Grace Thompson
Purgatory is a passing intermediate state after physical death for purifying or purging a soul. It is a common belief in Christianity, especially in Catholic doctrine, that purgatory refers to the final cleansing of those who died in a state of grace, leaving in them only the holiness necessary to enter heaven. However, not all Catholics go to purgatory. Many innocent people who suffer from disease, poverty, or persecution are living their purgatory now, and when they die, they probably go straight to heaven.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is purgatory? | A passing intermediate state after physical death for purifying or purging a soul |
| Who goes to purgatory? | Catholics believe that many people are purified or purged in this life. Innocent people who suffer from disease, poverty, or persecution are living their purgatory now, and when they die, they probably go straight to heaven. People who live exceptionally good and holy lives also bypass purgatory and go straight to heaven. |
| Who doesn't go to purgatory? | People who are bad enough go to hell, and people who are good enough go straight to heaven. |
| What happens in purgatory? | Purgatory is not considered a spiritual jail or hell with parole. It is a place of expectant joy, although suffering occurs from the temporary distance. |
| Who believes in purgatory? | Catholics are required to believe in purgatory, or else they are considered heretics. Some Lutherans and Anglicans also accept some form of purgatory. |
| Who doesn't believe in purgatory? | Protestants reject the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, although some teach the existence of an intermediate state, termed Hades. |
| What happens after purgatory? | Purgatory will end at the Final Judgment, when there will only be Heaven and Hell. Those in Purgatory will go to Heaven at the end of their purification. |
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What You'll Learn
- Purgatory is not a spiritual jail or hell with parole
- Purgatory is a place of expectant joy, not pain and torment
- The doctrine of purgatory was not invented by the Catholic Church
- Purgatory is a place of purification for those not good enough for heaven, but not bad enough for hell
- Purgatory ends with the Final Judgement, when only Heaven and Hell remain
Purgatory is not a spiritual jail or hell with parole
Purgatory is a common concept in Christianity, especially in Catholic doctrine. It refers to an intermediate state after death, where souls undergo purification before entering heaven. This belief is based on the idea that only those who are completely free from sin and its effects can enter heaven. While purgatory involves a degree of suffering due to the temporary separation from God, it is not a place of eternal torment or damnation like hell.
The Catholic Church teaches that purgatory is a necessary step for most individuals who are not inherently evil but still carry some attachment to sin. In purgatory, these attachments are removed, and the soul is purified, ensuring that only the holiness necessary to enter heaven remains. This process of purification can also occur during a person's lifetime, as innocent individuals who suffer in the present may be purified and go straight to heaven upon death.
It is important to note that purgatory is not a place of eternal punishment or a spiritual jail. It is a temporary state, and those in purgatory will eventually enter heaven once their purification is complete. This belief is reflected in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that those who die in God's grace but are still imperfectly purified will undergo purification to achieve the holiness required to enter heaven.
The concept of purgatory is distinct from hell, which is a place of eternal separation from God for those who have committed mortal sins. Hell is described in the Bible as a place of "eternal fire" and "great torture." Purgatory, on the other hand, is a temporary state of purification that prepares individuals for the joy of heaven.
While some Protestant churches reject the doctrine of purgatory, it has been a part of Jewish and Christian beliefs for a long time. The early church theologians, such as Clement of Alexandria, taught the belief in "apocatastasis," which is the restoration of all creation to its original perfect condition after a remedial purgatorial reformation.
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Purgatory is a place of expectant joy, not pain and torment
The purpose of purgatory is to cleanse souls of their remaining attachment to sin. This is necessary because, although God's mercy grants forgiveness, his justice demands that good be rewarded and evil punished. Purgatory is entirely different from the punishment of the damned in hell, which is described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a place of 'eternal fire' and 'eternal separation from God'.
Catholics do not view purgatory as a place of pain and torment. St Catherine of Genoa, in the late medieval period, reframed the theology of purgatory as voluntary, loving, and joyful. She described God as standing with open arms, waiting to receive souls into his glory. This idea is supported by the belief that the souls in purgatory want to be there because they know that they need to be cleansed of their sins.
Purgatory ends with the Final Judgment, after which there will only be heaven and hell. Those in purgatory will go to heaven once their purification is complete.
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The doctrine of purgatory was not invented by the Catholic Church
The doctrine of purgatory, or the final purification, has been part of the Christian faith since before the time of Christ. The Jews already believed in it, as revealed in the Old Testament (2 Maccabees), and it has even been retained by Orthodox Jews today, who recite a prayer known as the Mourner's Kaddish for eleven months after the death of a loved one so that the departed may be purified.
The doctrine of purgatory was also taught by Jesus. The word "purgatory" was coined by the Church, but the concept was taught by Jesus. For instance, Christ refers to the sinner who "will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matt. 12:32), suggesting that one can be freed after death of the consequences of one's sins.
Additionally, the belief in purgatory is not unique to Catholicism, as High Church Lutheranism and Anglo-Catholicism also accept some form of purgatory. Lutheran Reformer Mikael Agricola, for example, still believed in the basic beliefs of purgatory.
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Purgatory is a place of purification for those not good enough for heaven, but not bad enough for hell
Purgatory is a place of purification for those who are not good enough for heaven, but not bad enough for hell. In Catholic doctrine, purgatory is the final cleansing of those who died in a state of grace, leaving in them only "the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven".
The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus' death allows everyone the possibility of heaven, and his mercy grants forgiveness. However, his justice demands that good be rewarded and evil punished, either in this life or the next. Purgatory is not considered a spiritual jail or hell with parole, but rather a place of expectant joy, although suffering occurs from the temporary distance.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms the existence of hell, stating that "immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, 'eternal fire'". Hell is described as a place of ""eternal separation from God". Purgatory, on the other hand, is a temporary state of purification, where souls are cleansed of their sins and attachments to sin, so that they may eventually enter heaven.
Not all Catholics believe in purgatory, and it is rejected by Protestant churches. However, it is considered a required belief by the Catholic Church, and those who reject it are, by definition, Protestant and excommunicated according to Canon law.
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Purgatory ends with the Final Judgement, when only Heaven and Hell remain
Purgatory is a Catholic doctrine that refers to the final cleansing of souls who have died in a state of grace, leaving only the holiness necessary to enter heaven. It is not a place of pain and torment, but rather one of expectant joy, though suffering occurs from the temporary distance. Purgatory is not a place of eternal damnation like hell, but a place of purification for those who, despite being forgiven, still have some attachment to their sins.
The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus' death allows everyone the possibility of heaven, and his mercy grants forgiveness. However, his justice also demands that good be rewarded and evil punished, either in this life or the next. Purgatory is a place for the purification of souls who, though forgiven, still require introspection and purification before entering heaven.
The doctrine of purgatory is not unique to Catholicism, as it was rejected by Protestant churches but always believed by Jews and Christians. High Church Lutheranism and Anglo-Catholicism are more likely to accept some form of purgatory. The belief in purgatory is based on scriptural passages from the Old Testament, such as the Second Book of Maccabees, and the New Testament, including references to hell in Matthew 25:41-46 and Mark 9:48.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. If a Catholic rejects this dogma, they are, by definition, a Protestant and, by Canon law, excommunicated.
Purgatory is an intermediate state after physical death for the purification or purging of a soul. It is not a spiritual jail or hell with parole, but a place of expectant joy.
The Catholic Church believes that many people are purified or purged in this life. Innocent persons who suffer from disease, poverty, or persecution are living their purgatory now, and when they die, they will likely go straight to heaven. People who live exceptionally good and holy lives also bypass purgatory and go straight to heaven.
Purgatory ends at the Final Judgment, when there will only be Heaven and Hell. Those in Purgatory will go to Heaven at the end of their purification.
