Purgatory--why would there be a 'need' for Hell?

[Isle_of_Avalon]

Heaven is the major leagues. when its your turn to play, if you’ve been staying in shape… you go right in.
If you’ve been eating twinkies and beer but still want to play, the coach will let you, but you need to work those extra pounds off before you get to play. you did it to yourself in the offseason, so now you have to sweat to get in shape.

hell, thats sitting on your couch for eternity, non-alcoholic beer in hand saying to yourself “that could have been me”

thats my take on it.

Great analogy. I like the way you put it, understandable enough for all the coach potatoes out there (like me).

 

[Bishopite]

can you elaborate on being sanctified here on earth?

Sure, sanctified means being made holy by God’s grace.
Main Entry: sanc·ti·fy
Function: transitive verb
Pronunciation: -"fī
Inflected Form(s): -fied ; -fy·ing
Etymology: Middle English *sanctifien, *from Middle French *sanctifier, *from Late Latin *sanctificare, *from Latin *sanctus *sacred – more at [**SAINT **](javascript:lookWord(‘saint’)
1 : to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : [**CONSECRATE **](javascript:lookWord(‘consecrate’)
2 : to free from sin : [**PURIFY **](javascript:lookWord(‘purify’)
We receive God’s grace through prayer and most of all the sacraments which are physical means of bestowing supernatural grace upon us. Receiving the Eucharist When we cooperate with God’s grace (Acts 7:51,Mark 16:20, Romans 8:28, 2 Cor 6:1, 1 Cor 3:9) we receive more grace for our obedience to God and He having more grace means having less sin which means dying with less sin and being more sanctified as we are being justified through our cooperation with God.
Many people have the idea that sin is only missing the mark, like an archer who shoots the arrow and misses the bulls eye, however sin isn’t just that (although it is that too) it is much more. Sin isn’t just missing the mark, but a lack of something and that something is divine grace so that when we sin we lessen the grace we receive from God.
Think of the lives of the Saints, they cooperated with God’s will and receive great graces so that they could even withstand great amounts of suffering, and pain. All of the Apostles were martyred for their love of Jesus, save St. John who was still boiled in a pot of oil I’ve read. As we give up ourselves to Jesus we receive His favor and He gives us more grace which makes us sanctified. Those who give up their lives for the sake and love of Christ give up everything they can give and in that they are baptized in blood of martyrdom, complete as a pure offering of their lives to Jesus so that they are purified or completely sanctified on Earth and go straight to the beatific vision of God in heaven.

I go to Confession regularly, and try to lead a repentant life…but can any of ever be repentant enough?

Good. You are doing God’s will and remember God is on your side, He is there for you. I knew a very holy priest who used to be at my parrish who would always tell me to keep enduring, keep suffering for Jesus’ sake I really appreciated his advice because it was real, totally geniune. He realized that we all suffer, we all strive for the holiness with which we need to be with God, (Heb 12:14) and that priest didn’t gloss over the issues, he straight out said keep moving foward, keep striving for Jesus.

Isn’t Christ’s death on the cross, ultimately what gives us the opportunity to go to Heaven, and therefore, if we are repentant…is this seen as ‘enough’ in God’s eyes? I guess I’m a little fuzzy on this point.

Yes, Jesus’ death on the cross opened the way to heaven which was closed because of Adam and Eve’s sin. Repentance is a verb which means we must cooperate with God. God gives us the grace to do the good works. Read Mt 25:34-40 and see the works God wants us to do; that chapter is one which the Saints so closely followed.
Many people misunderstand what the intent was for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Jesus’ death on the cross was to REDEEM humanity not save all of mankind. If Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was to wipe away all sin, then that would mean for one, that all sin would cease and we know it didn’t, people kept on sinning they even sold Jesus’ garments after which was a sinful act. And it would mean that everyone who ever sinned would get a free ticket to heaven and would be saved (univeralism) which is wrong too because scripture is replete that hell is real and some will go there so that all won’t be saved.
Jesus’ sacrifice was enough to wipe away our sin, however how we apply that sacrifice to our lives depends on how sanctified we become; how sanctified we become in this life, depends on how much purification (if any) we will need when we enter eternity which fixes our fate forever. I hope I’ve helped.

 

[childofmary1143]

Heaven is the major leagues. when its your turn to play, if you’ve been staying in shape… you go right in.
If you’ve been eating twinkies and beer but still want to play, the coach will let you, but you need to work those extra pounds off before you get to play. you did it to yourself in the offseason, so now you have to sweat to get in shape.

hell, thats sitting on your couch for eternity, non-alcoholic beer in hand saying to yourself “that could have been me”

thats my take on it.

Excellent Post thechrismyster:thumbsup:

 

[whatevergirl]

Sure, sanctified means being made holy by God’s grace.
Main Entry: sanc·ti·fy
Function: transitive verb
Pronunciation: -"fī
Inflected Form(s): -fied ; -fy·ing
Etymology: Middle English *sanctifien, *from Middle French *sanctifier, *from Late Latin *sanctificare, *from Latin *sanctus *sacred – more at [**SAINT **](javascript:lookWord(‘saint’)
1 : to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : [**CONSECRATE **](javascript:lookWord(‘consecrate’)
2 : to free from sin : [**PURIFY **](javascript:lookWord(‘purify’)
We receive God’s grace through prayer and most of all the sacraments which are physical means of bestowing supernatural grace upon us. Receiving the Eucharist When we cooperate with God’s grace (Acts 7:51,Mark 16:20, Romans 8:28, 2 Cor 6:1, 1 Cor 3:9) we receive more grace for our obedience to God and He having more grace means having less sin which means dying with less sin and being more sanctified as we are being justified through our cooperation with God.
Many people have the idea that sin is only missing the mark, like an archer who shoots the arrow and misses the bulls eye, however sin isn’t just that (although it is that too) it is much more. Sin isn’t just missing the mark, but a lack of something and that something is divine grace so that when we sin we lessen the grace we receive from God.
Think of the lives of the Saints, they cooperated with God’s will and receive great graces so that they could even withstand great amounts of suffering, and pain. All of the Apostles were martyred for their love of Jesus, save St. John who was still boiled in a pot of oil I’ve read. As we give up ourselves to Jesus we receive His favor and He gives us more grace which makes us sanctified. Those who give up their lives for the sake and love of Christ give up everything they can give and in that they are baptized in blood of martyrdom, complete as a pure offering of their lives to Jesus so that they are purified or completely sanctified on Earth and go straight to the beatific vision of God in heaven.

Good. You are doing God’s will and remember God is on your side, He is there for you. I knew a very holy priest who used to be at my parrish who would always tell me to keep enduring, keep suffering for Jesus’ sake I really appreciated his advice because it was real, totally geniune. He realized that we all suffer, we all strive for the holiness with which we need to be with God, (Heb 12:14) and that priest didn’t gloss over the issues, he straight out said keep moving foward, keep striving for Jesus.

Yes, Jesus’ death on the cross opened the way to heaven which was closed because of Adam and Eve’s sin. Repentance is a verb which means we must cooperate with God. God gives us the grace to do the good works. Read Mt 25:34-40 and see the works God wants us to do; that chapter is one which the Saints so closely followed.
Many people misunderstand what the intent was for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Jesus’ death on the cross was to REDEEM humanity not save all of mankind. If Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was to wipe away all sin, then that would mean for one, that all sin would cease and we know it didn’t, people kept on sinning they even sold Jesus’ garments after which was a sinful act. And it would mean that everyone who ever sinned would get a free ticket to heaven and would be saved (univeralism) which is wrong too because scripture is replete that hell is real and some will go there so that all won’t be saved.
Jesus’ sacrifice was enough to wipe away our sin, however how we apply that sacrifice to our lives depends on how sanctified we become; how sanctified we become in this life, depends on how much purification (if any) we will need when we enter eternity which fixes our fate forever. I hope I’ve helped.

Sin lessens the graces we receive from God–that is a powerful statement…thank you for this information…bless you.

 

[whatevergirl]

Heaven is the major leagues. when its your turn to play, if you’ve been staying in shape… you go right in.
If you’ve been eating twinkies and beer but still want to play, the coach will let you, but you need to work those extra pounds off before you get to play. you did it to yourself in the offseason, so now you have to sweat to get in shape.

hell, thats sitting on your couch for eternity, non-alcoholic beer in hand saying to yourself “that could have been me”

thats my take on it.

ok–i understand this explanation the best. excellent analogy!!! I hope I can make it to the minors at least:blush:

 

[whatevergirl]

I am going to open up one more thread on this topic…as I would like to know for non Catholics who disbelieve in purgatory…does belief in it, mean that we will be the only ones to experience it? Or will God purify non Catholics in purgatory, as well? Stay tuned…I’m posting it now…most grateful if you also answer that. It’s a common question I also get from Protestants, who don’t wholly believe in it.

 

[So_Catholic]

I do pray for people in purgatory…and last night, I thought…I wonder when these souls will be released? And I also pray for my family and me…to not have to spend too long in purgatory. I have heard priests say…‘I’d be lucky to go to purgatory.’

the catholic church teaches that certain prays get you indulgences (kinda like time already served praying instead of burning)

priests dont know what there saying, many saints have said that they would be rather tortured in the worst ways man can come up with then spend 1 second in purgatory…scary thought…

 

[whatevergirl]

the catholic church teaches that certain prays get you indulgences (kinda like time already served praying instead of burning)

priests dont know what there saying, many saints have said that they would be rather tortured in the worst ways man can come up with then spend 1 second in purgatory…scary thought…

that is scary.