Where is Purgatory in the bible? Where does it say to pray to Saints? And how does the Pope fit in?
2006-09-20 08:29:13 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Purgatory is not specifically mentioned in the Bible. In one of Jesus' parables, he tells of a debtor who was forgiven a very large debt. After being forgiven the large debt, the debtor refused to forgive another person for a smaller debt. As a result, he was thrown into prison until he paid off the last penny.
The "prison" that Jesus talked about is what Catholics refer to as Purgatory. More than a place, it is the final justification of the soul before the soul enters Heaven. If a person dies in a state of grace, but not quite perfect, Purgatory is the process by which the soul is made perfect so it can enter Heaven.
St. James said "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful." (5:16). The most righteous people are the Saints in Heaven.
Whe we pray to the saints, we are asking them to pray for us and with us as we pray to God. This is the same as asking someone in this life to pray for you and with you.
The Pope is the person who "feeds the lambs" that are the people of God. Before He went to Heaven, Jesus told Peter personally to "feed His lambs" This is why we say that Peter was the first Pope. The Pope is our spiritual leader on earth. He is not worshipped and we do not think of him as Jesus on earth.
Please contact me if you have any questions or comments
2006-09-20 08:43:42 · answer #1 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe the Bible mentions purgatory or Limbo, (where unbaptized babies go) for that matter.
Much of Catholic belief and practice is rooted in the traditions that have passed down through their institutions.
Since Protestants seem to base everything on the Bible and their individual interpretations of it, it seems to explain why their are 17 different christian churches in a nearby town of 4000. The funny thing is they all insist their reading or their ministers reading is the correct one.
RE: praying to the saints. No Catholics think the saints are God. They pray to the saints as fellow humans who are now in heaven and whom they feel can intercede with God for them, same with Mary.
2006-09-20 15:41:14 · answer #2 · answered by Bob K 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
purgatory is not in the bible as catholics we believe that it is the place to cleanse sins so that the person can be "pure" in order to enter heaven. we don't per say pray to saints as in worship, we pray for the intercession like if you are to afraid to talk to a guy/girl and you ask their friend to put in a good word for you. and the pope is the "head" of the church as jesus said that peter was the rock he would build his church the pope is a succession from peter.
2006-09-20 15:56:07 · answer #3 · answered by snoopdizzal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know the answers to the first 2 questions. There are a lot more resources than the bible for Catholics. The catechism is one and there are hundreds of documents written by the church over the years. The first pope was appointed as Peter by Jesus.
2006-09-20 15:38:25 · answer #4 · answered by Usagi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, Purgatory is between heaven and hell, a second chance for everyone. You can repent your sins there to get into heaven instead of being thrown into hell. We ask the saints to help and intercede on our behalf, not pray to them as we do God. And the first pope was St. Peter, the rock on which God built his church.
2006-09-20 15:38:36 · answer #5 · answered by sister steph 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not a catholic, but here goes
purgatory is the place between heaven & hell where all are judged before being sent to either one.
no where does it say to pray to false gods.. only to god
the pope was elected by man as god's "emissary" on earth...
2006-09-20 15:32:39 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
+ Sources of Doctrine +
The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).
There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 AD.
Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?
Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This is one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.
This second source of doctrine is called Holy Tradition.
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#80
+ Purgatory +
"But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire." (1 Cor 3:15)
"So that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Pet 1:7)
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 his or her way to heaven.
I do not think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art12.htm
+ Saints +
Before Jesus Christ died for our sins and opened the gates of heaven there were no saints in heaven. Therefore there are no Old Testament writings that would mention them.
Very few of the new Christians died before most of the New Testament was written. Therefore there is little in the Bible about asking saints to pray for us.
However the last book of the Bible does talk about the saints in heaven praying.
Revelation 5:8: Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.
Revelation 8:3-4: He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.
The Holy Spirit guided the early Church in many things not explained in the Bible including how does the Body of Christ (believers) on Earth relate to the Body of Christ (saints) in heaven. We are still one Body.
Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.
The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.
Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa.
As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother in heaven to pray for you.
Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946
+ Pope +
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:17-19)
The Catholic Church believes the Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.
Pope Benedict XVI is the direct successor of Simon Peter.
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#880
+ With love in Christ.
2006-09-21 00:29:46 · answer #7 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's not in the Bible, they believe because they have faith.
2006-09-20 15:32:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
google 'catholic answers'
that should explain it well
edit-
everdaycatholic's answer is good, really good. dead on.
2006-09-20 15:45:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋