This might not be enough context, but I don’t have very much time to write a long post.
Basically I have two questions, one: if we have to suffer temporal punishment for venial sins and an eternal punishment for mortal sins then what sins did Jesus die on the cross to wipe away? Or was it just to “draw back the curtain” between us and God?
Second: to my knowledge, the soul chooses either Heaven or Hell at death; so why is it a given that if I die with repentant, not confessed mortal sins I will choose Hell?
God is sovereign, so he can do with any soul as he pleases. He could send the worst sinner to heaven, but we should not bet on such a thing for ourselves. That would be presumptuous of God (a sin in itself).
Your question hearkens a bit to Martin Luther’s overemphasis on salvation by the cross, alone, which obviated the need for most personal works (practicing the Sacraments, Confession, regular prayer life, etc). Luther’s perspective was
“saved by Grace, alone,” which is not a Catholic perspective.
At death, our souls DO NOT get to choose eternal life in Heaven or Hell. After bodily death, our souls are judged by God according to our free-will acts in this current, four dimensional world.
An exception to this is the Catholic belief that martyrs for the faith die and go directly to Heaven.
There is a group of people, “laid down from before the foundation of the world” who are predestined for eternity in Heaven. They are assured of eternal life, but may face a period of time in purgatory for purification of the soul before entering heaven.
There is a large group of people, not
predestined for heaven, who will achieve it, anyway through leading largely righteous lives, and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Most of them will pass through purgatory.
There is a group of people, not predestined for any end, who will choose lives full of of rebellion and wickedness in this present world. Through free-will evil acts, they will judged after death, as worthy of Hell. The wicked earn Hell for themselves.
The concept of purgatory in Catholiciam is based on many verses in the Bible. Google “Bible purgatory” and about 35 verses will be listed.
Generally the concept of purgatory begins with the scripture that “No unclean thing shall enter heaven.” Purgatory gives the individual with venial sin hope of entering heaven after a period of purification of the soul. Even if one arrives at judgment in a state of grace (immediately after confession), there remains the problem of paying recompense for the damage we did to others during our life. Purgatory is where this debt is paid.
An example is where you are driving and texting, and the driver ahead suddenly stops, causing you to collide with his/her rear bumper. It is a low speed collision, with minor damage, and nobody is hurt. You approach the other driver, who assures you she/she is fine, and tells you “It’s OK, I forgive you.” You are forgiven, but the damage caused by your negligence still has to be paid for. Purgatory is something like that.
