Is purgatory a part of Christianity, or just Catholicism?

[Jkuehn]

Is purgatory a part of Christianity regardless of denomination, or is it only a part of Catholicism? How does it work and where does the bible talk about it?

 

[Techno2000]

where does the bible talk about it?

It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.

2 Maccabees 12:46

 

[Techno2000]

How does it work

T H E

S E C O N D

K I N G D O M

From the Mystical Revelations of Maria Valtorta

The Purifying Flames

JESUS :

"I want to explain to you what Purgatory is and in what it consists. And I explain it Myself, with a form that will clash with so many who believe themselves to be trustees of knowledge of the Beyond — and are not.

The souls immersed in those flames suffer only from love.

Not undeserving of possessing the Light, but not yet worthy of entering immediately into that Kingdom of Light, these souls, upon presenting themselves to God, become clothed with the Light. It is a brief, anticipated bliss, which makes them certain of their salvation, and makes known to them what their eternity will be. It makes them experience what they had committed toward their soul; thus defrauding it of years of the blessed possession of God. Immersed thereafter in the Place of Purgation, they are clothed with the expiatory flames.

In this matter, those who talk of ‘Purgatory’ speak rightly. But where they are not right is in wanting to apply various names to those flames.

These flames are a conflagration of Love. They purify by enkindling souls with love. They give Love because, when the soul has reached in them that love which it did not reach on earth, it is liberated and joined to Love in Heaven.

This seems to you a different doctrine than what is known — true? But reflect.

What does God, One and Triune, want for the souls created by Him? The Good.

He Who wants the Good for a creature, what sentiments does He have for that creature? Sentiments of Love.

What are the first and the second commandments, the two most important? Those of which I have said there are no greater, and in which are the keys for reaching Eternal Life? They are a commandment of love: ‘Love God with all your strength, love your neighbor as yourself.’

Through My own mouth and by the prophets and the saints, what have I said to you an infinite number of times? That Charity is the greatest of absolutions. Charity consumes the faults and the weaknesses of man, because he who loves lives in God, and by living in God he sins little; and if he sins he at once repents, and for him who is repentant there is the forgiveness of the Most High.

What is lacking to souls? Love. If they had loved much, they would have committed few and light sins, connected with your weakness and imperfections. But they would never have reached a conscious obstinacy in faults, even venial ones. If they would have striven not to grieve their Love, Love also, seeing their good will, would have absolved them even of the venial transgressions they committed.

How does one repair, even on earth, a fault? By expiating it — even if only with difficulty — through the means with which it was committed. He who has damaged something, by restoring whatever he has taken away with his insolence. He who has calumniated, by retracting the calumny, and so on.

Now: if poor human justice wants this, will not the holy Justice of God want it? And what means will God use to obtain reparation? Himself, that is, Love, and by exacting love.

Continue-

 

[Techno2000]

All pivots on love, Maria, except for the truly ‘dead’: the damned. For these ‘dead,’ even Love is dead. But for the three Kingdoms — that of the heaviest: the Earth; that in which the weight of matter is abolished, but not of the soul burdened by sin: Purgatory; and finally that in which its inhabitants share with their Father the spiritual nature which frees them from every duty — for all three the motor is Love. It is by loving on earth that you work for Heaven. It is by loving in Purgatory that you conquer Heaven which in life you had not known how to merit. It is by loving in Paradise that you enjoy Heaven.

When a soul is in Purgatory it does not do anything but love, reflect, repent in the light of Love which has kindled for it these flames — which already are God, but which hide God from it for its punishment.

Behold the torment. The soul remembers the vision of God it had in its particular judgment. That memory is carried with it and, since to have even but glimpsed God is a joy which surpasses every created thing, the soul thus has anxiety to enjoy again that joy. That memory of God and that ray of light which had clothed it at its appearing before God, thus cause the soul to ‘see’ in their true essence the failures committed against its Good. And this ‘seeing,’ together with the thought that it has voluntarily forbidden itself the possession of Heaven and union with God for ages or centuries, constitute its purgative pain.

It is love, and the certainty of having offended Love, which is the torment of those being purged. The more a soul in life has failed, the more it is as if blinded by spiritual cataracts which make more difficult its knowing and reaching that perfect repentance of love which is the first collaboration with its purgation and its entrance into the Kingdom of God.

Love is weighed down and slowed down the more a soul has oppressed it with guilt. But as the power of Love cleanses it little by little, its resurrection to love is quickened and, in consequence, so is its conquest of Love — which is completed in the moment in which, having finished its expiation and reached the perfection of love, it is admitted into the City of God.
http://www.bardstown.com/~brchrys/2ndKngdm.html

 

[JamalChristophr]

“…references are found in Zechariah, Sirach, and the Gospel of Matthew. Jewish tradition also reinforces this belief as well as the tradition and teaching of the Church, which has been affirmed throughout history.”

All Souls' Day - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

There are non-Catholics who believe in purgatory but many non-Catholic Christian ecclesial communities do not have official declarations on certain theological matters.

 

[NuclearReceptor]

Are the writings of Maria Valtorta approved? Quick google scan says no…unless there’s a more recent development.

 

[Techno2000]

Are the writings of Maria Valtorta approved? Quick google scan says no…unless there’s a more recent development.

Current Canonical Explanation: RESPONSE TO APPARITIONS AND VISIONARIES FOR ROMAN CATHOLICS

Since the abolition of Canon 1399 and 2318 of the former Code of Canon Law by Paul VI in AAS58 (1966) page 1186, publications about new apparitions, revelation, prophecies, miracles, etc., have been allowed to be distributed and read by the faithful without the express permission of the Church, providing that they contain nothing which contravenes faith and morals. This means, no imprimatur is necessary.

The Discernment of Visionaries and Apparitions Today by Albert J. Hebert, S.M., Page III

 

[Techno2000]

Are the writings of Maria Valtorta approved? Quick google scan says no…unless there’s a more recent development.

Titular Bishop of Nyssa-

The big issue is this: “Is there anything against faith or morals in her writings?” All her critics begrudgingly have acknowledged that there is nothing against faith and morals.

http://www.bardstown.com/~brchrys/Imprmatur.html

 

[JamalChristophr]

Here’s a good article with stories on purgatory.

Also includes a Saint Gemma story regarding purgatory.

Mystics of the Church: Amazing stories from Purgatory and the afterlife

 

[PJM]

PERHAPS a better question might be:

Can the Doctrine of Purgatory be ONLY a Catholic-Christian Doctrine.

It is notable that the term “bible”, like “purgatory” is not found in the bible. READ the last 2 verses in John 20 &21

Each of the following verses speaks of Purgatory, as ALL souls MUST be either Perfect, like GOD, or perfected, made like GOD in order to attain the Beatific Vision 1 Jn. 1:6-7, 5:16-17 & Jn 20:1-23

Lev.22: 21 “And when any one offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.

Rev. 21: 27 “But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Mt. 5: 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.

Matt.5: 48 “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Heb. 2: 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

1John.3: 2 to 3 “Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

1 Cor. 3: 13-14 “each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done if the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, [Purgatory] though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

2nd. Cor. 7:1 “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God

“The Origins of the Doctrine of Purgatory

In additions to Holy Scripture, there are Apocryphal books which were left out of Holy Canon as well as Lost Books of the Bible. It is the Apocryphal book entitled The Maccabees that contains the integral beginnings of the doctrine of purgatory. 2 Mac. 12:38-46

What Is the Doctrine of Purgatory?
Purgatory is the intermediate state between heaven and hell where those of the dead who have not sinned mortally 1 Jn 5:16-17, Jn 20:19-23 to warrant hell, but have not yet purified themselves enough in goodness to enter into heaven, go to prepare and purify themselves of sin.

Purgatory is importance for humanity because it presents a third option to heaven (total holiness) and hell (total evil)

The Council of Trent, Purgatory is based on the writings of Scripture and the Church fathers:

“Since the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Ghost, has, following the sacred writings and the ancient tradition of the Fathers, taught in sacred councils and very recently in this ecumenical council that there is a purgatory, and that the souls there detained are aided by the suffrages of the faithful and chiefly by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar…

GBY

 

[BoomerangToo]

Most likely all of the Apostolic churches believe in purgatory, even if they don’t use that specific term. The early Christians believed in it, as you can read for yourself in ancient documents like Acts of Paul and Thecla and The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity. The Jews believed that dead souls can be assisted by the living through our prayers for them.

 

[MT1926]

Is purgatory a part of Christianity regardless of denomination, or is it only a part of Catholicism?

Purgatory is a part of Christianity regardless of a denominations willingness to admit it.

The Bible clearly states that there will be neither sin nor an attachment to sin in heaven.

I am sure you would agree that we (at least most of us) are still presently sinning and will most likely still be attached to some sin at the end of this life.

The above 2 statements lead me to conclude that there must be a period between death and heavenly glory in which we, the saved brothers and sisters of Christ, are cleansed of sin and our attachments to sin. The only way to dispute this logical conclusion is if one of the above 2 statements were untrue. However, I have found both statements, 1 and 2, are Biblical and have yet to find evidence that contradicts these passages in the Bible.

Revelation 21:27 is clear Biblical evidence that sin nor an attachment to sin can enter heaven.
But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

and

1 John 1:8 is clear Biblical evidence that we are all sinners.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

The only thing I am trying to get at here, which I think you can agree on, is that we must be clean (pure) before we enter into heaven. There are many verses in the Bible that speak of this.
Matthew 5:48 Speaks of the a loving God that wants us to be perfect.
48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

If we are not perfected by the time we die, he will perfect us before we enter heaven (that perfection is what we call purgatory). He loves us too much to allow us to be less than what he created us to be.

You need to understand and accept this before the next question can be answered. That’s the man issue I see with purgatory. People tend to want to know where it is spelled out in the Bible instead of first understanding why we need it.

I need to answer the second question in a separate post.

God Bless

 

[MT1926]

…Cont

How does it work and where does the bible talk about it?

We don’t know how it works. Some imagine that the Catholic Church has an elaborate doctrine of purgatory worked out, but there are only three essential components of the doctrine: (1) that a purification after death exists, (2) that it involves some kind of pain, and (3) that the purification can be assisted by the prayers and offerings by the living to God. Other ideas, such that purgatory is a particular “place” in the afterlife or that it takes time to accomplish, are speculations rather than doctrines.

The main thing to keep in mind is that purgatory isn’t a second chance. Only the saved go to purgatory.

As for Bible verse that show us we need purgatory, here is one more…
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
11 For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble— 13 each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day[a] will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

This speaks of a place where a man can suffer loss yet still be saved. If he was in hell he has no chance of being saved, if he was in heaven he wouldn’t be suffering loss. So he must be in a place between earth and heaven.

I think the main question to ask is “Where in the bible does it say Jesus eliminated the consequences of our sins?”

If your child breaks a window and says I am sorry you will forgive him (this is what we would call the eternal punishment for the sin). However, a just father makes the child clean up the mess (this is what we would call the temporal punishment for the sin). God can, at His sole discretion, permit you to serve your punishment (the clean up) here on earth, or later in purgatory or a combination of the two.

Hope this helps,

God Bless

 

[De_Maria]

Is purgatory a part of Christianity regardless of denomination, or is it only a part of Catholicism?

The Catholic Church Teaches True Christianity. No one else does. This is one of the truths that the other, so called Christian, denominations do not teach.

How does it work

St. Paul actually gives a very good description of it in 1 Cor 3:10-15. To get the complete understanding, you need to read past the part where God destroys the man who destroys the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

Basically, Christians who have not died with unrepented mortal sin, are purified in fire. That is the significance of burning the works. Those who works are burned are saved as through through fire.

The Christians who have destroyed the Temple of the Holy Spirit are they who have been baptized and thus justified and yet fallen away. They don’t go to purgatory. They go straight to the eternal punishment.

and where does the bible talk about it?

Lots of places. See above. I showed you one above. It actually begins with the Jews in 2 Macc 12. That shows the Jews offerred “indulgences” for the souls of their loved ones who died in sin. These indulgences were offered in order that their loved ones would be freed from sin.

Then there’s:

Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

There are more, but these should suffice.

 

[jas84173]

It’s in Orthodoxy as well. Though differing opinions on it.

I’m sorry what is Christianity? Are Catholics and Orthodox not Christians? Did the Protestant reformers just think it up?

 

[jcm2017]

The concept follows from reason as well.
We are not God.
If we are not God, that means we are (hopefully) moving toward sanctity. (if we were God, no movement is necessary, we would be perfect)
Death is not a barrier to this movement, so this moving forward process is ongoing for most souls.
Purgatory.