"I knew my brother was suffering." ~ Ancient Roots of the Doctrine of Purgatory, Part I

Gloria Romanorum ^ | Florentius

[Antoninus]

The idea of Purgatory as an intermediary state between Heaven and Hell is one of the most misunderstood and occasionally ridiculed aspects of Catholic doctrine. Though it is common for Protestants and even some Catholics to assume that Purgatory has no foundation in Sacred Scripture, that claim is actually false. The need for Purgatory developed from a close reading of Scripture by the Fathers of the Church, and the concept has a provenance stretching back to the earliest days of the Church. Furthermore, it has come to my attention recently that the Orthodox have a similar understanding of the need for purification before entering Heaven, even if their understanding of that purgation is not the same as that of the Catholic Church.

See Part II of this post here.

One of the earliest accounts of a Purgatory-like place comes from an unexpected source, indeed one of the Mothers of the Church, rather than one of the Fathers. Dating from about AD 203, the authentic account of the Passion of Saint Perpetua details a poignant vision which Perpetua experienced immediately prior to her martyrdom. The words of this early Christian martyr, as written in Latin in her prison diary, speak for themselves:

After a few days, while we were all praying, on a sudden, in the middle of our prayer, there came to me a word, and I named Dinocrates. And I was amazed that that name had never come into my mind until then, and I was grieved as I remembered his misfortune. And I felt myself immediately to be worthy, and to be called on to ask on his behalf. And for him I began earnestly to make supplication, and to cry with groaning to the Lord.

Without delay, on that very night, this was shown to me in a vision. I saw Dinocrates going out from a gloomy place, where also there were several others, and he was parched and very thirsty, with a filthy countenance and pallid color, and the wound on his face which he had when he died. This Dinocrates had been my brother after the flesh, seven years of age who died miserably with disease—his face being so eaten out with cancer, that his death caused repugnance to all men. For him I had made my prayer, and between him and me there was a large interval, so that neither of us could approach to the other. And moreover, in the same place where Dinocrates was, there was a pool full of water, having its brink higher than was the stature of the boy, and Dinocrates raised himself up as if to drink. And I was grieved that, although that pool held water, still, on account of the height to its brink, he could not drink. And I was aroused, and knew that my brother was in suffering. But I trusted that my prayers would bring help to his suffering; and I prayed for him every day until we passed over into the prison of the camp, for we were to fight in the camp-show. Then was the birthday of Geta Cæsar, and I made my prayer for my brother day and night, groaning and weeping that he might be granted to me.

Then, on the day on which we remained in fetters, this was shown to me. I saw that that place which I had formerly observed to be in gloom was now bright, and Dinocrates, with a clean body well clad, was finding refreshment. And where there had been a wound, I saw a scar, and that pool which I had before seen, I saw now with its margin lowered even to the boy's navel. And one drew water from the pool incessantly, and upon its brink was a goblet filled with water. And Dinocrates drew near and began to drink from it, and the goblet did not fail. And when he was satisfied, he went away from the water to play joyously, after the manner of children, and I awoke. Then I understood that he was translated from the place of punishment.

While mysterious and certainly not covering all of the Catholic Church's criteria for Purgatory, Perpetua's vision seems to confirm the belief that the souls of the dead benefit from the prayers of the living, particularly those about to endure martyrdom for the sake of Christ.

Update: September 4, 2018:

The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas is related in full in I Am a Christian: Authentic Accounts of Christian Martyrdom and Persecution from the Ancient Sources. This book is a collection of the best ancient sources on the persecution of early Christians and well worth having if you are interested in this topic.

Some additional sources on the origin of Purgatory, including a large excerpt from Pope Saint Gregory the Great who formalized much of what we believe about Purgatory today, will be included in a subsequent post.

[SkyDancer]

Those “sins” were invented by the church, you don’t categorize sins. The only two sins out there are the denying the deity of Yeshua and blaspheming of the Holy Spirit.

[Mom MD]

Just punishment was meted out - on Christ who took on our sin. It is finished!

[SkyDancer]

The idea of Purgatory as a physical place (like heaven and hell) became Roman Catholic teaching in the late 11th century.

[Mr Rogers]

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” - Hebrews 10

Seems the Catholic church has been editing scripture. Or just ignoring it. “he has perfected for all time”. Not, “He paid the price for SOME sins, but a lot of sins are left for YOU to pay...you aren’t perfect enough for God until you suffer for sin!”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Not sure how it gets much worse than denigrating the blood of Jesus.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“ Do you believe in Apostolic Tradition?”

.....

Yes. I believe in all the practices of the Apostles, that are included in inspired Scripture.

No, I don’t believe any claim of tradition that cannot be proven to be practiced or taught by an Apostle.

Talk is cheap.

The rest can be anything, from any source, that is not from God.

[Mr Rogers]

“Asking for forgiveness through faith alone is not enough. Our Lord clearly shows that we must also, by his grace, remove the disorder of the heart that causes us to sin against both God and our neighbors. If this is not accomplished here, then God will finish this operation in Purgatory.”

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” - Hebrews 10

Perfected. Not partial. “Perfected for all time.”

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...” - Ephesians 2

Notice the tenses: “made”, “Raised”, “seated”. Jesus is there, and so are we if we are “In Him”.

Hence, “It is finished!”

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“ Purgatory is only for those with venial sins to be purged from their souls. No one with sin on his/her soul enters heaven. ”

.....

Chapter and verse please??

[Mom MD]

it doesn’t get any worse. Except maybe running to Mary to protect you from the Jesus you have diminished.

[smvoice]

Re: post 40..
And HERE we have the RCC misunderstanding of Christ’s FINISHED work for us on the Cross. And how do we know for a CERTAINTY that He did EVERYTHING necessary for our salvation?? Because GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE SEAD. If there was even ONE thing we had to contribute in order to be saved God could NOT have raised Him. His PERFECT SACRIFICE would not have been perfect.

[cloudmountain]

Do you believe that Scripture is the ONLY source of our faith? If so, where does it say that in Scripture?

We also learn from history, as Jesus was an historical figure, as were the Roman prelates.

Scripture, Apostolic Tradition and history. There aren't any other sources.

[Petrosius]

The idea of Purgatory as a physical place (like heaven and hell) became Roman Catholic teaching in the late 11th century.

The idea that Purgatory is a physical place is not Catholic doctrine. On the other hand, the idea of a cleansing (spiritual) fire goes back to the early Church:

Origen

If a man departs this life with lighter faults, he is condemned to fire which burns away the lighter materials, and prepares the soul for the kingdom of God, where nothing defiled may enter. For if on the foundation of Christ you have built not only gold and silver and precious stones (I Cor., 3); but also wood and hay and stubble, what do you expect when the soul shall be separated from the body? Would you enter into heaven with your wood and hay and stubble and thus defile the kingdom of God; or on account of these hindrances would you remain without and receive no reward for your gold and silver and precious stones? Neither is this just. It remains then that you be committed to the fire which will burn the light materials; for our God to those who can comprehend heavenly things is called a cleansing fire. But this fire consumes not the creature, but what the creature has himself built, wood, and hay and stubble. It is manifest that the fire destroys the wood of our transgressions and then returns to us the reward of our great works. (Patres Groeci. XIII, col. 445, 448 [A.D. 185-232]).

Tertullian

That allegory of the Lord [Matt. 5:25-26] . . . is extremely clear and simple in its meaning . . . [beware lest as] a transgressor of your agreement, before God the judge . . . and lest this judge deliver you over to the angel who is to execute the sentence, and he commit you to the prison of hell, out of which there will be no dismissal until the smallest even of your delinquencies be paid off in the period before the resurrection. What can be a more fitting sense than this? What a truer interpretation? (The Soul 35 [A.D. 210]).

Cyprian

It is one thing to stand for pardon, another thing to attain to glory; it is one thing, when cast into prison, not to go out thence until one has paid the uttermost farthing; another thing at once to receive the wages of faith and courage. It is one thing, tortured by long suffering for sins, to be cleansed and long purged by fire; another to have purged all sins by suffering. It is one thing, in fine, to be in suspense till the sentence of God at the Day of judgment; another to be at once crowned by the Lord (Letters 51[55]:20 [A.D. 253]).

Et alii.

[Petrosius]

Perfected. Not partial. “Perfected for all time.”

You are conflating forgiveness with cleansing.

Hence, “It is finished!”

What was finished was the new paschal sacrifice which began at the Last Supper. If we were to take these words in an absolute sense the you would also have to say that faith itself is not necessary. Requiring this would also be adding to the saving work of Jesus.

I would also note the common Protestant tactic of quoting another scriptural passage while ignoring scriptural passages (in this case that of Jesus himself) which go against Protestant teaching.

[Petrosius]

And HERE we have the RCC misunderstanding of Christ’s FINISHED work for us on the Cross. And how do we know for a CERTAINTY that He did EVERYTHING necessary for our salvation??

Then faith itself is not needed since this, too, would be adding to the finished work of Jesus.

[SkyDancer]

Okay - what do they have to do with anything? Paul never wrote about it , neither did Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. I put them over anyone that comes along later with some theory which it is. This Purgatory came out od some obscure passage in the Apocrypha. St. Jerome considered this verse a clear proof of purgatory. Malachi 3:3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver

It's what's termed metaphorically speaking- Also: "Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will take refuge" Now God is a big chicken. Again, a metaphor.

So if you're not a son of Levi you've nothing to worry about.

Metaphorically speaking.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“ Do you believe that Scripture is the ONLY source of our faith? If so, where does it say that in Scripture?”

.....

So you are simply asserting something not found in Scripture ever.

Scripture is the only thing necessary for salvation and Christian maturity.

And when you assert something that is contrary to Scripture, as you’ve done, scripture judges that belief as false.

[cloudmountain]

Where in Scripture does it say that Scripture is the only source of our faith?
I'm just interested where you learned that...since it MUST have been from Scripture since that is your source.
Do you have a Scriptural quote saying that?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“ Where in Scripture does it say that Scripture is the only source of our faith? ”

I don’t know anyone who ever said that...

[Petrosius]

Just refuting your implied claim that Purgatory was an invention of the Middle Ages. Rather, the idea of a refining (purging) fire goes back to the early Church.

[Mr Rogers]

“I would also note the common Protestant tactic of quoting another scriptural passage while ignoring scriptural passages (in this case that of Jesus himself) which go against Protestant teaching.”

Sorry I didn’t quote the entire Bible. But I’m sure you will post scripture showing we need a cleansing that has nothing to do with being forgiven. Except even Catholics generally agree the Bible doesn’t discuss Purgatory.

“You are conflating forgiveness with cleansing.”

No. You are creating an artificial difference, one unknown to scripture.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation....For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5

Notice again: “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation”. Not will someday be new, after being changed via the fire of Purgatory! He IS a new creation - “so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” There is therefor NOW no condemnation.

“31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us....” - Romans 8

If you are in Christ, you ARE secure. If you are not, then Hell itself cannot purify you!

[SkyDancer]

Using Malachi 3:3 which was metaphorically speaking (as I addressed in an earlier post) - as for non-Catholics we have 2Cor5:8