Does Anyone Here Think That...

[AlegreFe]

I have stated this again and again in some of my posts that we can live our purgatory right here on earth. That is the way that it should be. Not everyone is that brave enough and/or humble enough and/or strong enough to carry our cross all the time. But at least we could use part of our time here on earth to try and lessen our time in Purgatory. If we offer up our sufferings and make sacrifices and do penance and try to gain every indulgence as we possibly can then yes, we could spend at least part of our Purgatory here on earth. This is what I truly believe and I will continue to do as I do so that I may go through less time in Purgatory. Since we cannot measure “time” in purgatory, that is the best way that we can understand it. It’s even described as “a state” so we don’t know of a place. But that is what we can understand to make it less complicated when we speak of “Purgatory time” here on earth.

I hear priests and nuns and even lay people say, “well that’s my purgatory here on earth,” or something to that effect.

We can even offer up sacrifices or pain and/or sicknesses that we may have to someone that we love that might be in Purgatory. And if your loved one is already in Heaven then our offerings will not go to waste. God will know to whom he will “release” from Purgatory or “take time away” from Purgatory with our offerings.

 

[AlegreFe]

I think there can be a start of purification here on earth. For example my dd’s godfather developed a brain tumor, which caused him a tremendous amount of suffering. After doing everything they could he did end up dying from it. I do think people in those situations do start there purification here on earth.

Ok, I just looked at the Catechism and this is what it says.

1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures,** which must be purified either here on earth**, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.83

I absolutely agree with you. :yup:

My brother has cancer and I keep praying for him. His wife and I tell him that he has a lot to offer up and to make use of his sufferings which are redemptive.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in
the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body,
which is the church Col 1:24

 

[Eireann]

Although I said I don’t believe this place is purgatory, just want to clear up something, I do believe some will suffer terrible pain in this world and mitigate purgatory, like many victim souls.

But if expiation isn’t completed in this world, then it may have to be in another place/state. (purgatory)

One such lady and an inspiration to me was Alexandrina, I read about her several times, “The Victim of Balasar” by Francis Johnston.

She truly did suffer for others, even her employer who tried to rape her, so like her and so many, I do think they will pass-by purgatory and straight on to Heaven.

Alexandrina died on 13 October 1955. Her last words: “I am happy, because I am going to Heaven”.

My only desire now is to visit her Shrine in Portugal, and Fatima of course, she often pointed to the children of Fatima to people, even had their pics on her bedroom wall.

 

[PaulDupre]

Hebrews 11:35 says that some **‘were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.’ **

Interestingly enough, this passage in Hebrews is a reference to 2 Maccabees (one of the seven Deuterocanonical books of the OT) chapter 7, wherein 7 brothers were tortured to death, one by one, for refusing to violate the law of Moses by eating pork. The second brother to face torture said to his killers:

You wicked tormentor! You may be sending us from this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up again to live forever because we have died for His laws." (2 Macc 7:9, New Living Translation - Catholic Reference Edition)

One of many evidences that Jesus and the apostles used the Septuagint version of the OT.

God bless,
Paul