Why do catholics believe in purgatory?

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I get purgatory as in the Old Testament, but I don’t quite understand how it applies to Christians today. It seems to me that the New Testament would void purgatory through the new covenant. In the old testiment being saved was very complex. You had to do many things like making certain sacrifices to be forgive. So I can understand where purgatory would come into play. But know that we have Christ being saved is very simple. Believe in Christ, get baptized, and repent of your sins and you will be saved. If you don’t you go to hell. So I just don’t see where purgatory comes into play, or what use we would have of it today since we have Christ. I’m considering converting to Catholicism so any information you could provide to help me understand this doctrine would be much apresiated.
 
Let me ask you this: Do you think you’re ready to see God face to face?

I know I’m not, and that’s why I need purgatory. It would cleanse me of anything holding me back from fully worshiping God for all eternity
 
Venite_Adoremus said:
Let me ask you this: Do you think you’re ready to see God face to face?

I know I’m not, and that’s why I need purgatory. It would cleanse me of anything holding me back from fully worshiping God for all eternity
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Why is purgatory not mentioned in the new testiment? Purgatory makes some sence but what refrences is it based off of besides 2 Maccabees 12:45.
 
What the Church teaches about purgatory is that it is the place or process where a saved person becomes perfect before entering heaven. The Scripture used to explain this doctrine is 1st Corinthians 3:15. It describes the deceased faithful being purged of their sins by fire.
 
Cak7711 said:
Why is purgatory not mentioned in the new testiment? Purgatory makes some sence but what refrences is it based off of besides 2 Maccabees 12:45.
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Purgatory means to purge…or to cleanse. You will not see the actual word…but you will get the sense of cleansing:

2 Cor 7:1
7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.

James 4:8
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Here is an extensive explanation of Purgatory:

catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0091.html
 
Allegra said:
What the Church teaches about purgatory is that it is the place or process where a saved person becomes perfect before entering heaven. The Scripture used to explain this doctrine is 1st Corinthians 3:15. It describes the deceased faithful being purged of their sins by fire.
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Thanks for the versus, they helped a lot. I think you answered my question, thanks.
 
Catholics believe in purgatory because God has revealed to the Church that it exists.
 
Cak7711 said:
Why is purgatory not mentioned in the new testiment? Purgatory makes some sence but what refrences is it based off of besides 2 Maccabees 12:45.
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Christianity is bigger than the Bible, not all the teachings of Christ are found explicitly in the Scriptures.
 
Matthew 5:26. “Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” We know that no last penny needs to be paid in Heaven and from Hell there is no liberation at all. Therefore, the reference must apply to a third place.
 
In Matthew 5:26 and Luke 12:59 Christ is condemning sin and speaks of liberation only after expiation. “Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Now we know that no last penny needs to be paid in Heaven and from Hell there is no liberation at all; hence the reference must apply to a third place.

Matthew 12:32 says, “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Here Jesus speaks of sin against the Holy Spirit. The implication is that some sins can be forgiven in the world to come. We know that in Hell there is no liberation and in Heaven nothing imperfect can enter it as we see in the next part. Sin is not forgiven when a soul reaches its final destination because in heaven there is no need for forgiveness of sin and in hell the choice to go there is already made.

Revelation 21:27: “…but nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who does abominable things or tells lies.” The place that is to be entered (the place to which this passage refers) is heaven (read the text around it for context).

The Bible clearly implies a place for an intermediate state of purification after we die in the many passages which tell that God will reward or punish according to a person’s life.
 
Cak7711 said:
I get purgatory as in the Old Testament, but I don’t quite understand how it applies to Christians today. It seems to me that the New Testament would void purgatory through the new covenant. In the old testiment being saved was very complex. You had to do many things like making certain sacrifices to be forgive. So I can understand where purgatory would come into play. But know that we have Christ being saved is very simple. Believe in Christ, get baptized, and repent of your sins and you will be saved. If you don’t you go to hell. So I just don’t see where purgatory comes into play, or what use we would have of it today since we have Christ. I’m considering converting to Catholicism so any information you could provide to help me understand this doctrine would be much apresiated.
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Not exactly a response to your question, but in the OT (Hebrew Bible) being saved was NOT very complex. The animal sacrifices were meant almost exclusively for non-intentional sins, while seeking forgiveness from G-d and Man were the requirements for intentional sins. Salvation was not even really an issue for Ancient (or Modern) Judaism. Loving G-d and one’s fellow creature (human and animal) by means of the guidance of the Law were and are the key. Purgatory is a continuation of the improvement of human beings, which should originate by studying and practicing the Law in this life on earth. After death, one can no longer be guided by the teachings of Torah and so Purgatory becomes the means of purification.
 
I am Catholic an I do not get it either, just seems like another hoop to jump through because we can never be good enough, which is true, yet some how we are deemed worthy to receive Christ in the Eucharist if we are at first in communion with the Church through the sacrament of Reconciliation, yet even though Christ died for our sins an for us on the Cross thus bridging the gap and destroying death an sin, ( though I cant seem to figure out if it was just sin in general that was destroyed or original sin or perhaps neither ) still not enough , so thus we have Reconciliation, which I am not knocking it is a needed sacrament.

BUT, seems there is always a " but " in Catholicism even with what Christ has done for our salvation and even though we have the sacrament of reconciliation, and even though some how we are worthy enough in human form to receive Christ in the Eucharist, we get, woops hold on a second, now you get to go to purgatory.

so evidently it seems for those who some how manage perfection here on earth get to automatically go to heaven once they die, but for the rest of us we have purgatory.

so it isn’t as I was taught growing up, be a faithful catholic, be everything you can be that is good for God, repent an accept Christ, and you will go to heaven, nope now there is the hurdle of purgatory.

I for one do not believe in purgatory taking a few snippets out of scripture to thus spin it into a concept for another step to take before heaven seems a bit odd, especially considering Christ never said , repent , believe in me an ye shall go to purgatory.
 
MichaelHowling said:
In Matthew 5:26 and Luke 12:59 Christ is condemning sin and speaks of liberation only after expiation. “Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Now we know that no last penny needs to be paid in Heaven and from Hell there is no liberation at all; hence the reference must apply to a third place.

Matthew 12:32 says, “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Here Jesus speaks of sin against the Holy Spirit. The implication is that some sins can be forgiven in the world to come. We know that in Hell there is no liberation and in Heaven nothing imperfect can enter it as we see in the next part. Sin is not forgiven when a soul reaches its final destination because in heaven there is no need for forgiveness of sin and in hell the choice to go there is already made.

Revelation 21:27: “…but nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who does abominable things or tells lies.” The place that is to be entered (the place to which this passage refers) is heaven (read the text around it for context).

The Bible clearly implies a place for an intermediate state of purification after we die in the many passages which tell that God will reward or punish according to a person’s life.
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all of this is a matter of interpretation , or perception, paying the last penny does not necessarily mean a third place to go to. an thusly no one seems to be able answer why the Son of God can forgive ones sins but the Holy Spirit cant ? that seems to be an oxymoron right there. Either sins are forgiven or they are not, how can one part of the same body say He does not forgive what has been forgiven ?

If this state we are in now, is not meant for purification, then why are we even wasting our time now trying ? Why not just do what ever you want, repent at the last minute because that is another loophole as well, which one should not be snide or jealous of but rejoice, an know that the next step is purgatory.

I prefer the black an white answers, the yes or no.

If what I do no on earth is of no good to be worthy in any sense of the term to enter into heaven, then I see no point in suffering at any degree for any amount of time in the next life. an thus anything of value that I have done that was considered good by God mine as well be for nothing considering I cant reach perfection here an now.
 
Cak7711 said:
Why is purgatory not mentioned in the new testiment? Purgatory makes some sence but what refrences is it based off of besides 2 Maccabees 12:45.
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According to Ott:

II Mac. 12:42-46—The Jews prayed for their fallen on whom had been found donaries of the idols, that their sins might be forgiven them. Then they sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered in expiation.

Mt. 12:32—Our Lord’s words”…he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in the world to come” leaves open the possibility that sins are forgiven not only in this world but in the world to come.

I Cor 3:12-15 has already been mentioned by another poster.

Matt 5:26—“Amen, I say to you, thou shalt not go out from thence (from prison) till thou repay the last farthing”. This has been understood to allude to a time-limited punishment in the other world.

Many Early Church Fathers have taught on these precepts and demonstrated a continual tradition of the living Church. It is important to remember that as a Catholic, we understand the Church to be a visible, living tradition; the Sacred Scripture as a written tradition of that Church. We don’t cannot claim that all step-by-step instruction for the tenets of faith are clearly outlined within the texts of Sacred Scripture. The writings of the Church Fathers in the early centuries of the Church are invaluable to us to expound upon or sometimes clarify some of the more difficult passages and teachings.

Early Church Fathers such as Tertullian, St. Cyprian, Gregory the Great, and Augustine have testified to the above passages and the faith of the Church, regarding the efficacy of prayers for the dead. These traditional testimonies, along with Sacred Scripture, demonstrate why this tenet of the Catholic faith exists. I hope this is helpful. God bless.
 
Purgatory is actually starting to make sence to me now. For lack of a better term, it is like taking a shower before going into heaven. It isn’t a place but a concept were your soul is purified from all sin and the desire to sin so you can stand before God. Someone tell me if I am close.
 
Cak7711 said:
Purgatory is actually starting to make sence to me now. For lack of a better term, it is like taking a shower before going into heaven. It isn’t a place but a concept were your soul is purified from all sin and the desire to sin so you can stand before God. Someone tell me if I am close.
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sure as long as you agree with people on the forum they will in turn agree with you to a degree.
 
I think:

It’s coming face to face with the love of your life and soul. ALL truth, all good…and it peers right through you and you are aware of your weaknesses, your faults, your failings in this gaze between you and God…and the realization of how much he provided for you, loved you, and what hopes he had in you. I think purgatory is the first (the first in an eternity of them…which is why I bet we NEVER sin after death because we don’t want to at that point)…purgatory is the first moment of realization of all of this!

And it’s going to be painful and purifying…But a joyful moment in that pain and purifying moment.
 
john78 said:
all of this is a matter of interpretation , or perception, paying the last penny does not necessarily mean a third place to go to. an thusly no one seems to be able answer why the Son of God can forgive ones sins but the Holy Spirit cant ? that seems to be an oxymoron right there. Either sins are forgiven or they are not, how can one part of the same body say He does not forgive what has been forgiven ?

If this state we are in now, is not meant for purification, then why are we even wasting our time now trying ? Why not just do what ever you want, repent at the last minute because that is another loophole as well, which one should not be snide or jealous of but rejoice, an know that the next step is purgatory.

I prefer the black an white answers, the yes or no.

If what I do no on earth is of no good to be worthy in any sense of the term to enter into heaven, then I see no point in suffering at any degree for any amount of time in the next life. an thus anything of value that I have done that was considered good by God mine as well be for nothing considering I cant reach perfection here an now.
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I think Crist ment that sin against him where the obvious ones like murder; basically disobeying God. While sins against the Holy Spirit are things you know are wrong but still do, intentionally or not. The Holy Spirit can’t forgive you because you can’t forgive your self. Kind of like the difference between a crime and a tort. Also you could sin through out your life and repent at the last moment as long as you truly want to be forgiven. You can’t repent just so you don’t get into trouble, but so you can be forgiven by God.
 
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