Purgatory, a pure expression of God's mercy

Although Purgatory is a place of suffering, suffering plays a great role in God’s merciful plan of salvation.

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Human wisdom can’t understand this. Only one who thinks with the mind of God:

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Natural wisdom leads one to fear suffering, but Spiritual Wisdom realizes that suffering is the way of the Cross and when God permits us to suffer, He is giving us a pure expression of His mercy. Because, He doesn’t have to do it. He could just let us remain in our sins:

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

The Existence of Purgatory

First of all, it seems rather strange to me that anyone would object to such a pure expression of the mercy of God. In Purgatory, it is God, the All Consuming Fire, which purifies us of our sins. We do nothing except yearn to be purified that we may admitted to His Presence.

God, could, of course, leave us to our sins and let us be condemned. But then, the majority of human beings would be condemned.

This is what Scripture says:

Matthew 7:13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Does that mean, do you think, that God will destroy most of the world? After all, most of us die with sins on our souls, do we not?

But Scripture also says:

1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

So, then we can be comforted that not all sin is mortal.

How is it then, that anyone with any kind of sin can enter heaven? They can't:

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Therefore, in order to enter into heaven, one must be purged of sin. Scripture says so:

1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Saved by fire? What? How is it that the righteous are burned?

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Yeah, before we enter heaven, those of us who have incurred the temporal punishments for sin, we must be purified. Whether we do this in heaven or here on earth, that is our decision to make:

Luke 11:41But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

But that doesn't answer the question, "Does Purgatory exist?" As much as the question of, "Why do you believe that Purgatory exists?

Does Purgatory exist?

Only those who doubt the Teaching of the Catholic Church ask that question. Yes, Purgatory does exist. Scripture, however, points to a place of suffering which we call Purgatory. I say, "suffering" because it isn't spelled out that this place is for purification. The closest we come to that idea is:

1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise maste rbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Protestants will deny this is Purgatory because they don't see the word, "purgatory". All I can do is continue with my logical proof.

This is the place where those who die in an imperfect state of grace are purified by suffering. Scripture says:

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

And, in several places, Scripture reveals the existence of a spiritual prison where good men go to suffer at the hands of Satan:

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

What is this prison?

Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Where did the rest of the dead go for a thousand years before they lived again?

1 Peter 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Where were these spirits to which Jesus preached?

Protestants have no answer except to deny that it is Purgatory. We can go on providing Scriptural proofs of the existence of Purgatory til we're blue in the face, but Protestants will simply deny them because they don't say, "p-u-r-g-a-t-o-r-y".

Here's what I said to one of them regarding this attitude:

In this discussion over whether Purgatory is in Scripture, you seem to require an explicit text. Yet, when asked to provide an explicit text for Sola Scriptura, you and others on this blog, denied that explicit texts were necessary to prove doctrine. Is there an explanation for this seeming discrepancy?

The question was erased, no answer was provided.

So, I think I've provided a good case for the existence of Purgatory. Catholics will probably agree. Most Protestants will probably not agree. But maybe, some will ask,

Even if Purgatory does exist, what makes you think your prayers would be of any benefit to them?

The short answer, Infant Baptism.

The Catholic Church teaches that because of the faith of the parents, their children will receive the promised Holy Spirit when they are baptized.

What? How is this related to prayer for the dead?

Good question. Before we are baptized, the Church teaches that we do not have sanctifying grace in our souls. It is sanctifying grace which gives our souls the life of Christ. When we are baptized, we share in the eternal life of Christ.

1277 Baptism is birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord's will, it is necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter by Baptism.

Therefore, I believe we can say that the dead are brought to life. And when we pray for the dead, we are praying for them to be brought to eternal life, are we not?

Ok, but infants aren't dead.

True. But in the Sacraments, we encounter Jesus the same way that the Canaanite woman encountered Him:

Matthew 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

Note that Jesus healed her daughter because of her faith. The daughter never said anything. Here's another example:

Matthew 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples….. 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

Note that Jesus gave life to the daughter because of the faith of the parents. And that is why I believe that God will listen to us when we pray for our beloved dead.

Is there any explicit text which shows a Christian praying for the dead?

We believe there is, but Protestants deny it. We believe that St. Paul prayed for the dead Onesiphorus when he said:

2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. 18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

But, since the text doesn't say, "Onesiphorus is d-e-a-d!" Protestants deny it.

Capitulation

Purgatory is not so much a place of suffering, as an expression of God’s merciful love. Purgatory, is the place, where God, the loving Father, washes and bathes His Children of all impurity before they are presented to the Household of Love.