Purgatory 101

[TrueLight]

Hello everyone,

I need some references for the dogma (am I using the right word?) of purgatory.

Of course, having been raised Protestant, it is an alien concept to me. All I know is hell and heaven.

I have seen quoted on this site the following scripture:

**1 Corinthians 3: 10-15: **
*10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. *

I don’t claim to completely understand what this means, but how does this translate to purgatory? This seems a paltry verse to build a whole teaching around.

I have always thought that to mean that sometimes because of our disobedience God chastises us. We may suffer tremendously in this life but eventually reach heaven, but only through the “flames.”

Are there any other references besides the CCC?

When did the teaching of purgatory begin?

What is the basis of prayer for those in purgatory?

As usual,. thanks for your patience.

 

[Little_Boy_Lost]

I have always thought that to mean that sometimes because of our disobedience God chastises us. We may suffer tremendously in this life but eventually reach heaven, but only through the “flames.”

Hope this helps. Beyond praying for the dead, most notions of what purgatory is are suppository.
Some Church Fathers, such as St. Cyprian and St. Augustine of Hippo, seemed to believe in a purification after death. However, the character of this purification is never clarified, and especially (as St. Mark of Ephesus underlined at the Council of Florence) it seems there is no true distinction between heaven, hell and the so-called purgatory: all souls partake differently in the same mystical fire (which, according to St. Isaac of Syria, is God’s Love) but because of their spiritual change they are bound to different reactions: bliss for those who are in communion with him; purification for those in the process of being deified; and remorse for those who hated God during their earthly lives. Because of this confusion and inability of the human language to understand these realities, the Church refrains from theological speculation. Instead, she affirms the unbroken Tradition of prayers for the dead, the certainty of eternal life, the rejection of reincarnation, and the communion of the Saints (those living and those who have fallen asleep in the Lord) in the same Body of Christ which is the Church. Private speculation is thus still possible as it was in the time of the Church Fathers. *

 

[TrueLight]

Hope this helps. Beyond praying for the dead, most notions of what purgatory is are suppository.
Some Church Fathers, such as St. Cyprian and St. Augustine of Hippo, seemed to believe in a purification after death. However, the character of this purification is never clarified, and especially (as St. Mark of Ephesus underlined at the Council of Florence) it seems there is no true distinction between heaven, hell and the so-called purgatory: all souls partake differently in the same mystical fire (which, according to St. Isaac of Syria, is God’s Love) but because of their spiritual change they are bound to different reactions: bliss for those who are in communion with him; purification for those in the process of being deified; and remorse for those who hated God during their earthly lives. Because of this confusion and inability of the human language to understand these realities, the Church refrains from theological speculation. Instead, she affirms the unbroken Tradition of prayers for the dead, the certainty of eternal life, the rejection of reincarnation, and the communion of the Saints (those living and those who have fallen asleep in the Lord) in the same Body of Christ which is the Church. Private speculation is thus still possible as it was in the time of the Church Fathers. *

This is very helpful!

I can definitely believe in the possibility of purgatory. I’m just not sure of any extremely defined theory based on very little.

 

[jeanannemarie]

Hope this helps. Beyond praying for the dead, most notions of what purgatory is are suppository.
Some Church Fathers, such as St. Cyprian and St. Augustine of Hippo, seemed to believe in a purification after death. However, the character of this purification is never clarified, and especially (as St. Mark of Ephesus underlined at the Council of Florence) it seems there is no true distinction between heaven, hell and the so-called purgatory: all souls partake differently in the same mystical fire (which, according to St. Isaac of Syria, is God’s Love) but because of their spiritual change they are bound to different reactions: bliss for those who are in communion with him; purification for those in the process of being deified; and remorse for those who hated God during their earthly lives. Because of this confusion and inability of the human language to understand these realities, the Church refrains from theological speculation. Instead, she affirms the unbroken Tradition of prayers for the dead, the certainty of eternal life, the rejection of reincarnation, and the communion of the Saints (those living and those who have fallen asleep in the Lord) in the same Body of Christ which is the Church. Private speculation is thus still possible as it was in the time of the Church Fathers. *

What is the source for this quote?

 

[Little_Boy_Lost]

What is the source for this quote?

Orthodoxwiki.

 

[JRKH]

Hello everyone,

I need some references for the dogma (am I using the right word?) of purgatory.

Of course, having been raised Protestant, it is an alien concept to me. All I know is hell and heaven.

I have seen quoted on this site the following scripture:

**1 Corinthians 3: 10-15: **
*10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. *

I don’t claim to completely understand what this means, but how does this translate to purgatory? This seems a paltry verse to build a whole teaching around.

I have always thought that to mean that sometimes because of our disobedience God chastises us. We may suffer tremendously in this life but eventually reach heaven, but only through the “flames.”

Yes this can mean challanges, chastizements and sufferings in this life, but not necessarily ONLY in this life. For Christ also says we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48) and I would say few leave this life in a state of perfection. So this passage speaks both to this life and the next.

Are there any other references besides the CCC?

Well actually the CCC in its writings references other texts. Including the Council of Florence (1439); the Council of Trent (1563), 1 Pet 1:7, 2 Macc 12:46 and other references to a purgation after death.

When did the teaching of purgatory begin?

My best understanding is that it was formally defined at the Council of Florence in 1439. Thought econcept goes back much farther.

What is the basis of prayer for those in purgatory?

Probably the clearest one is [BIBLEDRB]2 Macc. 12:43-45 [/BIBLEDRB]-
the prayers for the dead help free them from sin and help them to the reward of heaven. Those in heaven have no sin, and those in hell can no longer be freed from sin. They are in purgatory.

As usual,. thanks for your patience.

As usual you are welcome…

Peace
James

 

[MikeDunphy]

Revelation 21:27 says that nothing impure will ever enter into the heavenly city. The doctrine of purgatory allows us to hope that even if we die with some impurity still staining our soul, we may still be purified and made fit to join the wedding feast of the Lamb.

(cf Matthew 22:11-14, Revelation 19:6-9, Revelation 7:13-17)