Posted on 10/30/2014 2:54:21 PM PDT by NYer
Does purgatory still exist? Even though we don’t hear about it as much as in earlier times, Catholics do believe in purgatory. It is a matter of faith, supported by the Bible and tradition, clarified at the Council of Florence in 1439 and the Council of Trent (1545-1563) and explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Here is what we know about purgatory.
1. Purgatory exists: The Catechism of the Catholic Church states there are three states of the church, those who are living on earth, those who are in purgatory and those who are in heaven with God.
2. It is not a second chance: The soul is already saved. Purgatory is a place to pay off debts for sins that were forgiven but for which sufficient penance had not been done on earth.
3. It is not an actual place: Blessed John Paul II said in an Aug.4, 1999 general audience that purgatory was a state of being: “The term does not indicate a place, but a condition of existence.” Pope Benedict XVI said in a Jan. 12, 2011 general audience, “This is purgatory, an interior fire.”
4. Purgatory is not punishment but God’s mercy: “Few people can say they are prepared to stand before God,” says Susan Tassone, author of “Prayers, Promises, and Devotions for the Holy Souls in Purgatory” (Our Sunday Visitor, 2012). “If we didn’t have purgatory there would be very few people in heaven, because it would be heaven or hell. It is his mercy that allows us to prepare to be with him in heaven.”
5. Our prayers for the souls in purgatory help them achieve heaven: “The doctrine of purgatory recalls how radically we take love of neighbor,” says Sulpician Father Gladstone Stevens, vice rector and dean of men at St. Patrick’s Seminary & University, Menlo Park. “The obligation to pray for each other does not cease when biological life ends. God wants us to always pray for each other, work for each other’s redemption.”
6. The souls in purgatory can intercede for those on earth but cannot pray for themselves: The Catechism of the Catholic Church (958) states: “… the church in its pilgrim members, from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, has honored with great respect the memory of the dead; … Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective.”
7. God does not send souls to purgatory – each soul sends itself to purgatory: Once a soul sees itself with the light of God, it realizes it cannot stay in his presence until all imperfections are wiped away.“The soul chooses,” Tassone says.
8. There is no fire in purgatory: But each soul is aflame with the pain of being separated from God and with the desire to be purified so it can be in the beatific vision. Each soul also feels joy knowing it will one day be with God, Father Stevens and Tassone say.
9. There is a special day and month to pray for the souls in purgatory: Nov. 2 or All Souls’ Day is the day set aside and November is the month in the liturgical calendar to pray especially for all the souls who are in purgatory. Nov. 2 is called “The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed,” but the church asks us to pray always for each other, including for the souls in purgatory.
10. Prayers for souls in purgatory always count: Pope Benedict says in his encyclical “Spe Salve” (“On Christian Hope”), regarding the souls of the dead, “ … in the communion of souls simple terrestrial time is superseded. It is never too late to touch the heart of another, nor is it ever in vain.”
“Prayers, Promises, and Devotions for the Holy Souls in Purgatory,” Susan Tassone, (Our Sunday Visitor, 2012)
“Purgatory: The Forgotten Church,” a Lightbridge Films documentary film by Conventual Franciscan Friar John Clote, purgatoryforgottenchurch.com
“Catholicism” TV series, Episode 10: “Purgatory – Why Would Anyone Go Through This?!” by Father Robert Barron
Ping!
Bookmarked.
Thank You for putting this in as a Caucus thread.
Excellent post. Thanks for the ping
Purgatory is what happens when you vote democrat.
Hell is what happens when you vote democrat TWICE.
Even if there was no Purgatory, God’s Mercy would demand it.
A lot of people think Catholics believe in Purgatory because Jesus’ blood “wasn’t enough”. I always point out that Jesus’ blood is what makes Purgatory possible. It is what makes Purgatory work. Jesus cleanses us of our sins.
IF I`m in purgatory and my wife's there too, can I pray for her? Does it matter if I pray for someone specifically or in general trying to remember everyone or pray for all souls in purgatory, does it count the same?
You may be surprised to learn that there are communities of catholic religious and even lay people, like myself, who offer up daily prayers for the souls in purgatory who have no one to pray for them. This Sunday is the Feast of All Souls. Around the world, catholics will be praying for ALL the souls in purgatory, not just for catholics. Rest assured of our prayers!
That’s funny right there!
I would ask you to keep this a Caucus Thread. This is a basic tenet of our faith and an open debate will not change that. Please allow us to discuss this as Catholics.
We always offer the Rosary for the souls in purgatory as well as other intentions. So someone will pray for you.
Yep.
For later discussion.
Of course you can pray for a specific soul as well as anonymous poor souls. Mary will help sort out which prayers get routed to whom.
I pray for all the souls because we have no way on knowing if someone is in purgatory or heaven. No prayer is ever wasted. Many people might think that no one will pray for them, but that’s just not true.
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