Beginning Catholic: Catholic Purgatory: What Does It Mean? [Ecumenical]

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[kellynla]

“Actually, Jesus descended into “the Bosom of Abraham,” or the “Limbo of the Fathers,” where the righeous dead were waiting for the coming of the Messiah.”

Interesting. Thanks
Do you have any links for that.

[nralife]

“— or immediate and everlasting damnation. (Catechism, 1022)”

What would a person have to do to get that reward? Not that I think that will be my end (I hope!)...

[Salvation]

What is the name of that book. It sounds fabulous!

[Judith Anne]

Thank you so much for posting this. Recently, I re-read CS Lewis’ “The Great Divorce” and really enjoyed his viewpoint. His exploration of sin, and what keeps us out of heaven is wonderful.

But as it is a bit incomplete, this fuller explanation is great.

[armydoc]

One thing we can do for souls in Purgatory is pray for them, especially the most abandoned souls. This is very important.

What are we to pray for, exactly? What do you mean by "abandoned souls"?

[Miss Didi]

Thank you for posting that novena.

Another thread on Purgatory:

OF GUARDIAN ANGELS AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY NOT JUST ON EARTH BUT IN PURGATORY [Catholic Caucus]

[Pyro7480]

The Glories of St. Joseph

[Salvation]

Appreciate the link. I will call up and order it locally at the Catholic Book Store.

[sneakers]

I believe those are the souls, in purgatory, who have no one to pray for them, or are forgotten. I say a special prayer for these souls every night.

[free_life]

Hell is mentioned more than 50 times in the bible.

Heaven is mentioned more than 700 times in the bible.

Purgatory is mentioned 0 times in the bible.

Purgatory is not even described in the bible.

If it existed why would God not speak of it in His Word?

[Pyro7480]

Limbo

[Salvation]

I guess you missed the Scripture references inspired by the Holy Spirit.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2061191/posts?page=2#2

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2061191/posts?page=4#4

[Salvation]

My pastor disagrees with you. Hell is mentioned more than heaven.

[kellynla]

While I had a minute, I did some “digging”

In his Exposition on the Apostles’ Creed, Thomas Aquinas asserts that the first and primary reason Christ descended into hell was “to bear the whole punishment of sin, so that he might wholly expiate sin.”

Question: Christ’s descent into hell
http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4052.htm

[pgyanke]

I've heard it described this way: Those who are called to Heaven retire from this world with an invitation to the feast. Among these, though, are many who are sullied in sin. Who wouldn't want to be purified to enter the feast unstained?

[netmilsmom]

“Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” (2 Macc 12:46)

It’s mentioned right there.
Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of Our Lord? Then it was mentioned, wasn’t it?

[radiohead]

Do Catholics still offer up their suffering for the souls in Purgatory?

I hope many went to heaven on the suffering I offered up during my 2 days in labor! : )

[Mad Dawg]

If it existed why would God not speak of it in His Word?

Not to flog a dead horse but, of course, Catholics do not think that the Holy Bible comprises the entire Word of God.

[Mad Dawg]

Thanks for that. There seem to be two streams in Catholic thought about what Jesus was doing in Hell. Sometimes I think they are two ways of expressing the same thing.

One is what you said. The other is the so-called "harrowing" to which Peter alludes and about which there is a very fine description in the apocryphal Acts of Pilate.

I don't know much about it, but I have read that Hans Urs von Balthasar is thought by people who know more than I (a LARGE group) to be wrong in saying that in Hell IHS suffered the extreme alienation from God which is the ultimate effect of sin.

Personally I think that as IHS conquered death by suffering it, it is not so outrageous to think that He harrowed Hell by entering into it fully, so I see no conflict.

[Mad Dawg]

Do Catholics still offer up their suffering for the souls in Purgatory?

This one does, though generally I just pray that since God knows best what to do with it, He should decide.