About Purgatory

In the current state of the world today, the real hope for all people is the reality of purgatory as taught by the Church's Magisterium. People may be discouraged because they think that they will not attain perfection here on earth; sins are always before us. Many people question the doctrine of purgatory because they say it's not in the scripture. Of course the word itself is absent, but the concept or idea is there. Firstly, people in the bible prayed for those who died. "...Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, 'It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.' Thus Job did continually" (Job 1.5). "Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin" (2 Mac 12.45). The last reference was taken from the second book of Maccabees which only Catholics and Orthodox (I think) have, but not Protestants (regarding it as apocryphal).

The New Testament offers some passages that may point to purgatory. "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire" (1 Cor 3.15). Jesus distinguished two instances about the forgiveness of certain sins. The following passage even speaks of sins that can be "forgiven" in the next world, i.e., after death. "...every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Mt 12.31-32).

There are two "places" people go after death, heaven or hell; purgatory is not a third "place", but those in purgatory are on their way to heaven. People are tested with fire "...the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 1.7). As you may meditate once in a while about the last things, purgatory is really a consoling doctrine as defended by the church.