The deeper explanation of purgatory

[LoveMercyGrace]

Can a knowledgeable person here please explain, more deeply, about purgatory?

I was told …*.that those who are in

purgatory can only go to heaven when someone in our earthly realm prays for them. *

I replied …I thought God decides where we go and when…they replied, actually it is when

you/we decide.

I suppose the disturbing part for me is the belief that people in purgatory and their salvation

or when they join with our Lord is dependent upon a sinner here on earth praying for us

Thank you~

 

[DavidFilmer]

Souls in purgatory cannot pray for themselves. Therefore, our prayers are efficacious and welcomed.

But everyone in purgatory will go to heaven (with or without our prayers). Our prayers can aid them (just as we can pray for one another on earth, and we believe our prayers will aid them).

Our prayers benefit those in purgatory, just as they benefit those still on earth. But our prayers are not required, just as they are not required for those still on earth.

 

[mab23]

David Filmer made a good point on this

I would suggest reading the Catechism on purgatory

1030 All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.608
1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."609 From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.610 The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.611

 

[LoveMercyGrace]

Thank you both for your helpful responses. I am trying to see but still do not…

is the advancement of souls in purgatory entirely dependent upon our prayers?

I understand our prayers are helpful and we pray for one another, I just did not know

• or I guess this is a question- that our prayers , and not God’s will, is what moves

souls to be united with God.

Then…what about those who have no one to pray for them? or they would be included in

general prayers for those in purgatory? is reference to Job where this is in scriptures?

thank you!

 

[fred_conty]

Can a knowledgeable person here please explain, more deeply, about purgatory?

I was told …*.that those who are in

purgatory can only go to heaven when someone in our earthly realm prays for them. *

I replied …I thought God decides where we go and when…they replied, actually it is when

you/we decide.

I suppose the disturbing part for me is the belief that people in purgatory and their salvation

or when they join with our Lord is dependent upon a sinner here on earth praying for us

Thank you~

“I was told …that those who are in purgatory can only go to heaven when someone in our earthly realm prays for them.”

Reply: Purgatory is something like credit card debt. I has to be paid off by the person who created the debt or someone else. We on earth are able to pay that debt in various ways for ourselves, or for those in purgatory. If we don’t pay for it then the debt must be paid off in suffering in purgatory. When the debt is paid off, a person enters heaven. There is no chance for anyone in purgatory to go to hell, none.

“I replied …I thought God decides where we go and when…they replied, actually it is when
you/we decide.”

Reply: Yes, it is correct to say that God is the one who decides how much debt we owe based on our previous life on earth.

“I suppose the disturbing part for me is the belief that people in purgatory and their salvation
or when they join with our Lord is dependent upon a sinner here on earth praying for us.”

Reply: As explained above, either they or someone else must pay. If there is noone else to pay, then they must suffer in purgatory until the debt is fulfilled. The church’s common teaching is that everyone in purgatory will be free from purgatory at the end of the world.

---

“We are parts of the body of Christ, needing each other, each of the gifts the Spirit provides.”
(hymn) The highest gift of the Holy Spirit is charity which includes praying for those in purgatory.

 

[MarcoPolo]

I was told …

In addition to what others said, anytime someone claims to tell you a Catholic teaching about which you are unsure, just ask them, “Oh, do you know which paragraph in the Catechism that teaching is?” If they can’t produce it, or some document from the Church like a papal encyclical or council document, then they may well not have cause for their claim.

 

[LoveMercyGrace]

:

In addition to what others said, anytime someone claims to tell you a Catholic teaching about which you are unsure, just ask them, “Oh, do you know which paragraph in the Catechism that teaching is?” If they can’t produce it, or some document from the Church like a papal encyclical or council document, then they may well not have cause for their claim.

 

[Zekariya]

We ask the saints to pray for us. We pray for the souls in purgatory. Only those who die in a state of grace are in purgatory.

When you commit a sin after baptism, there is a temporal punishment you must pay.

An example: A lapsed Catholic murders a man. His temporal punishment is life in prison. He confesses the sin (with true repentance) and is absolved. He still must pay the temporal punishment either in prison for life or in purgatory.

We can offer our penance, sufferings, prayers, and indulgences on behalf of our sins or others’ sins to lessen purgatory.

An indulgence pays for our temporal punishments that we earn from sin that we commit. When we die, if we have not paid for all of our temporal punishments, we will pay for them in purgatory.

A partial indulgence remits part of our temporal punishment. A plenary indulgence remits all of our temporal punishment we have earned up to that point.

Note: Baptism remits all sins and temporal punishment. Confession remits only sins.

We can gain indulgences for the poor souls in purgatory and pray for them.

 

[cheezey]

In addition to what others said, anytime someone claims to tell you a Catholic teaching about which you are unsure, just ask them, “Oh, do you know which paragraph in the Catechism that teaching is?” If they can’t produce it, or some document from the Church like a papal encyclical or council document, then they may well not have cause for their claim.

but I gotta tell ya; it would take me a while.
"I know it’s in here somwhere…!!