In 2 Machabees 12:46 we see that the prayers of the living can lift the suffering of the departed, and in Luke 16:24 that the sainted departed can assist the suffering departed.
Hence, the prayers, sacrifices, fastings, pieties, etc. -- even the martyrdoms -- of the stronger, more virtuous members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, may be applied for the comfort of the weaker, more sinful members of the Mystical Body (Colossians 1:24).
As you know, Catholic beliefs are grounded in both Scripture and Tradition. We see that the earliest Christians believed that the martyrs could share the blessings they received when they shed their blood for Christ with the less fortunate members of the Church. Tertullian writes, "Which peace some, not having it in the Church, are accustomed to beg from the martyrs in prison; and therefore you should possess and cherish and preserve it in you that so you perchance may be able to grant it to others" (Ad martyres, c. i, P.L., I, 621). And St. Cyprian of Carthage writes, "Those who have received a libellus from the martyrs and with their help can, before the Lord, get relief in their sins, let such, if they be ill and in danger, after confession and the imposition of your hands, depart unto the Lord with the peace promised them by the martyrs " (Ep. xiii, P.L., IV, 261).
You may find more information at: Indulgences (Catholic Encyclopedia) and at
"The Doctrine on Indulgences" by Pope Paul VI (Jan. 1, 1967).
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In 2 Machabees 12:46 we see that the prayers of the living can lift the suffering of the departed, and in Luke 16:24 that the sainted departed can assist the suffering departed.
5 posted on 11/11/2003 5:39 PM MST by Dajjal
NAU Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER ' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' 22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 "Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.
NAU Matthew 18:23 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 "When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 "But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 "So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' 27 "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28 "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' 29 "So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' 30 "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31 "So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' 34 "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
I don't see the construct of purgatory in either of the citations.
The first is a directive and the second is a parable
Does 2 Maccabees also glorify suicide ?
Is this G-d's Word ?
NJB 2 Maccabees 10:8 They also decreed by public edict, ratified by vote, that the whole Jewish nation should celebrate those same days every year. 9 Such were the circumstances attending the death of Antiochus styled Epiphanes. 10 Our task now is to unfold the history of Antiochus Eupator, son of that godless man, and briefly to relate the evil effects of the wars. 11 On coming to the throne, this prince put at the head of affairs a certain Lysias, the general officer commanding Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, 12 whereas Ptolemy, known as Macron, and the first person to govern the Jews justly, had done his best to govern them peacefully to make up for the wrongs inflicted on them in the past. 13 Denounced, in consequence, to Eupator by the Friends of the King, he heard himself called traitor at every turn: for having abandoned Cyprus, which had been entrusted to him by Philometer, for having gone over to Antiochus Epiphanes, and for having shed no lustre on his illustrious office: he committed suicide by poisoning himself.
NJB 2 Maccabees 14:37 Now, a man called Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor. He was a man who loved his countrymen and stood high in their esteem, and he was known as the father of the Jews because of his kindness. 38 In the earlier days of the insurrection he had been convicted of Judaism, and he had risked both life and limb for Judaism with the utmost zeal. 39 Nicanor, by way of demonstrating the enmity he had for the Jews, sent over five hundred soldiers to arrest him, 40 reckoning that if he eliminated this man he would be dealing them a severe blow. 41 When the troops were on the point of capturing the tower and were forcing the outer door and calling for fire to set the doors alight, Razis, finding himself completely surrounded, fell on his own sword,
a bondslave to the Christ
chuck