in love with us. He’s madly in love with us. It’s sheer madness for the God who owes us nothing, to whom we owe everything but to whom we gave practically nothing. He turns around and gives us everything including himself by becoming one of us and allowing us to kill him. He’s madly in love with us, and that mad love is burning out of control and filling this vast universe. It’s just that our physical eyes can’t see it, but they will some day and our souls will undergo it. And those who have refined their love through self-sacrifice and mortification and penance and charity through the spirit of the foundation which is Christ, but those who have done so are going to enter into that fiery love of God and say, “Oooh, it feels so good! I’m home.” And other people are going to look back where they have compromised and taken short cuts; they’ve done a lot of great things in love and faith and hope. They’ve even suffered some, but they have taken a lot of short cuts, They are going to enter that fire and say, “Ooh, ooh…,” and purgatory is for them.

Now the saints in heaven would freeze in purgatory, and hell fire for the saints in heaven would be like ice, dry ice. Our God is a consuming fire. The periphery of the universe is hell fire. That isn’t the hottest. The hottest is what you find when you get closest to God. Out of the nine choirs of angels, the highest are the Seraphim. In Hebrew it means the burning ones. They glow bright because they are consumed with this passionate, fiery love that God has for all eternity for us as His children."

1. Purgatory does NOT negate what Jesus did on the Cross; it is the application of the work of the Cross.