what is a pergatory [in the Catholic religion]?

Answer 1

A false doctrine not found in the Bible but made by man.

Answer 2

Sacred Scripture and the constant faith of the Church affirm that heaven and hell, as places, exist. Roman Catholic Christians and other Christians also profess belief in a state of being, not a place, called "purgatory." The term "purgatory" is not found in the Bible; but neither are other such important Christian beliefs such as "Trinity" and "Incarnation."

Purgatory is defined as a state of being, the continuing process of purgation or purification of the soul after human death. It is a state of perfection--begun in baptism and faith-consummated after death, entered into only by those who are saved. In other words, our transformation in Christ (Rom 13:14, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ"), our perfection in the holiness of the Father (1 Pet 1:16, "Be holy, because I (am) holy") is not ended at our physical death. Purgatory is a sign of God's mercy on those who have honestly sought to know God and to do His will in this life and yet die in some degree of bondage to sin or the effects of sin.

The Church has only two official teachings concerning purgatory:
a) it exists, and
b) our prayers help the souls in purgatory.

For MUCH MORE supportive scripture, history of the Catholic doctrine on Purgatory, and even an explanation of where the world "limbo" came from... see this site. It's very thorough.

http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap090400.htm

Answer 3

Pergatory is another belief established by the Catholic church not is not Biblically founded and thus it is a lie. Pergatory to them refer to the place you go to if you die and you were not good and then your relatives or friends can pray you out or pay you out so that you can go to heaven. Lies, the Bible says that Jesus will come a second time and take us to heaven and hell for those who continue to love sin and Satan.

Answer 4

Please pay no attention to Damien. He is uninformed and his remarks reveal an underlying bigotry toward Catholics. Scriptural support for Purgatory is described in the link below in a manner more clear than I could here explain.

Purgatory is a spiritual (maybe physical) place where the redeemed but not yet righteous souls complete the salvific process. It is like the shower you have to take before jumping in the pool.

Christ lives in your heart, but you still commit sin. And while that sin is forgiven when you confess your sins contritely and sincerely, the stain of that sin remains in a tangible way. Example: Do you remember the first time you lied? Do you remember being scared? How about the 100th time you lied - it wasn't that big of deal, was it? Even though we are forgiven, we are still damaged. The damage that is not repaired in life is rectified in Purgatory. Heaven cannot admit one who dies with anger on his or her conscience, but the redeeming grace of Christ saves that soul from Hell. If Heaven is the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, then life is the journey to arrive there, Purgatory is the dressing room and bath hall where guests make their final preparations, and Hell is the externia, where the door is closed to those who wail and gnash their teeth.

The idea is not widely accepted outside of the Catholic Way of Christ, particularly by Christians who adhere to a "once saved always saved" view of eschatology. This is because to an OSAS salvation is not a process but an event, so it is unnecessary to complete the process. If you reject the idea of OSAS, then the question of what happens to one who dies with faith in and a relationship with Christ but with unrepented sins. Purgatory is one Scripturally-based answer.

Note that acceptance of the doctrine of Purgatory is not necessary for one to be a faithful Catholic. So long as one accepts, believes and lives that Christ is the Way, Truth, and the Light, and lives the grace provided him or her, he or she is on the path of salvation, the eventual destination of which is Heaven.

Answer 5

It is a pit stop before heaven or hell.

The only problem with this and why it contradicts the Christian faith, is that the Bible teaches that your sins are forgiven when you accept Jesus into your heart. So really there is no need for a pergatory.

There is no way we are ever going to live up to the ways of the Lord, that is why God sent His only son to be sacrificed for our sins! Because He knew there is no other way, we are humans!

We are not perfect, and God KNOWS this!

God Loves YOU
Heather :)

Answer 6

"The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven," which is experienced by those "who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified" (CCC 1030). It notes that "this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned" (CCC 1031).

The purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) and, while we may die with our mortal sins forgiven, there can still be many impurities in us, specifically venial sins and the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven."

Damian: You obviously have no idea what you're talking about especially since you can't even spell purgatory correctly.

Answer 7

Purgatory is one of the three places souls go after death (Heaven and Hell being the others -- limbo, the home for unbaptized babies, is no longer with us). It is a place to purge your sins before entering heaven. A kind of theological "saving grace".

Because, for Catholics, each sin carries a punishment, you must both repent for and expiate your sins before entering Heaven. If you have repented but not fully or appropriately expiated ("paid for") your sins, you serve some time in Purgatory. However, everyone who enters Purgatory will eventually reach Heaven.

Catholics would argue that Purgatory allows for G-d to be both infinitely merciful and infinitely just -- you get to go home eventually, but you need to work off your sins before you get there.

Answer 8

A place where some people have to go before going to heaven. The person is sent there by god to be punished for sins that are not bad enough for hell but not good enough for heaven. The individual has a good soul that does not belong in hell.

Answer 9

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings. Depending on the amount of change needed by different people this can be an easy or slightly harder process. Everyone in purgatory is on their way to heaven. I don't think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

With love in Christ.

Answer 10

Purgatory is an intermediary stage between earth and heaven. It is where the soul purges itself of the sins committed in life.

Answer 11

It's where the faithful who die without perfect holiness, or that have sin that is not mortal go. It's a temporary state of purification for the imperfect saints.