Although the Catholic Church proclaims the concept of Purgatory, I see that today a majority of people are not believing in purgatory. Most people see purgatory as a place full of punishments and sorrow, something like locking up the souls and beating them. Some others see it as a place of comfort as they can attain Heaven, after spending sometime in purgatory, just like a holiday resort. Many doubts and misconceptions arise in most people nowadays, as not much is taught about it at churches and during caticism.
Purgatory is the place where most of the souls go after death. I say this, because even the saints are going to heaven after spending some time at purgatory. The difference is only in the duration of the time they have to spend there.It is a place where the soul is given pains, but it also represents a state of love, hope and peace. Because if a soul needs to be with God in heaven after death, it must have attained complete purity. Thus we understand that God made purgatory because of His abundant love for us.
“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10). Thus if one needs to be with God, he/she has to be made pure in the flames of sacrifice. And if this purification doesn’t happen if he is in his earthly body, then it happens after death at purgatory.
The selfish love we have for ourselves increases the distance between us and God. At purgatory, this selfish love is burnt and destroyed completely. Thus by submitting ourselves completely to God, only God’s love remains in that soul. Thus it becomes eligible to join God and live in eternity.
Sins, their trails, selfish love for ourselves all these impurities make a HARD CRUST on the surface of our love to God. But we are not even knowing the formation of this crust. Whenever we do sins, refuse God and do things against His will, we are increasing the thickness of this hard crust.
Only the selfless love to God can melt down the hard crust formed. All saints throughout their lives were constantly trying to melt down this crust completely. For this, they prayed a lot and did a lot of deeds of penance. These will melt the hard crust very easily. Yes, our sins are forgiven through confession, but to clear the debt of our sins, deeds of penance are needed. Thus the saints were able to go either directly to heaven or spend only a very little time at the purgatory.
See the picture above? It shows Mother Mary helping souls in purgatory. All souls are seen there together with their own guardian angel (Fravashi), who help them at the purgatory.
So actually what does a soul experience at the purgatory? What is happening when we pray for them? A hundreds of questions may arise in your mind. Be patient. I will be writing on those very shortly. Keep checking back this site for The Purgatory – Part 02.
Related Posts:
- The Purgatory – Part 04
- The Purgatory – Part 03
- The Purgatory – Part 02
- Prayer for the souls in Purgatory
- November 02 – All Souls’ Day
- Why should we pray the Stations of the Cross?
- August 15 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Christmas Poem
- The Nicene Creed (381 A.D.)
- St. Michael – the Archangel
Random Posts:
- “Christmas Wrapping” song – The Waitresses
- St. Peter’s Basilica Pics 02
- “Jesus, you are my soul’s desire” song
- Ten Commandments of Christmas
- WHAT ‘FAITH’ CAN DO
- How Many Gods Are There?
- God’s Table Requires Table Manners
- August 15 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” – Irish Rovers
- “Kingdom Come” song – Hillsong United
Tags: church, god, heaven, love, mary, purgatory
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Mary is a mere human being, she is blessed among all women because God chose her to be the mother of Christ, but she was never given the authority to be co-redemptrix. In fact, during Christ’s ministry, Mary merely stood in the background, not once stepping forward to spearhead or be “assistant minister” to Christ. It’s sad how people actually believe that Mary is the mother of God, and that she was crowned queen of heaven and that she remained a virgin for life… Mary bore children from her marriage with Joseph and thus, she did not remain a virgin all her life. If you will study carefully the accounts of Mary in the bible, you will see that these are very few and does not even hint at her being Christ’s co-redemptrix. She did not patron anyone to Christ, she was an ordinary woman who was blessed among all women. But that’s just about it. It is a folly to pray and venerate Mary. There is only one way to the kingdom of heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ alone. Not Mary or any other saint.
There is only one way to the kingdom of heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ alone. Mother Mary and Saints show us that way.
John 14:6 is very clear: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
1 Timothy 2:5 also says: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ”
Galatians 1:9 furthers: “As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
The Bible is very clear on this matter, any other gospel preached aside from what is written in the Scriptures will curse the one who preaches it. Obviously, there is nowhere in the Scriptures will anyone find that Mary shows us the way to the kingdom. There can only be one mediator, one channel and one patron and that is Christ. And anyone who teaches otherwise, as Paul said, let him be accursed.
This is not an attempt to teach anybody or to preach anything. These are my views, based on the teachings of the Church.
Hazel, you’re correct in that the bible is clear and other things shouldn’t be done outside of what the bible says, for the most part. You see, Catholics also believe in tradition, as did Jesus. He taught us to live by His teachings and as well as tradition.
The problem is in interpretation. You say the Virgin Mary is but a mere blessed woman. I cannot even fathom the idea of how God feels when people say that about the only woman He chose to be the mother of His only begotten Son.
At the wedding in Cana, did Jesus not do what His mother commanded (changing water into wine), even though as Jesus had said, “my time has not yet come.” Jesus obeyed the wish of His mother, which is why we as Catholics, know we can ask her to intercede for us to her Son, and He will do it. Even though Jesus wants to give us all we ask for (so long as it does not hinder our salvation), many things He does at the mere request of His mother.
Mary has always been in the background. Always there for her son, always there for us. She was not an Apostle because it is only proper that men do the work, not women. That’s why we have only male priests. I’m sure you can agree there are great differences in how men and women think and ‘go to business.’ Women tend to use their hearts, men, while having a supreme intellegence, don’t let matters of the heart get in the way.
Yes, there is only one way…through Jesus. But understand this, whatever Mary asks, Jesus will do. Just like a family on earth. Because of their pure love, whatever the Mother asks for from her Son, He will do, and the same goes with the Father.
wow!!! nice
I notice you don’t support your claims with Scripture. That’s because there isn’t Scriptural evidence of the place you refer to as purgatory. I was raised in the Catholic church, and this doctrine of purgatory is without evidence seen in the word of God. The place Christians go when they die is the intermediate Heaven; in the intermediate Heaven,a person will await the time of Christ’s return to the earth, our bodily resurrection, the final judgment,and the creation of the new heavens and the New Earth. If you and I fail to grasp this truth, we will fail to understand the biblical doctrine of Heaven. Try reading the book called Heaven by Randy Alcorn. This book is written by a man who did his homework, for he supports his views in regards to Heaven with Scripture. Where is purgatory written about in the Bible? Please be specific. Your claim regarding purgatory being a “place where most of the souls go after death” has no support from the Holy Bible – the Holy word of God. Jesus doesn’t speak of this place you call purgatory, and yet, he makes reference to both eternal dwelling places – Heaven and Hell – plenty of times. I’m sorry, until your thoughts and ideas of this place called purgatory are true to Scripture, you have nothing to stand on.
Many catholics will point to this obscure passage, mary did not ask Jesus to give them wine, she merely said they are out of wine. and in John 2:11 it mentions that Jesus did the miracle so that His diciples can put their faith in Him. Not to please His mother.
When you read passage like Matt 12:46-48
Disciples told Jesus, your mother and brother are here to see you, did Jesus rush out? no, instead in Vs 48He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.