We briefly discussed the two during RCIA this week, and purgatory/limbo discussion ensued.
Could you please tell me more?
Are either in the Scriptures?
TIA!
First, welcome!
There are two "Limbo"s that you might have heard of. One was the “abode of the dead” mentioned in Scripture (remember when Jesus told the parable of the beggar Lazarus and the rich man, and Lazarus died and was in the bosom of Abraham?). Before the Resurrection, Heaven and Hell were closed. Dead people were in the abode of the dead – sometimes referred to in Scripture as Hades or Sheol. That place is also called Limbo.
The other Limbo was a speculation by theologians about what happens to unbaptized babies who die (“Hey, what happens to unbaptized babies who die?” “I dunno; maybe they go to some other place.” “What’s it called?” “I dunno; Limbo?”). It was never taught as doctrine by the Church, though if you search hard enough you will find plenty of Catholics, even today (including some priests), who think that there really is such a place. After all, this is the one that gets all the publicity, because everyone knows someone who knew someone who died before being baptized; and the idea that there might be some other paradise for them is comforting. But it is
not part of the Church’s teaching.
Purgatory is different. First, it isn’t a place. When you die, you go to one of two places: Heaven or Hell (the abode of the dead no longer being needed). But Scripture teaches us that nothing unclean can enter Heaven. So we know that, after we die, those of us going to Heaven will be cleansed first. This “purgation” or “purging” process is called purgatory. It might be instantaneous; it might last a really long time; we just don’t know. All we know is that our sinful tendencies will be removed from us prior to entering Heaven, rather like having an abscessed tooth removed. It’ll be painful, but it’s for our own good.
Of course, we tend to be careless in our descriptions of Purgatory. I’ve made the joke many times “Well, that’s several fewer minutes I’ll have to spend in Purgatory!” after doing something nice for someone. And we tend to talk about the people “in” Purgatory, as if it were a place. But the Church has always been very clear: Purgatory is
not a third option for the afterlife (“A” students go to Heaven, “B” students go to Purgatory, everyone else can go to Hell). It’s just a (for lack of a better word) anteroom on your way into Heaven.
And, yes, Purgatory is referenced in Scripture (though not by that name). Jesus said that anyone blaspheming the Holy Spirit could not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come – implying that some other sins can be forgiven in the age to come. Paul wrote that, at the judgment, all of our works will be tested, and some (but not all) of us will only be saved as through fire. There are other references, but this should be enough for a basic introduction.
Hope this helps!
