Need Help and Guidance

[jgajmom]

Don’t worry. I am reading and reading and reading. I have looked at so many discussions on this forum. I have read some of the CCC online. Hubby’s aunt was so sweet when I spoke to her. She converted when she married the first time. She said she has went to many different churches but has always returned to the Catholic church. I have discovered in researching my family history that my dad’s family was Catholic up until his grandpa was adopted (due to his mother’s death).

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

Don’t worry. I am reading and reading and reading. I have looked at so many discussions on this forum. I have read some of the CCC online. Hubby’s aunt was so sweet when I spoke to her. She converted when she married the first time. She said she has went to many different churches but has always returned to the Catholic church. I have discovered in researching my family history that my dad’s family was Catholic up until his grandpa was adopted (due to his mother’s death).

Glad you think you’re on the right track, and most of all glad you’re taking it in a slow, educated manner, not just, “Hey this church sounds cool!” and diving in

 

[jgajmom]

Ok, so my sister, who until now has been very supportive of my soul searching, is starting to bring up every detail she has ever heard about Catholics. I am really trying to show her things I have read so far and answer her disputes, but she’s really pushing. The two issues on the table right now are purgatory and the books in the Catholic Bible that are not in the Protesant Bible. Can anyone help me with some advice on how to handle these?

 

[Teneas]

Ok, so my sister, who until now has been very supportive of my soul searching, is starting to bring up every detail she has ever heard about Catholics. I am really trying to show her things I have read so far and answer her disputes, but she’s really pushing. The two issues on the table right now are purgatory and the books in the Catholic Bible that are not in the Protesant Bible. Can anyone help me with some advice on how to handle these?

The books in the Bible are an easy one.

Council of Rome 382 A.D.
Canon approved by Pope
Council of Hippo 393 A.D.
The Canon of Scripture was ratified.
Council of Carthage 397 A.D.
The Canon of Scripture was ratified.

This remained unchanged, and still is unchanged in the Catholic Bibles. But this canon of what was scripture remained unchanged until some 1500 years later, when Martin Luther TOOK out the books he didn’t agree with:

Martin Luther & the Bible
Martin Luther removed 7 books from the Old Testament:
Sirach, Tobit, Wisdom, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Baruch & Judith.
Revelation 22:18-19

So, some non-Catholics will argue that Catholics PUT books into the Bible. This isn’t true, as history clearly shows us that it has remained the same until Luther REMOVED books from it.

Purgatory is a bit trickier, and I hope someone can offer more insight than I can on this one. Here is where it is found in scripture.

Purgatory

2 Maccabees 12: 38-46

Now read in this order:

1 Jn 3:2 “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”

Since God is holy, to be like him we, too, must be holy
Matt 5:48

Without the holiness, “no one will see the Lord”
Heb 12:14

“nothing unclean will enter”
Rev 21:27

Other scriptures for it:

2 Sam 12:13-18 Revelation 21:27

Matthew 5:48 Hebrews 12:22-23

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Matthew 12:32, 18:32-35

Revelation 20:12-15 James 5:20

1 Peter 4:8 Colossians 1:24

1 Jn 3:3

In a nutshell, purgatory is the final cleansing of one’s stained soul. We must be purified with fire. *God’s fire, mind you"

Hope this helps, and don’t stop your path! Go slow, and continue to read and question. There are many family members, friends and others that may never approve. I admire my wife, for I am lucky to have a Catholic family, but she was not, and has lost some old family friends due to her conversion.

 

[Orchanian]

As for purgatory, the Bible says that nothing imperfect can enter heaven. I, for one, am not perfect. Most of us would make that statement about ourselves. So if I’m not perfect, but I love the Lord and have tried to serve Him in this life, how will I be made perfect so that I can enter heaven? I am made perfect in purgatory. This is a state of purification, when God removes whatever is left in our hearts and souls that is imperfect.

Some protestants teach a false understanding of purgatory - that those in purgatory may not actually get to heaven - it’s where they get a second chance. That’s not what the Church teaches. If a soul is in purgatory, they are on their way to heaven. They will not go to hell. But they still have attachments to worldly things, and those attachments must be removed before they can enter heaven.

It’s really difficult to be in a situation of defending your faith, and can be frustrating (and sometimes pointless). I encourage you to be willing to say you don’t know, but that’s why you’re exploring it. I also encourage you to use this as a challenge to really understand what the church teaches so that you can (if you choose) defend it. It’s possible that your sister could not answer these objections and wishes that she could. You may find yourself bringing her back to the Church. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful way for the Lord to use you!

By the way, there is a teaching on this web site about Purgatory. It provides more information for you.