H
heisenburg
Guest
While ‘time frames’ are used… this is simply a wording tool to help us understand that pieces are effected… However, there is no church teaching on how long it may last… It may be instant, it may not… I tend to believe it will be instant…
Because what if it isn’t instantaneous… As exampled by the faith and prayer of the Soldier healing his servant, my prayers can and do affect the state of someone else… so, if I am in the state of purgatory, i would hope someone would pray that it would be moved along more swiftly
Keep in mind something… If someone is in the state of purgatory, they are guaranteed to be in heaven… it is IMPOSSIBLE to be in the state of being forgiven, yet go to hell… So… it is not so much that they are saying they are avoiding Purgatory, though they may very well… it is more a statement that they are based on the evidence either there, or already there…
Again… this is simply saying that this person WILL be in heaven… If someone is in purgatory, no mater how ‘long’ they are effectively in heaven…
With respect to meritorious works… Just like doing what is wrong offends god… he is pleased when we do what is right… our doing what is right doesn’t save us, but those good works still please s god… tell me what better reward can you have than to please the lord… a merit…
But does it save you? nope…
Hope that helps
In Christ