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Question on purgtory for Catholics
10/18/2011 1:24:50 PM
Purgatory Question:
I am a Catholic and believe in purgatory. Growing up I was taught to pray for the souls in purgatory and I very often did. However, in the past couple years I have started to question if whether I need to. My understanding is, If someone dies and they are in purgatory they can no longer go to hell, their soul is simply being cleansed before entering the gates of heaven. Am I off basis to think that my prayers are not accomplishing anything? They have already been accepted in heaven, there is not time in the afterlife so they can't get to heaven sooner.
I would like to hear answers from Catholics regarding my question and not from those who disagree on the subject of purgatory.
I am a Catholic and believe in purgatory. Growing up I was taught to pray for the souls in purgatory and I very often did. However, in the past couple years I have started to question if whether I need to. My understanding is, If someone dies and they are in purgatory they can no longer go to hell, their soul is simply being cleansed before entering the gates of heaven. Am I off basis to think that my prayers are not accomplishing anything? They have already been accepted in heaven, there is not time in the afterlife so they can't get to heaven sooner.
I would like to hear answers from Catholics regarding my question and not from those who disagree on the subject of purgatory.
10/18/2011 1:30:28 PM
Oh boy... this might get interesting. Maybe think of it as an addict going through withdrawals? You might know it won't kill them, but you still have pity and concern for them. The whole concept is so abstract, I doubt any two people view it the same way. It's a fascinating theological concept, really.
10/18/2011 1:35:38 PM
My question is where in the bible, especially in the new testament, does it mention that there is a purgatory?
10/18/2011 1:48:14 PM
Originally Posted By mkboog:
My question is where in the bible, especially in the new testament, does it mention that there is a purgatory?
My question is where in the bible, especially in the new testament, does it mention that there is a purgatory?
My question is where in this thread did anyone solicit your opinion? Purgatory is a theological concept based on the realization that A) humans have a sinful nature and B) Heaven is a sinless place of perfection. Getting from A to B, really.
10/18/2011 2:46:52 PM
Originally Posted By jtl0101:
Purgatory Question:
I am a Catholic and believe in purgatory. Growing up I was taught to pray for the souls in purgatory and I very often did. However, in the past couple years I have started to question if whether I need to. My understanding is, If someone dies and they are in purgatory they can no longer go to hell, their soul is simply being cleansed before entering the gates of heaven. Am I off basis to think that my prayers are not accomplishing anything? They have already been accepted in heaven, there is not time in the afterlife so they can't get to heaven sooner.
I would like to hear answers from Catholics regarding my question and not from those who disagree on the subject of purgatory.
Purgatory Question:
I am a Catholic and believe in purgatory. Growing up I was taught to pray for the souls in purgatory and I very often did. However, in the past couple years I have started to question if whether I need to. My understanding is, If someone dies and they are in purgatory they can no longer go to hell, their soul is simply being cleansed before entering the gates of heaven. Am I off basis to think that my prayers are not accomplishing anything? They have already been accepted in heaven, there is not time in the afterlife so they can't get to heaven sooner.
I would like to hear answers from Catholics regarding my question and not from those who disagree on the subject of purgatory.
We don't know how things work outside of time, so it is presumptuous to think that since those in Purgatory can't get to heaven "sooner" there is no benefit to praying for them. Perhaps it is a matter of intensity rather than duration? Perhaps it is a perception of "time" for the soul instead of an actual passage of time. We just don't know. But the Church teaches (on behalf of Jesus Christ, of course) that our prayers are beneficial to them, so we should pray for them.
10/18/2011 5:17:05 PM
Originally Posted By Bohr_Adam:
My question is where in this thread did anyone solicit your opinion? Purgatory is a theological concept based on the realization that A) humans have a sinful nature and B) Heaven is a sinless place of perfection. Getting from A to B, really.
Originally Posted By mkboog:
My question is where in the bible, especially in the new testament, does it mention that there is a purgatory?
My question is where in the bible, especially in the new testament, does it mention that there is a purgatory?
My question is where in this thread did anyone solicit your opinion? Purgatory is a theological concept based on the realization that A) humans have a sinful nature and B) Heaven is a sinless place of perfection. Getting from A to B, really.
An analogy one of my priests uses:
Junior asks for a glass of juice and Mom says she'll get it in a minute. Junior doesn't want ot wait so he goes to get the juice himself and spills it all over the floor. Mom gets upset, Junior apologizes and is forgiven. Is the story over? Of course not...the juice stil has to be cleaned up. Just because you are forgiven does not mean you don't have a punishment to bear.
To amswer the OP's question simply....if nothing else it couldn't hurt, right? It also might fall under the "get as you give" school of thought - we ask for intercessory prayers so we should probably pay it forward and prayers for the souls in Prugatory are a fine way to do just that.
10/18/2011 5:22:35 PM
Originally Posted By mkboog:
My question is where in the bible, especially in the new testament, does it mention that there is a purgatory?
My question is where in the bible, especially in the new testament, does it mention that there is a purgatory?
If your intent here is to question or criticize the Catholic faith this is not the thread to do so.
10/18/2011 6:05:40 PM
Originally Posted By flcroc:
An analogy one of my priests uses:
Junior asks for a glass of juice and Mom says she'll get it in a minute. Junior doesn't want ot wait so he goes to get the juice himself and spills it all over the floor. Mom gets upset, Junior apologizes and is forgiven. Is the story over? Of course not...the juice stil has to be cleaned up. Just because you are forgiven does not mean you don't have a punishment to bear.
An analogy one of my priests uses:
Junior asks for a glass of juice and Mom says she'll get it in a minute. Junior doesn't want ot wait so he goes to get the juice himself and spills it all over the floor. Mom gets upset, Junior apologizes and is forgiven. Is the story over? Of course not...the juice stil has to be cleaned up. Just because you are forgiven does not mean you don't have a punishment to bear.
I like that.
10/18/2011 10:09:34 PM
Thanks for the input guys. I still don't feel like it is clear, but I understand what several of you are saying. This is one of a few topics that it might take awhile to get cleared up. My wife, who is not Catholic (Lutheran - Missouri synod), and me disagree on a few things and this is one of them so that is where the question came from. I really respect the input from many of you that posted here, so thanks again.
10/18/2011 10:42:39 PM
Start another thread if you want to ask questions about or debate whether there is a Purgatory. -Aimless
10/19/2011 8:24:39 AM
Originally Posted By mkboog:
With all due respect, I am not trying to criticize anyone I simply asked a question. Last I checked, this was in the religion forum and that was the point. I have not come across anything specifically mentioning a purgatory, so I was curious as to what references there were about it. I am a Christian so I have no desire to argue against it. If you checked I have defended the bible many times in past threads.
Both you Aimless and bohr_adam need to relax. It was an honest question. If you choose to ban me for asking one then go right ahead.
Originally Posted By Aimless:
If your intent here is to question or criticize the Catholic faith this is not the thread to do so.
Originally Posted By mkboog:
My question is where in the bible, especially in the new testament, does it mention that there is a purgatory?
My question is where in the bible, especially in the new testament, does it mention that there is a purgatory?
If your intent here is to question or criticize the Catholic faith this is not the thread to do so.
With all due respect, I am not trying to criticize anyone I simply asked a question. Last I checked, this was in the religion forum and that was the point. I have not come across anything specifically mentioning a purgatory, so I was curious as to what references there were about it. I am a Christian so I have no desire to argue against it. If you checked I have defended the bible many times in past threads.
Both you Aimless and bohr_adam need to relax. It was an honest question. If you choose to ban me for asking one then go right ahead.
This topic was brought up not to divide and start debate about whether purgatory exists, but to get input from other Catholics. The original post made that very clear. I am not going to give into you and would ask the others to not reply in this thread either, but I will say that a quick internet search and 5 minutes of reading will give you a good basis of why Catholics believe there is a purification phase (which the church has called purgatory) before entering heaven. If you are truly interested you will follow through, if not you were trying to divide. By the way, a cleansing phase is supported in the bible as your reading will show you.
10/19/2011 9:28:33 AM
mkboog, if you are serious in your inquiry, I am more than happy to answer your question, especially since it may be helpful for the OP as well. You'll have to excuse us if we are a bit jumpy at answering questions when phrased as you did. Without having a spoken tone to go off, it can come across as a rhetorical question meant to imply that there is no basis in scripture for the doctrine of Purgatory. We've been down that road too many times to count.
To answer your question, the first thing we need to do is explain what Purgatory is and what it is not.
Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say:
So, Purgatory is a state of the saved soul in which it is purified prior to entering Heaven. It may be instantaneous, last "years" (again, outside of time so we don't know exactly how this works), or not be needed at all if the person has lead a holy life and is fully detached from their sins. This purification does not take away from the redemptive act of Jesus' death on the cross, but rather a manifestation of it. It is not a "second chance" at Heaven. It is not "working your way into" Heaven.
The other thing to understand is that the Catholic Church does not base doctrine on Scripture alone, but rather on the entire Word of God which was handed down from Jesus through the Apostles. These teachings were entrusted by Jesus to the Church he instituted and to which He gave the Holy Spirit to guide throughout the ages. This Divine guidance allows the teaching authority of the Catholic Church to pass on the Word of God without error to the faithful. Some of the Word of God was eventually written down in the Scriptures, while some has been passed down in an oral Tradition, as was the practice of the Jews. Much of the doctrine of Purgatory is contained in this Sacred Tradition. So, IOW, we don't need to prove anything from the Bible alone, because the Bible alone is not the full deposit of Faith.
Having said that, the scriptural evidence is alluded to above, but here are the verses:
Nothing unlcean will enter Heaven, so there must be some means of purification of the soul.
This verse implies that some sins are forgiven in this age (this life), while some sins can be forgiven in the age to come (after death). Sins of those in Hell cannot be forgiven, and the sins of those in Heaven have already been forgiven, so this is speaking about some other state.
This verse is talking about a person who is saved, but suffers loss and fire. The fires of Hell do not save and Heaven is not loss or fire. So, again there must be some other state of the soul which has been saved by God's grace, but is not quite ready to enter Heaven.
There are many more verses here, which when taken together, are very supportive of the doctrine.
flcroc's analogy is a very good one to help understand.
Our prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory are supported by verses in 2 Maccabees, which is a Deuterocanonical book that you will not find in your Bible.
Article from Catholic.com on Purgatory.
To answer your question, the first thing we need to do is explain what Purgatory is and what it is not.
Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say:
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. 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:
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:
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. 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:
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.
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
So, Purgatory is a state of the saved soul in which it is purified prior to entering Heaven. It may be instantaneous, last "years" (again, outside of time so we don't know exactly how this works), or not be needed at all if the person has lead a holy life and is fully detached from their sins. This purification does not take away from the redemptive act of Jesus' death on the cross, but rather a manifestation of it. It is not a "second chance" at Heaven. It is not "working your way into" Heaven.
The other thing to understand is that the Catholic Church does not base doctrine on Scripture alone, but rather on the entire Word of God which was handed down from Jesus through the Apostles. These teachings were entrusted by Jesus to the Church he instituted and to which He gave the Holy Spirit to guide throughout the ages. This Divine guidance allows the teaching authority of the Catholic Church to pass on the Word of God without error to the faithful. Some of the Word of God was eventually written down in the Scriptures, while some has been passed down in an oral Tradition, as was the practice of the Jews. Much of the doctrine of Purgatory is contained in this Sacred Tradition. So, IOW, we don't need to prove anything from the Bible alone, because the Bible alone is not the full deposit of Faith.
Having said that, the scriptural evidence is alluded to above, but here are the verses:
Revelation 21:27 but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any[one] who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Nothing unlcean will enter Heaven, so there must be some means of purification of the soul.
Matthew 12:32 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.
This verse implies that some sins are forgiven in this age (this life), while some sins can be forgiven in the age to come (after death). Sins of those in Hell cannot be forgiven, and the sins of those in Heaven have already been forgiven, so this is speaking about some other state.
1 Corinthians 3:15 But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.
This verse is talking about a person who is saved, but suffers loss and fire. The fires of Hell do not save and Heaven is not loss or fire. So, again there must be some other state of the soul which has been saved by God's grace, but is not quite ready to enter Heaven.
There are many more verses here, which when taken together, are very supportive of the doctrine.
flcroc's analogy is a very good one to help understand.
Our prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory are supported by verses in 2 Maccabees, which is a Deuterocanonical book that you will not find in your Bible.
Article from Catholic.com on Purgatory.
10/19/2011 9:30:46 AM
Sorry, to the OP. I was busy formulating my response, so I missed your request.
If you'd like I can delete my reply and start a new thread.
If you'd like I can delete my reply and start a new thread.
10/19/2011 9:32:18 AM
Anyone who wants to debate the existence of Purgatory feel free to start a new thread. The OP asked a simple question addressed to members of his faith.
The OP asked a simple question addressed to members of his faith.10/19/2011 10:10:33 AM
Originally Posted By Cattitude:
Sorry, to the OP. I was busy formulating my response, so I missed your request.
If you'd like I can delete my reply and start a new thread.
Sorry, to the OP. I was busy formulating my response, so I missed your request.
If you'd like I can delete my reply and start a new thread.
No need to delete your post and start a new thread unless further questions on whether purgatory exists are put forth. Thanks for your response.
Edited for clarity.
10/19/2011 10:16:08 AM
Originally Posted By Cattitude:
mkboog, if you are serious in your inquiry, I am more than happy to answer your question, especially since it may be helpful for the OP as well. You'll have to excuse us if we are a bit jumpy at answering questions when phrased as you did. Without having a spoken tone to go off, it can come across as a rhetorical question meant to imply that there is no basis in scripture for the doctrine of Purgatory. We've been down that road too many times to count.
To answer your question, the first thing we need to do is explain what Purgatory is and what it is not.
Here is that the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say:
So, Purgatory is a state of the saved soul in which it is purified prior to entering Heaven. It may be instantaneous, last "years" (again, outside of time so we don't know exactly how this works), or not be needed at all if the person has lead a holy life and is fully detached from their sins. This purification does not take away from the redemptive act of Jesus' death on the cross, but rather a manifestation of it. It is not a "second chance" at Heaven. It is not "working your way into" Heaven.
The other thing to understand is that the Catholic Church does not base doctrine on Scripture alone, but rather on the entire Word of God which was handed down from Jesus through the Apostles. These teachings were entrusted by Jesus to the Church he instituted and to which He gave the Holy Spirit to guide throughout the ages. This Divine guidance allows the teaching authority of the Catholic Church to pass on the Word of God without error to the faithful. Some of the Word of God was eventually written down in the Scriptures, while some has been passed down in an oral Tradition, as was the practice of the Jews. Much of the doctrine of Purgatory is contained in this Sacred Tradition. So, IOW, we don't need to prove anything from the Bible alone, because the Bible alone is not the full deposit of Faith.
Having said that, the scriptural evidence is alluded to above, but here are the verses:
Nothing unlcean will enter Heaven, so there must be some means of purification of the soul.
This verse implies that some sins are forgiven in this age (this life), while some sins can be forgiven until the age to come (after death). Sins of those in Hell cannot be forgiven, and the sins of those Heaven have already been forgiven, so this is speaking about some other state.
This verse is talking about a person who is saved, but suffers loss and fire. The fires of Hell do not save and Heaven is not loss or fire. So, again there must be some other state of the soul which has been saved by God's grace, but is not quite ready to enter Heaven.
There are many more verses here, which when taken together, are very supportive of the doctrine.
flroc's analogy is a very good one to help understand.
Our prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory are supported by verses in 2 Maccabees, which is a Deuterocanonical book that you will not find in your Bible.
Article from Catholic.com on Purgatory.
mkboog, if you are serious in your inquiry, I am more than happy to answer your question, especially since it may be helpful for the OP as well. You'll have to excuse us if we are a bit jumpy at answering questions when phrased as you did. Without having a spoken tone to go off, it can come across as a rhetorical question meant to imply that there is no basis in scripture for the doctrine of Purgatory. We've been down that road too many times to count.
To answer your question, the first thing we need to do is explain what Purgatory is and what it is not.
Here is that the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say:
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. 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:
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:
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. 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:
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.
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
So, Purgatory is a state of the saved soul in which it is purified prior to entering Heaven. It may be instantaneous, last "years" (again, outside of time so we don't know exactly how this works), or not be needed at all if the person has lead a holy life and is fully detached from their sins. This purification does not take away from the redemptive act of Jesus' death on the cross, but rather a manifestation of it. It is not a "second chance" at Heaven. It is not "working your way into" Heaven.
The other thing to understand is that the Catholic Church does not base doctrine on Scripture alone, but rather on the entire Word of God which was handed down from Jesus through the Apostles. These teachings were entrusted by Jesus to the Church he instituted and to which He gave the Holy Spirit to guide throughout the ages. This Divine guidance allows the teaching authority of the Catholic Church to pass on the Word of God without error to the faithful. Some of the Word of God was eventually written down in the Scriptures, while some has been passed down in an oral Tradition, as was the practice of the Jews. Much of the doctrine of Purgatory is contained in this Sacred Tradition. So, IOW, we don't need to prove anything from the Bible alone, because the Bible alone is not the full deposit of Faith.
Having said that, the scriptural evidence is alluded to above, but here are the verses:
Revelation 21:27 but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any[one] who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Nothing unlcean will enter Heaven, so there must be some means of purification of the soul.
Matthew 12:32 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.
This verse implies that some sins are forgiven in this age (this life), while some sins can be forgiven until the age to come (after death). Sins of those in Hell cannot be forgiven, and the sins of those Heaven have already been forgiven, so this is speaking about some other state.
1 Corinthians 3:15 But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.
This verse is talking about a person who is saved, but suffers loss and fire. The fires of Hell do not save and Heaven is not loss or fire. So, again there must be some other state of the soul which has been saved by God's grace, but is not quite ready to enter Heaven.
There are many more verses here, which when taken together, are very supportive of the doctrine.
flroc's analogy is a very good one to help understand.
Our prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory are supported by verses in 2 Maccabees, which is a Deuterocanonical book that you will not find in your Bible.
Article from Catholic.com on Purgatory.
Thank you sir. I appreciate the information and found it very informative. I apologize if the question came off the way it did.
Aimless: As I previously stated, before you decided to delete it, I was not trying to debate anything.
10/19/2011 12:56:15 PM
Originally Posted By mkboog:
Thank you sir. I appreciate the information and found it very informative. I apologize if the question came off the way it did.
Thank you sir. I appreciate the information and found it very informative. I apologize if the question came off the way it did.
You are very welcome, but I am a ma'am, not a sir.
10/19/2011 1:55:27 PM
Originally Posted By Cattitude:
You are very welcome, but I am a ma'am, not a sir.
Originally Posted By mkboog:
Thank you sir. I appreciate the information and found it very informative. I apologize if the question came off the way it did.
Thank you sir. I appreciate the information and found it very informative. I apologize if the question came off the way it did.
You are very welcome, but I am a ma'am, not a sir.
Sorry about that. My sincere apologies.
10/19/2011 2:12:49 PM
Originally Posted By medicmandan:
I like that.
Originally Posted By flcroc:
An analogy one of my priests uses:
Junior asks for a glass of juice and Mom says she'll get it in a minute. Junior doesn't want ot wait so he goes to get the juice himself and spills it all over the floor. Mom gets upset, Junior apologizes and is forgiven. Is the story over? Of course not...the juice stil has to be cleaned up. Just because you are forgiven does not mean you don't have a punishment to bear.
An analogy one of my priests uses:
Junior asks for a glass of juice and Mom says she'll get it in a minute. Junior doesn't want ot wait so he goes to get the juice himself and spills it all over the floor. Mom gets upset, Junior apologizes and is forgiven. Is the story over? Of course not...the juice stil has to be cleaned up. Just because you are forgiven does not mean you don't have a punishment to bear.
I like that.
I tend to listen really closely to what he says. He's 90 years old, served in the Army in some recon fashion in France during WWII and joined the seminary after that. Think about how much he's seen in his life to have been ordained more than 50 years ago AFTER he fought the Nazis...
10/20/2011 1:12:42 AM
Originally Posted By jtl0101:
Purgatory Question:
I am a Catholic and believe in purgatory. Growing up I was taught to pray for the souls in purgatory and I very often did. However, in the past couple years I have started to question if whether I need to. My understanding is, If someone dies and they are in purgatory they can no longer go to hell, their soul is simply being cleansed before entering the gates of heaven. Am I off basis to think that my prayers are not accomplishing anything? They have already been accepted in heaven, there is not time in the afterlife so they can't get to heaven sooner.
I would like to hear answers from Catholics regarding my question and not from those who disagree on the subject of purgatory.
Sacred Scripture says it is a good thing to pray for the dead:Purgatory Question:
I am a Catholic and believe in purgatory. Growing up I was taught to pray for the souls in purgatory and I very often did. However, in the past couple years I have started to question if whether I need to. My understanding is, If someone dies and they are in purgatory they can no longer go to hell, their soul is simply being cleansed before entering the gates of heaven. Am I off basis to think that my prayers are not accomplishing anything? They have already been accepted in heaven, there is not time in the afterlife so they can't get to heaven sooner.
I would like to hear answers from Catholics regarding my question and not from those who disagree on the subject of purgatory.
2Maccabees 12:43-46 And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection. (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) and because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.
The temporal punishment due to their sins can be lessened through your intercession on their behalf (iow, Jesus honors your intercession for them and lessens their temporal punishment/ cleanses/purifies them "faster").
Besides, once they're fully gazing upon the Beatific Vision, don't you think they'll return the favor when you're being purged?
