[NYer]

RESOURCES
Catechism of the Catholic Church, www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/index.cfm

“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

 

[NYer]

CATHOLIC CAUCUS

Ping!

[Inyo-Mono]

Bookmarked.

[defconw]

Thank You for putting this in as a Caucus thread.

[Slyfox]

Even if there was no Purgatory, God’s Mercy would demand it.

[Dad was my hero]

Excellent post. But for me it raises more questions, like if nobody prays for me what happens for me?

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?

[Paulie]

For later discussion.

[cloudmountain]

Purgatory is temporarily being without God.
Hell is eternity without God.

[cloudmountain]

GREAT post, NYer, as always.

[Elsiejay]

Biblical source, please, book(s), chapter(s), verses.
Signed: A seriously inquisitive seeker, in re purgatory.

[verga]

I don’t just believe in purgatory, I am counting on it.

[Tax-chick]

I offer prayers for “a soul in Purgatory who has nobody else to pray for him.”

[AnAmericanMother]

Let me try this again . . . I do not like to use ellipses in quotation, because it looks like one is hiding the ball. But since Mr. C.S. Lewis had no notion of caucus rules, I will repost with reference to Them Who Must Not Be Named removed. To-wit:

Of course I pray for the dead. The action is so spontaneous, so all but inevitable, that only the most compulsive theological case against it would deter me. And I hardly know how the rest of my prayers would survive if those for the dead were forbidden. At our age, the majority of those we love best are dead. What sort of intercourse with God could I have if what I love best were unmentionable to him?

I believe in Purgatory. . . .

The right view returns magnificently in Newman's DREAM. There, if I remember it rightly, the saved soul, at the very foot of the throne, begs to be taken away and cleansed. It cannot bear for a moment longer 'With its darkness to affront that light'. Religion has claimed Purgatory.

Our souls demand Purgatory, don't they? Would it not break the heart if God said to us, 'It is true, my son, that your breath smells and your rags drip with mud and slime, but we are charitable here and no one will upbraid you with these things, nor draw away from you. Enter into the joy'? Should we not reply, 'With submission, sir, and if there is no objection, I'd rather be cleaned first.' 'It may hurt, you know' - 'Even so, sir.'

I assume that the process of purification will normally involve suffering. Partly from tradition; partly because most real good that has been done me in this life has involved it. But I don't think the suffering is the purpose of the purgation. I can well believe that people neither much worse nor much better than I will suffer less than I or more. . . . The treatment given will be the one required, whether it hurts little or much.

My favourite image on this matter comes from the dentist's chair. I hope that when the tooth of life is drawn and I am 'coming round',' a voice will say, 'Rinse your mouth out with this.' This will be Purgatory. The rinsing may take longer than I can now imagine. The taste of this may be more fiery and astringent than my present sensibility could endure. But . . . it will [not] be disgusting and unhallowed.

- from Letters to Malcolm

[johngrace]

I once heard whispering sounds of others when I was alone in my room after prayers. It kept going on and on. So I covered the blood of Christ over it in my words thinking it was a demoniac origin.
Well it kept happening. So I asked the Lord in pray for help. My computer was already running but I never touched the keyboard. Out of nowhere by human means a web page on purgatory came up with St Gertrude”s prayer of purgatory. I prayed the exact words. The whispering stopped. it just was miracle. I truly believe there is a purgatory. Amen!!!

[mountainbunny]

I explain it to children like this:

Me: "You're welcome in our home anytime, right? This is always your home, here with Daddy and Mommy?

The kids: "Yes".

Me: "If you have muddy feet, what do you do before you come inside? You know to do this, even though you are always welcome..."

The kids: "Wipe them off".

Me: Of course! We want to come in and be together, but we take a moment to be clean to show respect for our home and for Mommy.

"The kids: Yep."

"Purgatory is wiping your feet off before you enter heaven. Getting rid of every small thing that isn't perfect before we enter God's home for us.

[trebb]

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.

The Blood of Jesus isn't enough? How does a spirit-in-waiting do its penance?

[Friendofgeorge]

Supported by the Bible and Tradition?

I see the tradition but could anybody Direct me to the Scripture References?