What's the difference between limbo and purgatory?

Answer 1

There is a big difference!

First, there were different limbos but only one purgatory. There was the limbo of the Fathers, where people went who died before Christ died on the Cross and the limbo of the Infants, where unbaptized infants went. The Limbo of the infants was never a part of the Christian faith, only a popular belief. Neither Limbo exists now.

However, purgatory is a very real place that is a part of Catholic doctrine and mentioned in the Bible. When we die we have only two possible destinations - Heaven or hell. Those who have rejected God go to hell, and those who have accepted God go to Heaven. However, only the perfect can enter Heaven. So, since many people have accepted God, but are not perfect when they die, God, in His infinite Mercy, has created Purgatory. Purgatory is a place where we are purified so that we can enter Heaven as a perfect person.

I am definitely not perfect and have made many mistakes, and I am so thankful for the amazing gift of Purgatory.

Answer 2

Ah, but the Catholic Church is one of the few denominations that does accept the possibility that souls in a state of purgatorial suffering may not be confined to one location. Saints such as St. Padre Pio and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (the nun to whom Christ revealed the devotion to His Sacred Heart) were both visited by suffering souls who asked for their prayers. It may be that some lost souls are set at liberty by the devil to deceive or harass the living and that some ghosts are earthbound souls performing their Purgatory on earth. The Church allows for the possibility of both, if for no other reason than keeping silent on matters which cannot be proven. Generally speaking, however, a soul that has left the body does to either Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. Heaven is the realm of God, and only purified and completely holy souls go there. Hell is the place of Satan, and souls which have rejected Christ or died in a state of mortal sin will go there. Most of us who love God and yet have not purified ourselves of attachments to sin and worldly things will find ourselves spending time in Purgatory. God cannot look upon sin, so the soul that enters Heaven must be completely cleansed. Souls in Purgatory are saved and on their way to Heaven, so Purgatory is a place of suffering and yet of joy, as well. Limbo, once thought to be the place where the souls of unbaptized infants and righteous souls who never knew Christ, was never an official doctrine of the Church. Limbo was recently declared to be non-existant.

Answer 3

** What's the difference between limbo and purgatory? **

Apparently not much, the unbaptized infants that are at peace
have now been allowed to go to heaven, thank God .
It is truly an awesome sight to see the princes of religion
back pedal. Amazing absolutely amazing, what's next, idols .
Such a thing as this is done to quiet the unbaptized baby
question.

The below story was on the Yahoo front page.

Catholic Church buries limbo after centuries By Philip Pullella
Fri Apr 20, 2:21 PM ET
The Roman Catholic Church has effectively buried the concept of limbo, the place where centuries of tradition and teaching held that babies who die without baptism went.
In a long-awaited document,...

I really liked this part of the article.

Pope Benedict, himself a top theologian who before his election in 2005 expressed doubts about limbo, authorized the publication of the document, called " The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptised."
The verdict that limbo could now rest in peace had been expected for years. The document was seen as most likely the final word since limbo was never part of Church doctrine, even though it was taught to Catholics well into the 20th
century.

Have a pleasant day.

Answer 4

If you don't accept Christ, but you are good, you go to limbo. If you accept Christ, but you a naughty, you go to purgatory.

limbo : a region on the border of hell or heaven, serving as the abode after death of unbaptized infants (limbo of infants) and of the righteous who died before the coming of Christ .

purgatory : a condition or place in which the souls of those dying penitent are purified from venial sins, or undergo the temporal punishment that, after the guilt of mortal sin has been remitted, still remains to be endured by the sinner.

Answer 5

"limbo" was NEVER part of the catholic faith, but only a theological hypothesis.
ON the other hand, Purgatory is defined as part of the Catholic faith. It is a place in which saved souls heading for heaven are "cleansed" of the effects of sin, before entering into the kingdom.

Answer 6

Limbo- a state of grace where unbaptized good people live for eternity.

Purgatory- when you die with a Venial (lesser) sin and you face a temporary Hell-like state that purifies you for Heaven.

God bless.

Answer 7

Limbo, Paradise(garden), Bosom of Abraham
(place of rest for the good who have died - no suffering)
(Luke 16:19)
When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the nether world, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

(Luke 23:43) (Rev 20:13)

The Nether World, Purgatory/Prison, Death, Hades &
Sheol (abodes of the dead)
(Temporary prison of punishment)
(Psalms 16:9,10)
"Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption."

(Psalm 30:3)
"O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit."

POSSIBLE LOCATION OF PURGATORY?

(Matthew 4:8-10)
'Ascending on high, he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men.'
Now that he ascended, what is it,
but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things."

It's impossible to determine with any certainty, but unofficially, these various names used in the bible might indeed indicate one 'place' for lack of a better word - but containing several levels. The top levels being closest to Heaven and the lower levels being closest to Hell with greater suffering. As one is purified or 'refined as gold', he moves up through the levels until he is finally pure enough to enter into the joy of Heaven.
(Rev. 1:17,18) (Rev. 20:13-14) (Numbers 16, 33) (Luke 23:43) (Dt. 32:22)
(Matthew 5:25) (Luke 12:57-59) (1 Cor 3:12-15) (2 Maccabees 12:39-46)
(Matthew 4:8-10)

.
Hell, Fiery Gehenna(Mat. 18:9), The Fiery Furnace, Place of Torment, The Pool of Fire & Sulfur, The Eternal Fire(Mat. 18:8), The place of hypocrites & liars, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth(Mat. 8:11-12)(Mat. 24:51)(Mat. 25:30), The Pit, The Unquenchable Fire, The Consuming Worm
(Prepared for the devil and his angels)
(Psalm 112:10)
'The wicked man shall see it and be vexed; he shall gnash his teeth and pine away;
the desire of the wicked shall perish.'

(Matthew 8:12)
"...where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."

(Rev. 21:8)
"But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers,
the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort,
their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

(Rev. 14:11)
The smoke of the fire that torments them
will rise forever and ever, and there will be no relief day or night
for those who worship the beast or its image
or accept the mark of its name."

In regard to the fallen angels:

(2 Peter 2:4)

"For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but condemned them to the chains of Tartarus and handed them over to be kept for judgement;..."

(Jude 6)

"The angels too, who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains, in gloom, for the judgement of the great day."

Answer 8

Purgatory lets you move up to heavon, limbo has you well... stuck in limbo.

Answer 9

From what I recall....

limbo is for babies that weren't baptized to be cleansed of original sin (per catholics) and purgatory is where the people who are believers (Catholics) but sinners are while their souls are cleansed to be worthy of heaven....they also believe ONLY Catholics go to heaven.

Answer 10

if not mistaken...
purgatory is "prison term" of catholic previously, but now that has been abolished, so it is either your are NOT guilty or DEATH penalty.
limbo... is an art of doing the limbo-rock???