"And if all this is true, purgatory is nothing more than a vain fever-dream, a useless and errant obstruction to understanding God's grace."
There is no scriptural warrant for the concept of purgatory. The only intermediate state now for humans is hell (Luke 16:19-31, Rev.20:11-15) and that place is only for those not found in the book of life and are waiting for the second death, the lake of fire (Matt. 25:44, Rev. 19:20,20:10, 14-15).
Paradise, the intermediate state for the righteous dead of the Old Testament, was emptied when Jesus visited after His death (Psalms 68:18, Matt. 27:52-53, Eph. 4:8-10, Rev. 1:18)and led captivity captive, including the thief.
Purgatory is just another enslaving construct to keep credulous people coming back to the church.
Actually, there is no scriptural warrant for Sola Scriptura. And Sola Fide is completely and explicitly denied in James 2.
As to Purgatory, there are plentiful Catholic sites that will explain all of the verses in the Bible that talk about it. Is there a point of me looking these all up again so they can be ignored by you?
If you are open to the truth, you will search for it. If you are not open to the truth, but your version, then nothing I can quote will make a difference. The Pharisees saw Christ perform miracles first hand and it made no difference. If people want Biblical proof of Purgatory, go to www.scripturecatholic.com and you will find plenty of verses that talk about its existence. There is no need for me to make this post any longer. Those who are truly interested will go and search for themselves.
Regards
Now this is interesting. I go to church to worship God, confess my sins, hear the Scripture and be with Christ. and His angels and saints. It is true that every Mass is offered for somebody, and I join in prayer for his soul at Mass. However, I don't recall saying "Let me go to Mass and pray for Such and Such", -- I learn who it is in the middle of the Eucharistic prayer and not sooner, and it is a complete stranger. When I die somebody will arrange a Mass for my soul. That is about it, -- I am not dead yet and when I pray for the souls in Purgatory, I do it privately every now and then when I say the Rosary. It usually happens as I drive my car. So where is the "enslaving construct"?