Rachel Evans
The Catholic doctrine of purgatory is the belief that there is a state of existence after death, distinct from heaven and hell, where souls undergo a process of purification or temporary punishment before attaining the holiness required to enter heaven. While the Catholic Church defined its teaching on purgatory at the Second Council of Lyon in 1274, the concept has much older roots, with some tracing it back to early Christian literature and practices of praying for the dead, which are mentioned in the deuterocanonical book of 2 Maccabees. The belief in purgatory has been a source of debate, with critics arguing that it was invented by the Catholic Church to generate wealth, while others defend its presence in Christian faith since its early days.
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What You'll Learn
The origins of purgatory
The idea of purgatory as a place of purification or temporary punishment for souls who are not yet ready to enter heaven is ancient and can be found in early Christian literature. Christians in the first centuries were known for their conservatism and resistance to any changes in their beliefs. Notably, there are no records of protests against the belief in purgatory, suggesting that it was not considered a novel doctrine at the time.
The Catholic Church formally defined its teaching on purgatory at the Second Council of Lyon in 1274. However, the doctrine had been a part of Christian faith much earlier, as evidenced by the requests of Monica, the mother of Augustine, in the fourth century. She asked her son to remember her soul in his Masses, indicating a belief that her soul would benefit from prayers, which would be unnecessary if she were in hell or heaven.
The doctrine of purgatory is also supported by early Christian writings outside the New Testament, such as the Acts of Paul and Thecla and the Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity, both written during the second century. Additionally, Christians during the first three centuries recorded prayers for the dead in the catacombs, further indicating the early belief in purgatory.
The concept of purgatory is closely related to the Catholic doctrine of the communion of saints, which includes the belief that the living can help the souls of the dead through their prayers and offerings to God. This idea is also found in other religious traditions, such as Judaism, where Orthodox Jews pray for the purification of their loved ones for eleven months after their death.
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The doctrine's relation to the Bible
Purgatory is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, though they die in God's grace, are not entirely free from venial faults or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. The Catholic doctrine of purgatory assumes that some die with minor faults for which there was no true repentance and that the temporal penalty due to sin is sometimes not fully paid in this life.
The Bible, on the other hand, teaches that Jesus died to pay the penalty for all our sins (Colossians 2:13). The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:5 took our place: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed." Jesus suffered for our sins so that we could be delivered from suffering. To say that we must also suffer for our sins is to say that Jesus' suffering was insufficient (1 John 2:2).
The Catholic Church, however, points to several passages in the Bible to support the idea of purgatory. One of the most commonly cited passages is 2 Maccabees 12:45, which states, "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin." This implies that not only should we pray for the dead, but also that the dead have sins from which they must be delivered, which leads to the idea of purgatory. Another passage that is often used to support purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:13–15, which states, "Each one’s work [each Christian’s work] will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done (verse 13). And "if anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire" (verse 15). This passage suggests that there is a purging process after death, where the soul is tested and purified before entering heaven.
Additionally, the practice of praying for the dead, which is mentioned in the Bible, is seen as further evidence of purgatory. For example, in 2 Maccabees 12:43–45, it is written, "In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the dead to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death...Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin." The belief that prayers can help those who have died but are not yet in the presence of God is a key aspect of the doctrine of purgatory.
It is important to note that the concept of purgatory is not universally accepted, even within Christianity. Some critics argue that the doctrine of purgatory diminishes the significance of Christ's sacrifice and implies that salvation can be earned through human works. They also point out that the word "purgatory" is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, and that the passages used to support the idea of purgatory can be interpreted in other ways.
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The role of prayer
The Catholic doctrine of purgatory is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, while dying in God's grace, are not entirely free from venial faults or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. Purgatory is believed to be a state of final purification after death and before entering heaven. A soul that has completely rejected God chooses for itself the punishment of hell, while a soul that is purified completely of sin is immediately taken to heaven and is considered a saint.
> "In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the dead to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin."
The belief in purgatory and the role of prayer within it are not unique to Catholicism. The practice of praying for the dead has been observed by Jews and Christians since before the time of Christ. Orthodox Jews, for example, recite a prayer known as the Mourner's Kaddish for eleven months after the death of a loved one, believing that it will aid in their purification.
The Catholic Church encourages the faithful to pray for the souls in purgatory, and these prayers are considered a spiritual work of mercy. The Church teaches that indulgences, or the remission of temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven, can be applied to the souls in purgatory through prayer and penance. However, it is important to note that the Church has never taught that salvation or a reduction in time spent in purgatory can be purchased with money.
The belief in purgatory and the role of prayer within it are deeply ingrained in Catholic doctrine and tradition. Through prayer, Catholics seek to provide comfort and assistance to the souls in purgatory, helping them attain the purification necessary to enter heaven.
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The Council of Lyon
The Second Council of Lyon was convened by Pope Gregory X, who outlined three themes: union with the Greeks, the crusade, and the reform of the church. The council had six general sessions, with representatives from across Europe, including King James of Aragon and delegates from the rulers of France, Germany, England and Sicily. The Greeks conceded on the issue of the Filioque (two words added to the Nicene Creed), and union was proclaimed, although this was later repudiated by Andronicus II, heir to Michael VIII. The council also recognised Rudolf I as Holy Roman Emperor, ending the interregnum. The council approved plans for a crusade to recover the Holy Land, which was to be financed by a tithe imposed for six years on all the benefices of Christendom, but these plans did not come to fruition.
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Protestants and purgatory
Purgatory, according to Catholic teaching, is a state or place of purification or temporary punishment by which those who die in a state of grace are believed to be made ready for Heaven. Purgatory is not mentioned in the Bible, and Protestants typically reject the idea of purgatory entirely. At the beginning of the Reformation, there was hesitation on Luther's part regarding the doctrine, but as the breach between Protestants and Catholics widened, the denial of purgatory by Reformers became universal. Calvin termed the Catholic position a "comment that empties the cross of Christ...which weakens and overthrows our faith".
Protestants would consistently reject certain things connected to the doctrine of purgatory, such as the fate of the dead being affected by their own suffering or the prayers and works of the living. Protestants also do not believe in a role for the Church in granting indulgences. However, some Protestant thinkers have urged their co-religionists to take a second look at purgatory, and there is a growing Protestant movement in favour of some kind of purgatory, albeit not the Roman Catholic version.
Protestants argue that purgatory should be dismissed because it was abused by the Catholic Church to make money. One argument used by anti-Catholics is that the Catholic Church owes the majority of its wealth to the doctrine of purgatory. However, this has been disputed by Catholics, who argue that the money from memorial Masses for the dead goes to the parish priest, who is allowed to receive only one such stipend per day, and is not nearly enough to make anyone rich, let alone the Church.
Another argument used by Protestants against purgatory is that it is based on books that don't belong in the Bible, specifically 2 Maccabees 12, which is considered by Protestants to be part of the Apocrypha, not Sacred Scripture. However, Catholics argue that the doctrine can also be supported by numerous passages in the New Testament and, more fundamentally, from the principles of Protestant theology alone. Catholics also argue that the earliest Christians prayed for the souls of the dead, and that this practice is mentioned in the Bible in 2 Maccabees and Matthew 12:32. Furthermore, Catholics argue that the idea of purgatory is closely related to the doctrine of the communion of saints, which is accepted by Protestants.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic doctrine of purgatory was defined at the Second Council of Lyon in 1274. However, there is evidence that the belief in purgatory predates this. For example, in the fourth century, Monica, the mother of Augustine, asked her son to remember her soul in his Masses, implying that she believed her soul would benefit from prayers, which would be the case if she were in purgatory.
Purgatory is a passing intermediate state after physical death for purifying or purging a soul. It is believed to be a process of purification or temporary punishment that souls undergo to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven.
The Catholic doctrine of purgatory is based on the practice of praying for the dead, which has been a part of the faith since its inception. This is mentioned in the deuterocanonical book 2 Maccabees 12:46, as well as in other passages such as 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 and Matthew 12:32.
