What is Purgatory?

 

 

 

Just a quick thought for today . . .

Who do you need to forgive, and who do you need to ask for forgiveness?

I was praying for a dear friend who, knowing that his death was near, diligently prepared himself for it.  He made amends where necessary.

Now that he is gone, I was thinking about him and wondering if he had been able to shorten his time in purgatory because of his careful attention to readiness, here on earth.

Hopefully, you don't have the wrong idea about purgatory.  It is simply a state for purification, since entering the "joy of heaven" requires us to be in a state of holiness. It is solid teaching that comes from scripture as well.

Here is a great place to learn more about it:  http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a12.htm

I thought I would copy the text here for your convenience.  It's a good read!  It comes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.⁶⁰⁶ The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:⁶⁰⁷

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.⁶⁰⁸

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."⁶⁰⁹ From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.⁶¹⁰ The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.⁶¹¹

My apologies, I guess my "quick thought" became a bit longer, but I hope you, too, will find yourself forgiving and asking for forgiveness, knowing that it lightens your burdens and that of others as well.

Happy Easter!

Janet Cassidy 
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