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sammy16
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I’m looking to understand the belief of Purgatory better and I, myself, am not Catholic. I’m an agnostic looking to know the Catholic faith better.
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De_Maria
Guest
In Scripture, God is known as the Consuming Fire.I’m looking to understand the belief of Purgatory better and I, myself, am not Catholic. I’m an agnostic looking to know the Catholic faith better.
Deuteronomy 4:24For the Lord, your God, is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
This life is meant to be a time of purging. Where we purge within ourselves, all wrong doing. If we achieve this perfection, by the grace of God, before we die, we will become “like” God and be united to Him in heaven.
But, if we have lived our lives reaching for God and His holiness. Yet, die without achieving it perfectly, which is the condition of the vast majority of us, God will purify us Himself.
But, if we die in sin because we never cared about God or His holiness, we will remain in that condition for eternity. We will never be united with God.
I hope that helps.
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Justin_Mary
Guest
There is no darkness in heaven. There cannot be. To get to heaven, there cannot be any darkness in us.I’m looking to understand the belief of Purgatory better and I, myself, am not Catholic. I’m an agnostic looking to know the Catholic faith bette
By practicing virtue in this life, by the grace of God that darkness is expelled from us. It is possible to reach perfection in this life, but most of us don’t.
In His generous mercy, God will perfect us, removing any remaining darkness that we may attain heaven.
Simplistic explanation. It’s truly a deep subject
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Vico
Guest
Perhaps the Catechism of the Catholic Church will help:I’m looking to understand the belief of Purgatory better and I, myself, am not Catholic. I’m an agnostic looking to know the Catholic faith better.
The punishments of sin
1472 To understand this [indulgences] doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence.
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
- 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.
1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the “new man.” 84
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thistle
Guest
I’m looking to understand the belief of Purgatory better and I, myself, am not Catholic. I’m an agnostic looking to know the Catholic faith better.
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tafan2
Guest
We have to become truly holy to enter heaven and be with God. This is what God desires for each of us. Just because we happen to die, God does not give up on us.
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Inquiry
Guest
It was reading some of St. John Henry Newman’s writings on the subject that made Purgatory understandable for me. He indicates that it is not a punishment given out by God, but a penance that the saved gladly take on to make themselves pure for Heaven.
The thought that occurred to me when I read that was: Which one of us, upon accepting Salvation and seeing the pain our own sins are causing Christ would not insist on seizing back our share to bear them for him as he bore them for us. I make no claims as to that thought being the actual way things work, but it helped me put Purgatory into perspective.
The thought that occurred to me when I read that was: Which one of us, upon accepting Salvation and seeing the pain our own sins are causing Christ would not insist on seizing back our share to bear them for him as he bore them for us. I make no claims as to that thought being the actual way things work, but it helped me put Purgatory into perspective.
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Wesrock
Guest
When we become Christian on earth we are called to transform our lives, to give up sin and vices, and to conform ourselves to Christ. However, you’ll notice that becoming Christian doesn’t actually remove our attachment to worldly thing and our vices. Even so, even though we’re imperfect… if we remain repentant, focused on Christ, we can still be saved. However, we don’t go into Heaven still attached to these worldly things and with our vices. The notion of Purgatory is that after death but before Heaven those who are saved are “purged” or cleansed of their attachment to sin if they were not able to do so in life. Through Christ, God helps make us perfect, so that we may be perfect in Heaven.
There is another complementary understanding of the purpose of Purgatory, too. The Church distinguishes between eternal punishment and temporal punishment. To be saved is to be removed from eternal punishment and to have the vision of God. However, even if we are saved, justice still demands that we pay for our finite sins. It should be noted that this punishment is similar to why you’d discipline a child: to improve their character and make them a better person.
This brings us to the notion of indulgences. There is a common misunderstanding with non-Catholics that indulgences let you buy your way to Heaven. That is false. The proper use of indulgences is that is is an act in this life that, when done with the proper disposition and intent, helps turn you back to God and focus on him more deeply. The Church can bestow indulgences specifically for the remission of temporal punishment from past sins. It doesn’t apply to future sins. It doesn’t restore grace if you’re in mortal sin.
Let us know if you have questions because I feel that I could have explained it better.
There is another complementary understanding of the purpose of Purgatory, too. The Church distinguishes between eternal punishment and temporal punishment. To be saved is to be removed from eternal punishment and to have the vision of God. However, even if we are saved, justice still demands that we pay for our finite sins. It should be noted that this punishment is similar to why you’d discipline a child: to improve their character and make them a better person.
This brings us to the notion of indulgences. There is a common misunderstanding with non-Catholics that indulgences let you buy your way to Heaven. That is false. The proper use of indulgences is that is is an act in this life that, when done with the proper disposition and intent, helps turn you back to God and focus on him more deeply. The Church can bestow indulgences specifically for the remission of temporal punishment from past sins. It doesn’t apply to future sins. It doesn’t restore grace if you’re in mortal sin.
Let us know if you have questions because I feel that I could have explained it better.
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Genesis315
Guest
There are three parts to repentance: contrition, confession, and bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance (aka making satisfaction). Purgatory mostly has to do with the third part.
Sins are forgiven when the priest absolves you after you confess your sins with contrition. You are restored to the friendship of God. But, we still must bring forth fruits worthy of repentance–that is, we must attempt to “expiate” the temporal stain of our sin.
Here’s an analogy: if I steal a five dollar bill from you, I have sinned. I confess my sin with a contrite heart and am absolved by the priest. Am I now totally clean? No–I still have the ill-gotten five dollars in my wallet. I still carry with me that injustice–that stain from my sin. What is the fruit worthy of my repentance for stealing? To give it back, or, if that is not possible, to give it as alms or make some other amends.
Every sin carries with it some kind of stain of injustice, even if intangible, including honor we should have given to God which we did not. Most priests assign prayer as a penance for this reason, since by it we give honor and love to God.
Penances assigned by the priest are not meant to make full satisfaction. We can and should do more ourselves through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, especially during the penitential days and seasons of the Church (Fridays, Lent, etc.). Almsgiving is associated with sins against neighbor, fasting with sins against self, and prayer with sins against God (which all are).
God also can and often does send His own punishments (see e.g. Hebrews 12:4-11) which, if we bear them patiently, also satisfy for our sins.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church sums this all up:
Finally, since we are all one Body and should bear each other’s burdens, as Jesus says, we can offer our prayers and penances in satisfaction for another’s sins. This is why we pray for the dead. The Church, through the power of binding and loosing, by virtue of the superabundant satisfactions of the whole body of Christ, can also remit some or all of the need to make satisfaction (this is called an indulgence).
Sins are forgiven when the priest absolves you after you confess your sins with contrition. You are restored to the friendship of God. But, we still must bring forth fruits worthy of repentance–that is, we must attempt to “expiate” the temporal stain of our sin.
Here’s an analogy: if I steal a five dollar bill from you, I have sinned. I confess my sin with a contrite heart and am absolved by the priest. Am I now totally clean? No–I still have the ill-gotten five dollars in my wallet. I still carry with me that injustice–that stain from my sin. What is the fruit worthy of my repentance for stealing? To give it back, or, if that is not possible, to give it as alms or make some other amends.
Every sin carries with it some kind of stain of injustice, even if intangible, including honor we should have given to God which we did not. Most priests assign prayer as a penance for this reason, since by it we give honor and love to God.
Penances assigned by the priest are not meant to make full satisfaction. We can and should do more ourselves through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, especially during the penitential days and seasons of the Church (Fridays, Lent, etc.). Almsgiving is associated with sins against neighbor, fasting with sins against self, and prayer with sins against God (which all are).
God also can and often does send His own punishments (see e.g. Hebrews 12:4-11) which, if we bear them patiently, also satisfy for our sins.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church sums this all up:
If we don’t make sufficient satisfaction in this life, but die in the friendship of God, the remaining expiation must be accomplished before entering Heaven. This final purification is what we call purgatory.1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the "new man."84
Finally, since we are all one Body and should bear each other’s burdens, as Jesus says, we can offer our prayers and penances in satisfaction for another’s sins. This is why we pray for the dead. The Church, through the power of binding and loosing, by virtue of the superabundant satisfactions of the whole body of Christ, can also remit some or all of the need to make satisfaction (this is called an indulgence).
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sammy16
Guest
Purgatory is like cleansing somebody’s soul, you mean?
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sammy16
Guest
If I’m understanding this correctly, Purgatory is cleansing that people might become worthy of entering Heaven if they devoted their lives to God, but didn’t quite do as well as they could have or did what was possible for them. Is that is correct?
I’ve heard of mortal sins, so could a person be denied entrance into Purgatory and just tossed into Hell for certain sins committed? If so, then can those sins be forgiven by a priest while the person’s still living?
I’ve heard of mortal sins, so could a person be denied entrance into Purgatory and just tossed into Hell for certain sins committed? If so, then can those sins be forgiven by a priest while the person’s still living?
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sammy16
Guest
Thanks for your answers, everyone. I’ll read that article that @thistle posted and that should develop my understanding of Purgatory.
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Wesrock
Guest
Yes, that’s right.If I’m understanding this correctly, Purgatory is cleansing that people might become worthy of entering Heaven if they devoted their lives to God, but didn’t quite do as well as they could have or did what was possible for them. Is that is correct?
Another analogy I like for Christian life in general is that every human being is a fine piece ofa China, but everyone has their own unique set of cracks. We’re all a little bit broken. For those who didnt quite di as well as they could have in life, Purgatory is like being forged whole again to perfection. And it is all through Christ of course.
But the important thing is that we don’t just think Jesus got us a “get our of jail free card” on our behalf, we believe we are called to be perfect, and we will be perfect in the next life. Purgatory is part of that process.
Yes, a mortal sin is basically a sin grievous enough to be a rejection of God. It is mortal because it is mortal to a healthy spiritual life and eternal life. It can be forgiven in confession by a priest to restore them back to right standing with God and the Church. A “perfect act of contrition” (being motivated to repentance out of love of God) can also suffice, though a Catholic should still intend to get to Confession at the earliest opportunity. I also don’t think God plays “gotcha” with Confessions. Like if a Catholic is driving to Confession and gets in an accident I don’t think he’s damned just because of the timing. Confession is for our benefit. It’s not a limit on God. If a Catholic disdained the sacrament, though, and intentionally avoided it when they knew the Church teaches they should go, however… that says something about the interior disposition of that person towards the Church and sacraments God established.I’ve heard of mortal sins, so could a person be denied entrance into Purgatory and just tossed into Hell for certain sins committed? If so, then can those sins be forgiven by a priest while the person’s still living?
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sammy16
Guest
For example, say I’m attending RCIA right now and I’m in the car on the way to my local parish with intent to become a faithful Catholic, then a driver hits the car I’m in and I pass away. I understand that this is a complicated question and only God would really know the answer to this, but what’s the likely spot my soul would go based on scripture and doctrine in the Catholic Church?
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Inquiry
Guest
More like, every sin has two effects. Firstly it damages or severs your connection with and ability to love God. Secondly it incurs a debt to the injured party (Christ being the primary injured party).
The first effect is the most important because if your love of God is severed you cannot properly choose Salvation. That leaves Hell as the only possible destination. That consequence is something neither you nor God wants to happen. Reconciliation heals this damage and eliminates the dire consequence.
That leaves the second effect, the debt owed to the injured party. This is not assumed to be eliminated by reconciliation, but is instead something that both God and the saved want to address. This is the debt paid by penance or purgatory.
If it helps, think of it this way. Sin is like drinking poison. If you steal and drink poison, you will die. That’s not a punishment God inflicts upon you, it is a simple consequence of your actions. If God, in his mercy, protects you from death, you still have to pay back the store you took the poison from. Sin is the same way. God is saving you from Hell, but you still have to pay back the other debts you incurred.
The first effect is the most important because if your love of God is severed you cannot properly choose Salvation. That leaves Hell as the only possible destination. That consequence is something neither you nor God wants to happen. Reconciliation heals this damage and eliminates the dire consequence.
That leaves the second effect, the debt owed to the injured party. This is not assumed to be eliminated by reconciliation, but is instead something that both God and the saved want to address. This is the debt paid by penance or purgatory.
If it helps, think of it this way. Sin is like drinking poison. If you steal and drink poison, you will die. That’s not a punishment God inflicts upon you, it is a simple consequence of your actions. If God, in his mercy, protects you from death, you still have to pay back the store you took the poison from. Sin is the same way. God is saving you from Hell, but you still have to pay back the other debts you incurred.
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Inquiry
Guest
[1259] For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.
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Wesrock
Guest
Yes, this is called baptism of desire.[1259] For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.
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Dan_Defender
Guest
I would add that the belief in Purgatory is ancient and Biblical:
‘Then under the tunic of each one of the dead, they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was the reason these men had fallen. So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to supplication, praying that the sin that had been committed might be wholly blotted out.’ - 2 Maccabees 12:40-42
‘Then under the tunic of each one of the dead, they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was the reason these men had fallen. So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to supplication, praying that the sin that had been committed might be wholly blotted out.’ - 2 Maccabees 12:40-42
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Justin_Mary
Guest
Purifying one’s soul.Purgatory is like cleansing somebody’s soul, you mean?
Which is the same thing we do here, practicing virtue, doing penance, carrying our cross.
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GLam1761
Guest
Come out from among them and be separate,
touch no unclean thing and I will be your God
and you will be my ppl. See 2 Cor. 6:17
This clearly states that ALL wickedness and
sin MUST be weeded from our lives before we
can properly WORSHIP and FELLOWSHIP w/
God, so… we must be purified, if not in this life
then in the NEXT!!
touch no unclean thing and I will be your God
and you will be my ppl. See 2 Cor. 6:17
This clearly states that ALL wickedness and
sin MUST be weeded from our lives before we
can properly WORSHIP and FELLOWSHIP w/
God, so… we must be purified, if not in this life
then in the NEXT!!
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