Posted on 11/02/2014 3:14:08 PM PST by NYer
On All Souls Day, the Catholic Church offers prayers and liturgies for the repose of the dead. As Catholics, we are called by the Church to focus our spiritual energies to assist these poor souls, who, though saved, are still in need of purification. Our prayers and sacrifices assist them in this process of purification as a means used by God to communicate purifying grace to them. After all, He is the vine, we are the branches so that He produces his fruits of grace through us.
The practice of praying for the dead actually predates Christianity. In 2 Maccabees 12: 41-45, Judas offers prayers and sacrifices for his fallen comrades to make “atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin.” Some argue that the books of the Maccabees are not inspired scripture. Leaving that argument aside for now, we can at least look at them as historical books detailing accepted pious practices of God’s people some 300 years before Christ.
If that is the only place in the Bible where we find any reference to purgatory, many Protestant Christians argue, then that is a weak support for such a practice. Fortunately, we know as Catholics that all of our doctrines are indeed found in the Word of God, as is the doctrine of Purgatory. Hence what follows is a biblical understanding of the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory.
The book of Genesis recounts for us the far reaching repercussions of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden. This sin, we find, brought about four consequences which I will summarize here (Gen 3: 16-24):
First, their sin brings about disharmony between persons. God tells Eve that both her relationship to her husband and children will now be characterized by pain and mistrust (Gen 3:16). Further, God has to make garments for man and woman because now, as the text implies, they feel shame (Gen 3:21).
Second, their sin brings about disharmony between man and creation. God tells Adam that he will produce the fruit of the earth with toil and difficulty (Gen 3: 17). Even the ground itself is cursed because of their sin (Gen 3: 17).
Third, their sin brings about disharmony between man and himself. He no longer has spiritual control over his body; thus, his body returns to the dust of the ground (Gen 3: 19). Adam and Eve are no longer able to receive everlasting life (Gen 3: 22).
Lastly and most importantly, sin brings disharmony between God and man. This consequence results in mistrust and fear of God (Gen 3: 10), and, worse, spiritual death. Without God, neither physical nor spiritual life can be sustained (Gen 3: 19, 24).
The first three disharmonies mentioned above are called ‘Temporal punishments due to sin.’ Temporal refers to things pertaining to this world. The last disharmony, the disharmony with God, is called eternal punishment, because it refers to things pertaining to the eternal world with God.
All four of these disharmonies are healed by Christ. The only healing we experience fully in this life, however, is from eternal punishment–or disharmony with God. That’s why Christ is the One Mediator between God and man.
It should be clear that we don’t experience a full healing from the temporal disharmonies/punishments as Christians, because we still struggle. We experience suffering, illness, catastrophes, and even death. Yet, Christ heals these problems, too, it’s just that we don’t experience the full healing in the temporal sphere until He returns.
Until then, we are called to struggle for His Kingdom. As St. Paul puts it, “But we have this treasure (the healing grace of salvation) in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying around in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Cor 7-10)
To overcome these temporal disharmonies, we are called to cooperate with Christ’s power in grace so as to bring about the healing with Him in these areas. This is why we are called to pray, fast, and alms give so as to forgive our neighbor’s sins and be forgiven, and to receive the reward promised by our heavenly Father that we will once again regain temporal peace/harmony on earth and in heaven (Mt 6:5-23).
What happens if we die and are reconciled to God (the eternal punishment for sin), but have not entirely cooperated with grace to overcome the temporal punishments for sin? St. Paul gives us the answer in 1 Cor 3: 12-16. He says that after death, our works will be tested “as though by fire, and the fire will test what kind of work we have done,” and we will suffer loss, though we will still be saved (1 Cor 3:13-15).
This is a very clear passage regarding the purification (which we call purgatory) that takes place after death. This fire purifies us from our temporal disharmonies mentioned above, if we die without having them entirely purified in this life.
“..traditions that nullify God’s word...”
That is precisely the problem! Protestants will never be able to refute Catholicism because they do not understand that traditions do NOT nullify God’s word - traditions prove God’s word and scripture tells us this as well, whereas it does not ever tell us bible alone.
The Torah was Oral and then written to supplement the oral traditions, not the other way around, and the early Christians, being Jewish, did likewise. See St. Paul’s letter to Corinthians.
Protestants do not understand handed down oral tradition and so they do not understand either Judaism or Christianity who use both methods.
Therefore, their arguments are useless due to utter lack of perspective.
Catholics have always had to defend their beliefs since before the bible was even written - St. Paul persecuted the early Christians when he was Saul.
I talk top God, I leave speaking to Satan to the prots.
What is stunning is that Catholics are unwilling (like muslims) to examine their faith in the clear light of day.
And you condemn anyone who tries to reach God outside that corrupt circle.
I pray that you will come out of the darkness of that accursed human invention.
You’re welcome. I pray you do consider it carefully and be blessed regardless.
I will pray for you.
words aren't edible, bread and wine are, and He had the bread and wine present when He said it....poor analogy at best.
Christ established the Consecration, I didn't.
yeah....right.....for 1,600 years Catholics were afraid of going to hell.............O.K. I guess.
I agree with that....and when He said this is My body and this is My blood He also meant it.
According to your oral traditions, per se.
HEY Verga...since Boatbums doesn't want your prayers and since God has nothing else to do with them, I'll take them....I need all I can get!!!
Jesus talked to Judas....and he was 1/12th of those that He personally chose!!
Jesus didn't say to eat the bread and wine in the verses you guys keep pushing at us...He said eat his flesh and drink his blood...In John 6 Jesus said he was bread...He didn't say eat the bread...He said eat the flesh, and blood...That makes you a cannibal and a vampire if Jesus was talking about physically eating his flesh...
So really, words aren't edible and neither is Jesus' flesh and blood...
Seems as if someone has been hitting the sacramental wine a little too hard. And why do you choose to call us "Prots"? Do we call you "Licks?" I would prefer to be called apostate.
You are ignorant of Scripture. From Scripture, how long is a day? I'll give you a hint
2 Peter 3:8–9 reads: ‘But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’
Jews say the Mourner's Kaddish, a beautiful prayer that glorifies God, for up to a year after the death of a parent, close relative, or for certain others. It is thought that a person is under divine judgment for twelve months and these prayers assist the ascension of their souls.
Glorified and sanctified be God's great name throughout the world
which He has created according to His will.
May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days,
and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon;
and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored,
adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He,
beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that
are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights,
may He create peace for us and for all Israel;
and say, Amen.
Compare with Catholic tradition and the scripture The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
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