Purgatory questions....

[josephback]

Ok, so I have a few quick purgatory questions.

1. To my understanding those with mortal sin go to hell, those guilty of venial sin go to purgatory, and a very select few go straight to heaven. Is this in line with Church teaching?
2. Do people pay the Church money so that masses are said for their relatives in purgatory? The Catholic Church I attend starts every Sunday with “This mass is for ___.” Does this require money?
3. Lastly; according to Church teaching, do we stillhave to suffer either here on earth or in purgatory for sins that we have truly repented of? The person I am in dialogue with says no and “that’s what the cross was all about.” Are they right and what did the Cross accomplish in Catholic Theology?

Thanks for your help in this

 

[mcrow]

Ok, so I have a few quick purgatory questions.

1. To my understanding those with mortal sin go to hell, those guilty of venial sin go to purgatory, and a very select few go straight to heaven. Is this in line with Church teaching?

Yes, unless they have been absolved from those sins through Reconciliation/Confession.

1. Do people pay the Church money so that masses are said for their relatives in purgatory? The Catholic Church I attend starts every Sunday with “This mass is for ___.” Does this require money?

No, they actually give the priest himself a stipend for the service, but it isn’t required and generally is only a small amount.

1. Lastly; according to Church teaching, do we stillhave to suffer either here on earth or in purgatory for sins that we have truly repented of? The person I am in dialogue with says no and “that’s what the cross was all about.” Are they right and what did the Cross accomplish in Catholic Theology?

Thanks for your help in this

The way I read it is that you do not go to purgatory if tyou are completely free of sin or have repented all sins. The problem is that it is easy to forget sins. We forget sins because we sin so much, so we may endup in purgatory for forgetting to repent of them or if the repentance wasn’t genuine.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

=josephback;7838714]Ok, so I have a few quick purgatory questions.

1. To my understanding those with mortal sin go to hell, those guilty of venial sin go to purgatory, and a very select few go straight to heaven. Is this in line with Church teaching?

Yes and no. those in a state of unrepentant moral sin would be in hell. Purgtory is the place (for lack of better word) were the stain of all sins are removed. Lets say you broke a window in someones house. you tell them your sorry and they say they for give you. you still need to have the window fixed. Purgatory fixes those windows that did not get fixed before we died.

1. Do people pay the Church money so that masses are said for their relatives in purgatory? The Catholic Church I attend starts every Sunday with “This mass is for ___.” Does this require money?

Normally you would make a donation to the parish to have a Mass said, about 10 dollars, you are free to donate more and if not able to donate that much any to non is ok, it would not keep the mass being said for that person just because you have no money.The Priest does receive a stipen for this, but can only recieve one a day.

1. Lastly; according to Church teaching, do we still have to suffer either here on earth or in purgatory for sins that we have truly repented of? The person I am in dialogue with says no and “that’s what the cross was all about.” Are they right and what did the Cross accomplish in Catholic Theology?

We do still need to make retrobution for what we have done. the cross of Christ made it possible for us to do so. I am not sure that suffering is the way i would say it.

Thanks for your help in this

You are welcome.

 

[MarcoPolo]

1. Lastly; according to Church teaching, do we stillhave to suffer either here on earth or in purgatory for sins that we have truly repented of? The person I am in dialogue with says no and “that’s what the cross was all about.” Are they right and what did the Cross accomplish in Catholic Theology?

Christ merited eternal life for us----i.e. frees those in His body from the eternal consequences of sin, which is eternal death. No true Christian will ever experience the eternal consequences of sin. However, it is self-evident that temporal consequences of sin remain in this world (CCC#1264 or #1472). One obvious one is the fact that even Christians still undergo physical death, which is a consequence of the Fall. Or if a person murdered someone and repented, the victim would still be dead as a consequence of the killer’s sin. Or we still endure sickness due to fallenness, etc… In Catholicism, suffering is union with Christ’s cross and thus has a purifying quality (CCC#793). Purgatory is about making one “holy” and be “capable of God” as then-Cardinal Ratzinger said in his book Eschatology. Hebrews 12:7-10 is a good example that shows how God chastizes those who are already His children for the purpose of making them holy.

 

[pablope]

Ok, so I have a few quick purgatory questions.

1. Do people pay the Church money so that masses are said for their relatives in purgatory? The Catholic Church I attend starts every Sunday with “This mass is for ___.” Does this require money?

Thanks for your help in this

This is not required but is voluntary. It is also referred to as a love offering for the parish/priest/Church.

Usually, the names are submitted to the parish office so that the priest can announce the intention prior to mass.

It is not just for relatives in purgatory, Masses can also be offered for a sick relative, an ailment, as a thanksgiving for a blessing, etc.

 

[InternetWoman]

Ok, so I have a few quick purgatory questions.

1. Do people pay the Church money so that masses are said for their relatives in purgatory? The Catholic Church I attend starts every Sunday with “This mass is for ___.” Does this require money?

I think it has been implied in most postings but perhaps best said explicitly:

You don’t “pay” to have someone freed from purgatory. The Church encourages all of us to pray for souls in purgatory. Our prayers can help free them from their suffering and the Mass is the most powerful of prayers. But we don’t pay the Church to do that! The stipend given is so that we can feel we are contributing/participating in the Mass for our loved one.

 

[alfred14]

I know that at my girlfriends church it cost around 250 dollars for the service to be done in the honnor of someone on sunday and around 25 dollars for monday through saturday. I will double check these numbers tomorrow at church, i belive there posted inthe bullitin. one thing I dont understand is why our souls would go to purgatory if God died for ous sins. since God died for us we are forgiven as long as we ask for it and mean it. so basically the only sins an average person would die with are the ones comitted during the day of his death. I do not understand why prayers must be said and services must be done for someone who has allready passed on and is in heaven. the whole idea of Purgatory makes no sense to me. If someone could explain it that would be awesome.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

I know that at my girlfriends church it cost around 250 dollars for the service to be done in the honnor of someone on sunday and around 25 dollars for monday through saturday. I will double check these numbers tomorrow at church, i belive there posted inthe bullitin. one thing I dont understand is why our souls would go to purgatory if God died for ous sins. since God died for us we are forgiven as long as we ask for it and mean it. so basically the only sins an average person would die with are the ones comitted during the day of his death. I do not understand why prayers must be said and services must be done for someone who has already passed on and is in heaven. the whole idea of Purgatory makes no sense to me. If someone could explain it that would be awesome.

Nothing unclean can enter Heaven. Yes Christ sacrificed Himself upon the Cross for our salvation. Purgatory is nothing more than the cleaning of the Stains and repairing of the damage done to our souls by sin throughout out our lives. for all well know it could be instantaneous or could be eons, as just like all else after death we step outside of time.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 gives a wonderful example and insight into purgatory.

 

[wjp984]

I know that at my girlfriends church it cost around 250 dollars for the service to be done in the honnor of someone on sunday and around 25 dollars for monday through saturday. I will double check these numbers tomorrow at church, i belive there posted inthe bullitin. one thing I dont understand is why our souls would go to purgatory if God died for ous sins. since God died for us we are forgiven as long as we ask for it and mean it. so basically the only sins an average person would die with are the ones comitted during the day of his death. I do not understand why prayers must be said and services must be done for someone who has allready passed on and is in heaven. the whole idea of Purgatory makes no sense to me. If someone could explain it that would be awesome.

I assume you agree that there cannot be sin in Heaven and that once we are in Heaven we are made perfect and free from sin.

Therefore, some process needs to occurr to achieve this. Either there is an instataneous transformation or a process that one experiences.

Personally, I think I rather experience this process and willingly choose it rather than there being a poof, I’m somehow changed to something perfect ready for Heaven.

In my opinion, the process of purification, whatever that may be, is a great way to express the free will that God has given us to willingly choose God and be made ready for Heaven.

 

[alfred14]

yes i belive only a pure soul can be in heaven buy i belive that when i say “God please forgive me for my sins” that they are literally whiped clean. I know it says in the bible that God keeps no record of right or wrong. If that is so then who is keeping track so that were in purgatory for the right amount of time and that we dont get out to early or stay in to long.

 

[midori]

yes i belive only a pure soul can be in heaven buy i belive that when i say “God please forgive me for my sins” that they are literally whiped clean. I know it says in the bible that God keeps no record of right or wrong. If that is so then who is keeping track so that were in purgatory for the right amount of time and that we dont get out to early or stay in to long.

I think you’re thinking of:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

where love keeps no record of wrongs; God is love; ergo, God keeps no record of wrongs. But Paul isn’t talking about God’s love here— as the creator of everything, God has his own set of rules. Rather, Paul is talking about our human responsibility to love our fellow humans to the greatest extent possible.

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Basically, we all get measured with our own measure, so we’d better be loving, charitable, and forgiving towards others if we want to see God’s mercy shine through more brightly than his justice. But while related, that doesn’t mean that just because we apologize to God and are ashamed of our shortcomings, we don’t have to make amends to God for the wrongs we’ve done and the harm we’ve caused.

I’ve never, ever read that Purgatory is some sort of bureaucracy with record-keepers keeping track of sufferings and accidentally letting people out too early, or making them stay too long. Imagine heaven and the presence of God are like a fabulous party, with everyone dressed to the nines, and you’ve shown up at the door in your painting clothes and covered in mud. You’d be mortified to set foot in such a place. Purgatory is a place where you can get cleaned up and properly attired. As much as they long for heaven, no one from Purgatory would dare set foot in Heaven without undergoing the proper preparations first.

 

[fhansen]

1. Lastly; according to Church teaching, do we stillhave to suffer either here on earth or in purgatory for sins that we have truly repented of? The person I am in dialogue with says no and “that’s what the cross was all about.” Are they right and what did the Cross accomplish in Catholic Theology?

We’re not even capable of “seeing” God if we still have attachments to things other than Him first and foremost. This is a definition of sin, in fact, to put created things above the creator, violating the first commandment, because sin is what separated man from God to begin with. It stands in direct opposition to God-it’s rebellion against Him, seeking fulfillment apart from Him. IOW, sin is mutually exclusive with God, with heaven, with love.

God wants us pure/whole, which is no more or less than saying He wants us to be who He created us to be. And so purgatory is a merciful “finishing school” where the Potter continues to mold us, to urge us, in a way, because He’s after having our wills aligned with His-we can’t be just-we can’t be be justified-until that happens. And when that does happen the greatest commandment is also fulfilled, to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

 

[alfred14]

I think you’re thinking of:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

where love keeps no record of wrongs; God is love; ergo, God keeps no record of wrongs. But Paul isn’t talking about God’s love here— as the creator of everything, God has his own set of rules. Rather, Paul is talking about our human responsibility to love our fellow humans to the greatest extent possible.

i meant psalm 130 verse 3-4
3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.