I'm afraid of Purgatory

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Jesus never said anything about Purgatory to the thief who asked for forgiveness next to him on the cross. He said “this day, you will be with me in Paradise”

God is love, and He is our father. How harsh would you be to your own children?

Sometimes I think Purgatory is here on earth, like our struggles with worrying about our children, or bad health, or suffering with cancer, unemployment, etc.

Dont ever let it remove you from your faith in God, because that is what Satan wants us to do, then Satan wins.
 
One more thought. Our priest gave this sermon just before Lent started last year. It was all about forgiveness, no matter how severe the crime.

Think about how Judas felt after he betrayed Jesus. He was so remorse, he killed himself (yet another sin).

The story went like this, it’s called “The Pit”…

After Judas killed himself, he did not go to hell, but instead found himself at the bottom of a totally dark, cold slimy pit. He was a ball of anguish all alone thinking about what he had just done…He had betrayed Him for just a few coins. Jesus, who had only healed the sick, raised the dead, made the blind see, the lame walk, what had Jesus ever done to Judas to deserve betrayal. All Judas could think of was his crime. Eventually, he looked up, and saw a tiny light, no bigger than the point of a needle. It took him what seemed like a thousand years to slowly dig his fingers in the clay walls of the pit to climb up, and closer to the light. When he finally reached the top, and crawled out of the pit, he found himself on the floor of the room where the Last Supper was about to take place. All the other apostles were there. Jesus looked at Judas, smiled and said “Well Judas my friend, there you are! we have been waiting for you and would not have dreamed of starting the supper without you!”

It was as if Jesus wound the clock backwards to the very hour before Judas betrayed him.
 
Ken! Is that the Ken I think it is, who used to serve Mass at Mater Ecclesiae? Oh my gosh, fancy meeting you here! We didn’t speak often, but I’m Todd’s wife, who also used to serve alter with you. You remember Todd, right?

Just wanted to say hi! (We’re in NY now and can’t get to Mater Ecclesiae. Boy, we miss it.)

🙂

Nita
 
Thank you all so much for your kind response, you’ve all been a wonderful help. I’m going to look up and read the stuff you recommended. I want to comment specifically on some of the things you’ve said, so I’ll be back. I’m short on time right now.

Thank you all and God bless!
 
To the OP I would say that your fear should be transformed
into a quest for Christian perfection and a stronger prayer life.

Certain practices, which aren’t all that dificult,
have been enriched with a
plenary indulgence. Learn about these opportunities
and take advantage of them.

ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/plenary.htm
 
St. Therese of Lisieux, who is a Doctor of the Church, maintained that all the people in purgatory are volunteers. God doesn’t point a finger at them and deliver a sentence. They do it themselves. At death, they see their unworthiness when all becomes clear. They realize those ways in which they failed to love God, and know they are not properly disposed to be in His presence. She emphasized not fire and stuff. In fact, I’m not sure she spoke of it at all. (Have to re-read it I guess) She talked about how difficult it can be to truly rid ourselves of our selfishness and vanities, and that, she said, is the pain of purgatory, plus the realization that they are not yet ready to be in God’s presence. If you really ponder that, you can understand how difficult it could be. Yet she did say they are full of joy. It’s just not complete because they “have a lot of work to do”.

She explained that our sins are presented to us and simultaneously God’s mercy is presented. It’s hard to take, she said, though one might not think so on this earth. The people who go to purgatory accept God’s mercy but want to do more, out of love for Him.

Indulgences are a neat thing. Jesus gave His apostles, principally St. Peter, the keys to the Kingdom. He said whatever they bound on earth would be bound in heaven and whatever they loosed on earth would be loosed in heaven. So, He empowered the Church to “let us off”, so to speak.

Hard to understand, in a way, how an indulgence could spare us the self-judgment that would otherwise make us volunteer for purgatory. But I expect we will understand it then.

I strongly recommend reading St. Therese’s works.
 
I’ll probably go to purgatory too. Maybe I should hope for it also. Once I’m there I won’t have to worry about hell. Knowing that as time goes on I’ll be closer to heaven is about all I need. Nothing impure can enter heaven if my soul needs to be cleansed then so be it.
 
Nancyannheath said:
One more thought. Our priest gave this sermon just before Lent started last year. It was all about forgiveness, no matter how severe the crime.

Think about how Judas felt after he betrayed Jesus. He was so remorse, he killed himself (yet another sin).

The story went like this, it’s called “The Pit”…

After Judas killed himself, he did not go to hell, but instead found himself at the bottom of a totally dark, cold slimy pit. He was a ball of anguish all alone thinking about what he had just done…He had betrayed Him for just a few coins. Jesus, who had only healed the sick, raised the dead, made the blind see, the lame walk, what had Jesus ever done to Judas to deserve betrayal. All Judas could think of was his crime. Eventually, he looked up, and saw a tiny light, no bigger than the point of a needle. It took him what seemed like a thousand years to slowly dig his fingers in the clay walls of the pit to climb up, and closer to the light. When he finally reached the top, and crawled out of the pit, he found himself on the floor of the room where the Last Supper was about to take place. All the other apostles were there. Jesus looked at Judas, smiled and said “Well Judas my friend, there you are! we have been waiting for you and would not have dreamed of starting the supper without you!”

It was as if Jesus wound the clock backwards to the very hour before Judas betrayed him.
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sorry, I have to ask…

What in he** (:rolleyes: ) is this story meant to reveal?

Was there more to it? Did Judas say anything, or do anything, or just repeat his act of a traitor?

Forgiveness requires repentance… so, what was your priest saying???

.
 
MrS said:
sorry, I have to ask…

What in he** (:rolleyes: ) is this story meant to reveal?

Was there more to it? Did Judas say anything, or do anything, or just repeat his act of a traitor?

Forgiveness requires repentance… so, what was your priest saying???

.
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In regards to what Nancyannheath wrote

I like that story no matter how it was read. I can see your point MrS but if you re-arrange the name of Judas and add your own or someone you love and look at it from a different angle. There is a whole plethora of possibilities as to the outcome. Yes,it was Judas who betrayed Him and turned his back. Peter also turned his back to Him. I have too at times.I never denied Him when asked but my actions, but at times it would appear as if I never knew Him.

Once again I have another way of looking at Purgatory. Thank God because 1/2 a year ago not only did I not buy into the Catholic message,I never even thought about Purgatory. Thank you God for speaking through people,stories,and places.
 
Nancyannheath said:
Jesus never said anything about Purgatory to the thief who asked for forgiveness next to him on the cross. He said “this day, you will be with me in Paradise”

God is love, and He is our father. How harsh would you be to your own children?

Sometimes I think Purgatory is here on earth, like our struggles with worrying about our children, or bad health, or suffering with cancer, unemployment, etc.

Dont ever let it remove you from your faith in God, because that is what Satan wants us to do, then Satan wins.
Click to expand...
What are you trying to say?

The way I am reading your statements — it seems there is no pergatory after death ( does not fit in with God’s love)— therefore pergatory becomes Satan’s tool to separate the OP from God because of the OP’s fear of pergatory.
 
Nancyannheath said:
Jesus never said anything about Purgatory to the thief who asked for forgiveness next to him on the cross. He said “this day, you will be with me in Paradise”

God is love, and He is our father. How harsh would you be to your own children?

Sometimes I think Purgatory is here on earth, like our struggles with worrying about our children, or bad health, or suffering with cancer, unemployment, etc.

Dont ever let it remove you from your faith in God, because that is what Satan wants us to do, then Satan wins.
Click to expand...
Embracing heresy to alleviate one’s own fears is also what Satan wants.
 
I’m doing the Heroic Act of Charity, so there is a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory each time I receive communion worthily. These indulgences are placed in the hands of the Blessed Virgin to dispose of as she sees fit. I’ve asked God from time-to-time for more than one. I’ve also asked the Blessed Mother to release the most forlorn soul, or the soul who was weighed down with temporal authority during his/her life, or a religious sould, etc.

The downshot is that I cannot get any indulgences for my sins, even after death, so I’m building up the balance sheet quite a bit. I sometimes get quite afraid of what awaits, but I realize this is God telling me to trust in His Mercy. I’m quite devoted to the Sacred Heart and the Divine Mercy because of this.

The most wonderful thing is that I am a tool of God’s Mercy. At mass, I can picture in my mind’s eye someone being let out of prison. I wholeheartedly recommend the act.

Good luck and God Bless.
 
i used to be afraid of purgatory also, in fact the book you mentioned, i’d read too and could not get past the first couple of chapter cause i was so scared! lol BUT that is what got me off my rear to start LEARNING the catholic faith and OBEYING the church. so a Holy fear was a good thing for me, as may be for you too.
i just recently read the Mist of Mercy, Spiritual Warfare and Purgatory by “Anne” a lay apostle www.directionforourtimes.com and i no longer am fearful of purgatory. maybe it will help you too?
 
Nita9 said:
Is anyone else?

I’m a cradle Catholic, brought up most of my life in Traditional Catholicism. I’ve heard all my life about Purgatory. I read that book ‘Purgatory’ - you know the one I mean.

Purgatory ruins everything for me, even my love of God sometimes. Yes, I know it’s really a place of mercy. But I find no comfort in it. I’m terrified of death because I’m not perfect. I’ll probably go to Purgatory. I just see death as the doorway to the torture chamber.

Every time I accidentally burn myself - on the stove, for instance - I instantly think of Purgatory. I imagine being in a place where the burning is all over me and I can’t get away. And I get upset and angry and scared.

I try to avoid sin, I really do. But I have my faults like anyone does. Then I have angry thoughts like ‘God has made it impossible for us to be perfect and then burns us for failing.’ I know those thoughts are temptations… they make me dislike my faith. I feel like the Faith, boiled down is ‘Be Perfect or Burn’. How can you love a faith like that?

But I’m not insane! 🙂 I know my view is warped in some way. That’s why I’m here. Please don’t suggest counselling. I’d love counselling but I don’t have the means or opportunity, I really don’t. But maybe you could suggest something I could read? Your comments, I know, will help me too. 🙂

Thank you!
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Nita,

I am not Catholic…but IMO it comes to a place of trust. Do you trust in God to do what is right? I have been “warned” many times on this board that I place my soul in mortal danger…my answer…I know in Whom I have placed my trust…I know Whose Hands I will receive my eternal reward…good or ill…it doesn’t matter to me…it will come from His Hands…and those Hands are loving and gentle and righteous. Those Hands will never move to do wrong…no matter what happens…He is the One in whom we trust.

Place yourself in His Hands…it is the best place to be…there is no safer place.
 
Publisher said:
Nita,

I am not Catholic…but IMO it comes to a place of trust. Do you trust in God to do what is right? I have been “warned” many times on this board that I place my soul in mortal danger…my answer…I know in Whom I have placed my trust…I know Whose Hands I will receive my eternal reward…good or ill…it doesn’t matter to me…it will come from His Hands…and those Hands are loving and gentle and righteous. Those Hands will never move to do wrong…no matter what happens…He is the One in whom we trust.

Place yourself in His Hands…it is the best place to be…there is no safer place.
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Yes those are wise words. I understand He is the only source of eternal life. That is why I can never leave the Church He founded, the instructions He gave only to the Apostles to safeguard, and never walk away from His Body and Blood in the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is everything, it is Himself… He said so. I will never join a society that does not believe everything Jesus said and did.
 
If one says “I am not afraid of Purgatory”, he might be so prideful. His attitude might come from 2 thoughts:
  1. I don’t care as long as I go to Heaven later on.
  2. He is too perfect to go to Purgatory.
If another says “I am afraid of Purgatory” but not rely on God’s mercy, he is not doing it right.

We can be afraid of Purgatory for we will be in state of desiring to be with God so much. This wanting is a torture. However, do not think Purgatory as Hell for Hell is another matter.

Our goal is not Purgatory; it is Heaven that we aim at. With God’s grace, we will be there. It is God’s will that we should live our lives as perfect as He wants us to be; of course, with His graces.

Trust in Him and “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”
 
MrS,

What the story tells is Jesus’s unconditional love for us and Judas being in a pit for what seemed like 1000 years to think about his actions. Truly purgatory for Judas, but not necessarily fire and physical pain. Judas’ anguish was sorrow and remorse and regret. Judas probably felt Jesus wanted nothing ever to do with him again, let alone be given another chance when he reached the top. Jesus Loved Judas so much, even though he betrayed him, the story reveals that Jesus tuned back the clock (in Heaven of course) to the hour before Judas betrayed him. Judas had 1000 years to think about it so that when he did reach Heaven, Jesus was giving him a second chance. If Judas could do it all over again, do you really think he would have betrayed him?

By the way, using phrases like "what the he## " is a little violent for our forums it think. You sound angry. What I was trying to share only illustrates Jesus’ love, patience and mercy for the worst kinds of sins, even sins against Him personally, as Judas did when giving him up for a few coins. This sermon had most of us in tears at the time and it touched all of us on that Ash Wednesday.

I apologize if my story offended you, MrS, take a deep breath and try to look at the story as a second chance to the the RIGHT thing the second time around and that purgatory could mean different sentences for different sins and in different surroundings. Cancer or any disease with suffering can be purgatory for some. I dont believe it ever really says exactly “where” purgatory is.
 
Nancyannheath said:
MrS,

What the story tells is Jesus’s unconditional love for us and Judas being in a pit for what seemed like 1000 years to think about his actions. Truly purgatory for Judas, but not necessarily fire and physical pain. Judas’ anguish was sorrow and remorse and regret. Judas probably felt Jesus wanted nothing ever to do with him again, let alone be given another chance when he reached the top. Jesus Loved Judas so much, even though he betrayed him, the story reveals that Jesus tuned back the clock (in Heaven of course) to the hour before Judas betrayed him. Judas had 1000 years to think about it so that when he did reach Heaven, Jesus was giving him a second chance. If Judas could do it all over again, do you really think he would have betrayed him?

By the way, using phrases like "what the he## " is a little violent for our forums it think. You sound angry. What I was trying to share only illustrates Jesus’ love, patience and mercy for the worst kinds of sins, even sins against Him personally, as Judas did when giving him up for a few coins. This sermon had most of us in tears at the time and it touched all of us on that Ash Wednesday.

I apologize if my story offended you, MrS, take a deep breath and try to look at the story as a second chance to the the RIGHT thing the second time around and that purgatory could mean different sentences for different sins and in different surroundings. Cancer or any disease with suffering can be purgatory for some. I dont believe it ever really says exactly “where” purgatory is.
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Judas was DEAD… not in a holding tank waiting for a second chance. It does not work that way.

The phrase was what in **ll… meaning what is it about Judas or any soul in hell that is misunderstood in your story??

Again… there is no “second time around”

You might read the words of JPII as to “where” purgatory is

ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2HEAVN.HTM

or consider Jesus’ own words… “…better if he had never been born…”
 
MrS, it was just a “STORY” an example, a fable, a tale. It was not real, nor trying to be real, just an example of what Lent, being sorry for your sins, paying for your sins and eventual mercy and forgiveness is all about.

I am going to say prayers for you today in my rosary.
 
When I said I’m not afraid of purgatory it doesn’t mean I’m necessarily prideful. I’m not looking to go there to show every1 how tuff I am. I desire heaven but my soul along with many others will probably need to be cleansed. What I am looking forward to is completing that journey with the help of God.
 
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