Teaching Purgatory to adults - How

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I am wondering how to teach Purgatory to adults. My way so far doesn’t seem to be that effective. I teach all adults. I saw an ad for a DVD titled “Purgatory: The forgotten Church”. I do not know the quality of the DVD. So I am reluctant to spend any of our parish’s money on it. A wasted penny is too much.

As a catechist, I must both catechize and evangelize my Confirmation candidates. When I started teaching this class seven years ago, there were no materials for adults. Oh how I long for a student’s book and a teacher’s manual even though Symbolon exists.

Lastly, is there an adult catechists forum in which we can exchange lesson plans and give alerts to materials like online DVDs?

atassina
Tue Mar 15 2016
 
atassina said:
I am wondering how to teach Purgatory to adults. My way so far doesn’t seem to be that effective. I teach all adults. I saw an ad for a DVD titled “Purgatory: The forgotten Church”. I do not know the quality of the DVD. So I am reluctant to spend any of our parish’s money on it. A wasted penny is too much.

As a catechist, I must both catechize and evangelize my Confirmation candidates. When I started teaching this class seven years ago, there were no materials for adults. Oh how I long for a student’s book and a teacher’s manual even though Symbolon exists.

Lastly, is there an adult catechists forum in which we can exchange lesson plans and give alerts to materials like online DVDs?

atassina
Tue Mar 15 2016
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What have you tried so far that you feel has been ineffective?
 
atassina said:
I am wondering how to teach Purgatory to adults. My way so far doesn’t seem to be that effective. I teach all adults. I saw an ad for a DVD titled “Purgatory: The forgotten Church”. I do not know the quality of the DVD. So I am reluctant to spend any of our parish’s money on it. A wasted penny is too much.

As a catechist, I must both catechize and evangelize my Confirmation candidates. When I started teaching this class seven years ago, there were no materials for adults. Oh how I long for a student’s book and a teacher’s manual even though Symbolon exists.

Lastly, is there an adult catechists forum in which we can exchange lesson plans and give alerts to materials like online DVDs?

atassina
Tue Mar 15 2016
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God bless you for your work. I only have a laywoman’s take on it. Purgatory… yes, thank God, it’s real…
 
Hello, for starters, I would recommend the following booklet:

lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/purgatory-a-mystery-of-love-booklet?promoCode=104130

Also, I suggest simply copy and pasting what the Catechism says about Purgatory.

Finally, emphasis that Purgatory is really God’s Mercy. Many of us die in friendship with God, but not worthy of Heaven. Purgatory is the process God uses to cleanse us and burn away our sins so that we may be worthy to enter Heaven.

When speaking with my Protestant brother-in-law, I mentioned to him that some people “think” purgatory is a form a suffering because of Dante’s work. And it’s true that some people might “suffer” there, but that “suffering” would really be because they will realize just how much God loves us and they will realized how little they returned that love. The realization of God’s love may make some regret the sins they made, etc; but they will be still be saved.

I think the biggest hang up for Protestants are: (1) they think we believe in a second judgement after Purgatory (which we do not), and (2) they think that Purgatory is punishment, which it is not. Besides Jesus giving Himself on the Cross, Purgatory is God’s greatest Mercy to us… allowing the friends of God, who are unworthy, access to Heaven.

God Bless
 
It’s not really a study course but might have some valuable information for you.

I really liked Tim Staples MP3 on Purgatory. For $15, cheap for 5 hours of information, I think it would be worth your time and give you some valuable information to share.

shop.catholic.com/catholic-digital-media/audio/god-s-perfect-plan-purgatory-and-indulgences-explained-set.html

It is broken down into 5 different talks, which you might be able to take the information and turn it into 5 lessons for your class.
 
atassina said:
I am wondering how to teach Purgatory to adults. My way so far doesn’t seem to be that effective. I teach all adults. I saw an ad for a DVD titled “Purgatory: The forgotten Church”. I do not know the quality of the DVD. So I am reluctant to spend any of our parish’s money on it. A wasted penny is too much.

As a catechist, I must both catechize and evangelize my Confirmation candidates. When I started teaching this class seven years ago, there were no materials for adults. Oh how I long for a student’s book and a teacher’s manual even though Symbolon exists.

Lastly, is there an adult catechists forum in which we can exchange lesson plans and give alerts to materials like online DVDs?

atassina
Tue Mar 15 2016
Click to expand...
This link may help

mysticsofthechurch.com/2014/02/the-holy-souls-of-purgatory.html?m=1
 
**ProdigalArchitect: What have you tried so far that you feel has been ineffective?
**

Please remember I teach adults. Professionals: Store managers, Psychologists, Moms & Dads (the two highest), Scientists, Department managers, students etc.

This is the lesson I teach.
Everyone is free to use this story without attribution.

“Which of you would like to be in an enormous glass cube with your spouse/betrothed, children and other loved ones on the other side? All reply no. Would you be physically hurt? All reply no. Would you be full of inner pain like fire? Yes, yes. What if you were in the cube because of your personal defects in your love for them? Various answers. That is what Purgatory is like.” I explain further that Jesus is the source of all love they have.

Let’s go to
Revelation chapter 21 verse 27 [Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)]

27 But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

I refer back to this short teaching throughout the reminder of the class.

I am loathe to give them more handouts. The same with emails. Too much reading. Too many handouts means stuff deleted or in the trash can.

Family obligations upcoming marriages, work and family issues: my sister had no one to take care of her son and she had to go to work, I’m establishing a career, a new life, a new baby and so forth.

I need to teach and not rely on videos that are structured for two hour lessons. I need to both evangelize my candidates and catechize them. Constant bureaucratic issues I joyfully spend several hours a week preparing and following up before and after.

So, what do you suggest?

atassina
 
Thanks to all who have include links or references to materials. I am grateful.

atassina
 
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