[Wrigley]

Knowing what I don't know about you, I have no way of saying whether you might undergo some purgation of residual attraction to sin and the effects of sin.

Interesting. Didn't Christ complete the job on the cross. When He said, "It is finished", did he mistate and actually mean, "It is almost finished, but you might have to do some time in purgatory to seal the deal?"

[drstevej]

I forgot to mention that I am a Houston Astros fan (whiich means I'll never celebrate a World Series).

:-)

[Tantumergo]

"It is finished" refers to the completion of his Paschal sacrifice after he had drunk the "fourth cup" of the Haggadah i.e. the sour wine that they gave him to drink on the cross.

His work of redemption could not have been completed at this point as he hadn't yet risen.

What Polycarp may be referring to is St. Paul's teaching on purgatory in 1 Cor 3:13-15:

13 Every man's work shall be manifest; for the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

[RnMomof7]

"It is almost finished, but you might have to do some time in purgatory to seal the deal?"

thats ok xzins thinks it's only almost finished too..

[Polycarp]

Nothing impure enters heaven. Its not enough to be covered in His Blood, when underneath the corruption remains. The corruption simply cannot enter Christ's presence.

But don't worry. Like a comet approaching the Sun, trailing away its impurities as the heat and radiation from that Sun bears them away, your residual impurities will be burned away too before you come into full contact with the Beatific Vision.

Its a simple idea. And its true.

And there's a special place where everyone who didn't believe in it on earth sit around praising God for it before they get to enjoy the Beatific Vision (IMHO).