Purgatory

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Fragile

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How does the Church reconcile Purgatory w/Hebrews 10:14, and couldn’t the passage in Matthew on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit be an emphasis that one has no forgiveness, since such a one is guilty of an eternal sin, rather than eluding to Purgatory?
 
Fragile said:
How does the Church reconcile Purgatory w/Hebrews 10:14, and couldn’t the passage in Matthew on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit be an emphasis that one has no forgiveness, since such a one is guilty of an eternal sin, rather than eluding to Purgatory?
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May I respectfully suggest…that next time you post a bible passage…that you include it…not everyone is familiar with Heb 10:14…but here it is…14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

It seems you have a misunderstanding or misconception of purgatory. Purgatory is a place/time/state of purgation prior to entering heaven…for as Rev says…no unclean can enter heaven.

Here is what purgatory is…catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0091.html

But first of all, a definition. I take this now from the New Catholic Encyclopedia: “Purgatory is the state, place or condition in the next world which will continue until the Last Judgment, where the souls of those who die in a state of grace, but not yet free from all imperfection, make expiation, that is, restitution for unforgiven venial sins and mortal sins that have already been forgiven, and by doing so, are purified before they enter heaven.”

Those people who in God’s grace and mercy are allowed to enter into purgatory die in a state of grace, not just with supernatural faith and hope but with supernatural charity that was alive in their hearts and lives. That is the prerequisite for entering purgatory. You cannot die in the state of mortal sin; you cannot die estranged from God, in a way hostile to God, having committed yourself to valuing things of the world more than the creator of the world. You cannot do those things and enter purgatory, much less heaven. Purgatory is not a second chance. It’s only for those whom God has from all eternity destined for heaven, and it’s only for those who die in a state of grace.
 
I have never understood Purgatory to be a second chance, but rather contrary to that passage in Hebrews, and others, that Christ has already made perfect by His sacrifice those who are being made holy. Why would any perfecting need be done to those He has already made perfect, unless Purgatory is another part of the process for “those being made holy”…?
 
pablope said:
May I respectfully suggest…that next time you post a bible passage…that you include it…not everyone is familiar with Heb 10:14…
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…may I respectfully suggest…that they look it up! 😃
 
If you try to take that passage as the literal suggestion that you are giving, then there also would be no reason for anyone who has been saved by Christ to change at all. They would be perfect how they are… but we as Catholics believe that it’s a lifelong process, in which we continually are made perfect. Yes, through Christ’s one act… that is applied throughout our eternity. We are indeed made perfect… but we are being changed into that perfection, all through Christ.

If I am painting a painting, when it is finished people will say “He painted that.” Now if someone stops halfway through, are they correct to say I am not the one who painted it because it’s not finished yet?
 
Fragile said:
I have never understood Purgatory to be a second chance, but rather contrary to that passage in Hebrews, and others, that Christ has already made perfect by His sacrifice those who are being made holy. Why would any perfecting need be done to those He has already made perfect, unless Purgatory is another part of the process for “those being made holy”…?
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Seeing purgatory as a second chance is a misunderstanding indeed.

The end of the passage indicates a process…“who are being made holy.”…in this life and if not enough…to complete the process at purgatory.

Jesus does not make us perfect…we make ourselves…to try…to be perfect…we are not to judge whether we are perfect or not…it is God who makes that judgement.
 
Fragile said:
How does the Church reconcile Purgatory w/Hebrews 10:14, and couldn’t the passage in Matthew on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit be an emphasis that one has no forgiveness, since such a one is guilty of an eternal sin, rather than eluding to Purgatory?
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How do you reconcile yourself to that verse? Are you perfect?
 
No I’m not, but neither can I nor anyone make themselves perfect.
 
Fragile said:
No I’m not, but neither can I nor anyone make themselves perfect.
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Nor am i perfect, but to your use of that verse you need not purgatory because you are already perfect.
Knowing that you are not perfect how do you reconcile yourself to that verse?
 
Well, now we’re back to the doctrine of “imputed righteousness.”
 
Fragile said:
How does the Church reconcile Purgatory w/Hebrews 10:14…
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Purgatory and Hebrews 10:14 are reconciled by understanding Purgatory as a partial participation in Jesus Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice for sins, similar to the way that Baptism is a full participation and Confession and the Eucharist are partial participations in Christ’s sacrifice.
…, and couldn’t the passage in Matthew on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit be an emphasis that one has no forgiveness, since such a one is guilty of an eternal sin, rather than eluding to Purgatory?
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Of course, it could merely be that Jesus Christ was employing a rhetorical device to emphasis that one who blasphemes the Holy Spirit has no forgiveness. However, if Jesus Christ was speaking plainly, then His words certainly suggest there are at least three classes of sins: 1. sins that can be forgiven in this world; 2. sins that can be forgiven in the next world; and 3. the sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that will not be forgiven in this world nor in the next.
 
I prefer purgative contemplation. Not much fun, but the rewards are out of this world! You get to taste the kingdom while still here on earth, by getting a good chunk of the purgation you need done! Ref. St. John of the Cross

:dancing:
 
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