Thanks for the great responses. I admit I am one who has struggled with the whole concept of purgatory. This has helped me better understand the concept. I was always under the impression that since Jesus told the thief on the cross “this day you will be with me in paradise” that there was no purgatory. The idea that purgatory could be instantaneous might make that possible. Anyway, thanks for all the great responses.
St Peter tells us that Jesus went to preach to the spirits in prison after He had died and before He was resurrected. Paradise shouldn’t be assumed to mean Heaven. It meant Abraham’s bosom, or purgatory.
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