More questions about purgatory

[Roger12345]

Nothing impure can come into God’s presence. The purpose of purgatory is to complete the perfection of people who have died in a state of grace.
This makes sense to me, however, what use is it to pray to “get people out” of purgatory. If the purpose of purgatory is purification how can the process be hurried along? This question would also apply to indulgences.
Also why is it that people in purgatory cannot intercede for themselves or each other? They are in a state of grace.
The last question is one of Luther’s, if the Pope has the power to release people from purgatory or reduce their time why does he not just go ahead and empty it out? It would be the charitable thing to do.

Thank you for your time

 

[MarcoPolo]

A good question, rooted in the communion of the mystical body of christ. I think the answer may be in Pope Benedict’s Spe Salvi:*Now a further question arises: if “Purgatory” is simply purification through fire in the encounter with the Lord, Judge and Saviour, how can a third person intervene, even if he or she is particularly close to the other? When we ask such a question, we should recall that no man is an island, entire of itself. Our lives are involved with one another, through innumerable interactions they are linked together. No one lives alone. No one sins alone. No one is saved alone. The lives of others continually spill over into mine: in what I think, say, do and achieve. And conversely, my life spills over into that of others: for better and for worse. So my prayer for another is not something extraneous to that person, something external, not even after death. In the interconnectedness of Being, my gratitude to the other—my prayer for him—can play a small part in his purification. (Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi, 48)*Remember also, our merits and good works are powered by Christ’s grace. Divine power is not something alien to the prayer of the Christian, but something behind the very movement of that prayer.

Also, I’m not sure to which Church document you refer that says the Pope has the power to release people from purgatory?

 

[DavidFilmer]

what use is it to pray to “get people out” of purgatory. If the purpose of purgatory is purification how can the process be hurried along?

A person is in purgatory because he lacks perfect and complete Grace. Grace can be obtained in several ways, and suffering (for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven or in expiation for our own sins) is one of them, so the guy in purgatory can do “his bit.”

The result of prayer is also Grace. When we pray on behalf of someone else, the resulting Grace benefits that person.

We don’t know exactly how the economy of purgatory works, but I doubt that a popular person who died could just sit on his butt waiting on his many friends to pray on his behalf. Our prayers are beneficial, but I don’t think they’re sufficient.

Also why is it that people in purgatory cannot intercede for themselves or each other? They are in a state of grace.

I am not aware that is a doctrine of the Church. Some Saints have said that people in purgatory can pray for us or each other, and, lacking knowledge of any contrary official teaching, that is what I have always believed.

Prayers for others are an act of charity, but there is no charity in praying for oneself (it might be called selfish prayer). So I can see why this would be an exception, but I am not aware of any official doctrine.

The last question is one of Luther’s, if the Pope has the power to release people from purgatory or reduce their time why does he not just go ahead and empty it out? It would be the charitable thing to do.

If you consider the source of the question, you might realize that its merits are dubious. Only God can release someone from purgatory. If the Pope COULD do it, he WOULD do it. (The Pope does have the ability to diminish their experience of purgatory, but only through the same means that are available to you or I.)

 

[JerryZ]

Nothing impure can come into God’s presence. The purpose of purgatory is to complete the perfection of people who have died in a state of grace.
This makes sense to me, however, what use is it to pray to “get people out” of purgatory. If the purpose of purgatory is purification how can the process be hurried along? This question would also apply to indulgences.
Also why is it that people in purgatory cannot intercede for themselves or each other? They are in a state of grace.
The last question is one of Luther’s, if the Pope has the power to release people from purgatory or reduce their time why does he not just go ahead and empty it out? It would be the charitable thing to do.

Thank you for your time

So you see no use in God letting US do penance for the souls in Purgatory so that they are freed quicker?
By doing so isn’t HE encouraging to exercise our soul in works of mercy?
By praying don’t we too obtain something from GOD? Grace?
Don’t we feel more bonded with our family, those that went before us, are we not all called brothers of Jesus and children of GOD?

I believe that HE can effect the “Purgation” instantly without any intervention from anyone. HE is sovereign.

But He is apparently pleased that we should participate in the process.
Don’t you feel thankful and loved that he does so?