Purgatory

[SuperLuigi]

What is poor priest going to say? Auntie Mame hopefully has escaped Hell and is most likely suffering the worst punishments of Purgatory and we hope she made it that far so she may eventually get to Heaven. No, for the sake of the relatives he says what we all hope in the promises of Christ.

One priest I know gave a simple and gentle “I don’t know if she/he’s in heaven”.

I was at Protestant funeral once where the father fo the deceased was a celebrating minister. He said “now, I don’t know if her Bible got read or if got pushed under the bed at college…”

That kind of honesty should be okay and acceptable.

It doesn’t have to be one extreme or the other. :nope:

 

[snowwolf0111]

Based on what I’ve heard, it sounds like it’s quite a challenge to avoid purgatory altogether and I would not take that lightly.

oh I do definitely not take it lightly. I know its not easy to be pure and go to heaven as the bible says. I only say that you can skip/avoid purgatory when you follow the Lord’s word when your eathly life is going on by praying, going to church and being a good Samaritan among other things…

 

[keithwoodcc]

Am I the only one who actually WELCOMES purgatory? It was a breath of fresh air for me to learn in RCIA that I will have the opportunity to sort of burn the less savoury parts of my past before I stand before that awful throne. (Yes, I was aware of the teaching long before that, but it was explained so beautifully in RCIA as being a kind penitential pilgrimage.)
Maybe related to this is my discomfort with being told to say one Hail Mary as penance after Confession - I feel that I have this need to show my contrition a little more robustly than that.

 

[Gorgias]

Maybe related to this is my discomfort with being told to say one Hail Mary as penance after Confession - I feel that I have this need to show my contrition a little more robustly than that.

You realize, of course, that the penance imposed on you at Reconciliation isn’t saying, “this is the only penance you are allowed do”; rather, it’s simply saying, “this is the only penance which I impose on you”. You can do additional acts of penance, you know…

 

[HelenRose]

What is poor priest going to say? Auntie Mame hopefully has escaped Hell and is most likely suffering the worst punishments of Purgatory and we hope she made it that far so she may eventually get to Heaven. No, for the sake of the relatives he says what we all hope in the promises of Christ.

Well, yes of course. When people are grieving for the loss of a loved one, it isn’t very good time to discuss Church Doctrine on purgatory.

I simply can’t understand the lack of understanding in some people of how painful it is to lose someone and how much we all need comfort at that time.

:banghead:

 

[keithwoodcc]

I simply can’t understand the lack of understanding in some people of how painful it is to lose someone and how much we all need comfort at that time.

:banghead:

Forgive me if have in any way sounded insensitive. As someone who has lost a son, I do understand.
I merely requested some guidance.
Also, I cannot see how falsehoods can truly comfort. To me there is nothing scary about Purgatory. As was explained to me in RCIA this a pilgrimage to be welcomed. In Purgatory you KNOW that God has accepted you! You are taking that final walk towards His Throne. To me that is of greater comfort than some greeting card superficiality.
But, yes, HelenRose, your point is well taken.