If so could you please give me some Bible verses that tell me about it as I am a Christian myself but have not read about it in the Bible.
Also do catholics believe that we can pray for a person who has died to go to heaven even if they were not a Christian? if so could you also give me Bible references for this as well.
Just becuase I hear so many things about the catholic faith and would like to hear from a catholic to know what they believe.
2007-10-30 13:57:43 · 26 answers · asked by ? 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My mom isn't Catholic, but she believe in outer darkness (which is about the same thing as Catholic purgatory).
She believes that when a Believer isn't good enough for heaven they go to outer darkness for 1000 years, after which they allowed into heaven.
2007-10-30 14:03:21 · answer #1 · answered by lilith 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
God willing I will go to Purgatory when I die. Why do I hope for Purgatory? Simple, I know that I am not without sin in my actions or thoughts. Purgatory will remove those sins from me and make me pure to stand in company with God.
Purgatory is NOT a waiting room while God decides who goes to Heaven or Hell. It is a cleansing of the soul.
As for what the Bible has to say about it:
Lk 12:58-59; 1 Cor 3:15; Mt 5:25-26 ... temporary agony.
Heb 12:6-11 ... God’s painful discipline.
Mt 12:32 ... no forgiveness ... nor in the age to come.
1 Pet 4:6 ... preached to the dead.
Rev 21:27 ... nothing unclean shall enter heaven.
Heb 12:23 ... souls in heaven are perfect.
Col 1:24; 2 Sam 12:13-14 ... “extra” suffering.
2 Mac 12:43-46 ... sacrifice for the dead.
2 Tim 1:15-18 ... prayer for Onesiphorus for “that Day.”
1 Jn 5:14-17 ... mortal/venial sins
Remember, "Trinity" isn't in the Bible, but we all (Christians) believe that. Also, no where in the Bible does it say which books belong there, nor does it say that only what is in the Bible is to be believed or practiced.
May the Peace and Love of our Risen Lord be with you, always.
Pax et Bonum
2007-10-30 15:16:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Bible does not mention the exact word "purgatory," but instead it makes reference to a place. To claim that it does not exist because of this is a cop out. You might as well even deny that there is a book called the Bible because no such name is found in the inspired writings. The name does not make the place; the place must exist first, then we give it a name. We call this place "purgatory" because it means "a cleansing place." In Matthew 5:26 Christ is condemning sin and speaks of liberation only after expiation. "Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." Now we know that no last penny needs to be paid in Heaven and from Hell there is no liberation at all; hence the reference must apply to a third place. Matthew 12:32 says, "And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." The same person as in the previously mentioned verse, Matthew, speaks of sin against the Holy Spirit. The implication is that some sins can be forgiven in the world to come. But not in Hell from which there is no liberation; nor in Heaven because nothing imperfect can enter it as we see in the next part. Any remission of sin cannot occur in either of these places because they are a final destination unlike purgatory. Revelation 21:27: "...but nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who does abominable things or tells lies." The place that is to be entered (the place to which this passage refers) is heaven (read the stuff around it for context). Say that there is no such thing as purgatory. What becomes of us? The Bible declares that nothing impurified can enter Heaven, but yet a careless word can defile the soul (Matthew 12:36); if there is no place of temporary punishment, the one guilty would be damned to Hell. Who would be saved? Those who teach against purgatory teach an unreasonable doctrine. So, why do non-Catholics reject a teaching so full of consolation? My guess is that they want to believe that the merits of Christ applied to the sinner who trusts in Him, will remove all sin; hence the believer will go at once to Heaven (also known as the belief called Sola Fide or faith alone). Nowhere in the Bible does it say faith alone. This is un-Scriptural, since Christ tells us that to enter into life we must keep the commandments, do the will of His Father and much more with faith. Yes, actions plus faith.
2016-04-11 04:13:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"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.
For more information see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1030: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art12.htm
With love in Christ.
2007-10-30 18:16:46 · answer #4 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You won't find the word purgatory in the Bile but the doctrine is there. You also won't find the words, Holy Trinity, Incarnation, Rapture, etc. in the Bible but doctrines are there.
In Matthew's Gospel we read, "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." (Matthew 12:32) This means that sins can be forgiven in the age to come - after death. If we are in Hell, then we will not want our sins forgiven. If we are in Heaven, then we will have no sins. So, there must be another place where sins can be forgiven.
Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, says, "If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:15) Paul is saying that at the Day of Judgement each man's work will be tested. This trial happens after death. What happens if a person's work fails the test? He himself will be saved, yet so as through fire - Purgatory.
About 125 B.C., Judas Maccabaeus sent money to Jerusalem so that sacrifice would be offered for the soldiers who died in battle. "Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin." (2 Maccabees 12:46 NAB) Even if this book is not accepted as part of the canon of Scripture, it still has historical value since it tells us what happened about 125 B.C.. The Book of Revelation says, "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." (Revelation 21:27) Since nothing that defiles shall enter Heaven, then a person who dies with a very small sin on their soul would be doomed to Hell for all eternity. But God is merciful. He gave us a place where we are purified before we enter Heaven, and that place is called Purgatory. Purgatory is not a sign of God's anger. It is a wonderful example of God's infinite mercy.
It is NOT a second chance. Our final destination is determined by the condition of our soul at the moment of our death.
Added: I disagree with Top Contributor Don H. Could he please cite his source? Dogmas don't change.
Sisterze, et al
I challenge you to post your comments so we can answer them properly. I am willing to debate with you if you like.
2007-10-30 15:02:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Like heaven or hell the word purgatory refers to a place and a state. Catholics believe that purgatory exists to purge those souls who are not yet pure enough for heaven but have not died in a stat of serious mortal sin. Such near-saints must undergo the pain of intense longing for God until they have paid the debt of temporal punishment due them because of their sins on earth. In a word, purgatory exists to make saints who will be ready for the purity of God's presence. If one does not succeed in becoming a saint on earth but yet escapes eternal hell, he is purified in Purgatory
2007-10-30 16:57:45 · answer #6 · answered by flannelpajamas1 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This website addresses all the main issues of the Catholic Faith and shows and explains the bible scriptures that deal with Her teachings: www.scripturecatholic.com. It's a great resource, easy to use and very informative. God bless.
2007-10-31 12:00:52 · answer #7 · answered by Danny H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey darth - you've been given the scriptures by the other Catholics and some silly asnwers by those not catholic. as you read from the bible - there will be a time of judgement after we die. there are sins that will be forgiven in the next life. we have to make ammends for our sins. wel.... say you die and are waiting to stand before the judgement - say you die with some things unforgiven and you have to repent and make ammends. this is a part of the concept of purgatory. the prayers we offer when someone dies.... if you are the deceased and are standing before the judgement at that exact moment -- the prayers are to God for the happy reposse of the soul. we do not know God's time or judgement.
2007-10-30 14:17:44 · answer #8 · answered by Marysia 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Catholics who die with venial sins will go to purgatory. Those who have one mortal sin or more will go to hell. Those who are not pure enough to go to heaven must go to purgatory to expiate for their sins, because unless we are fully ready to see God we must be purified from the temporal punishments due to our sins, since God is all merciful and all just. The bible does not mention purgatory but we were told it exists because there are people in the bible especially in the old testament who prayed for the dead in order for them to go to heaven. If they were already in heaven maybe there is no need to pray for them, but the fact that they prayed for their beloved dead means they were in a place where after prayers are said for their souls, they then can go to heaven. This is the reason why we pray for people who have died, even maybe if they were not Christians. God wants all souls to be saved and He wants all souls to go to heaven so we pray for the dead so that all souls can go to heaven as quickly as possible.
2007-10-30 23:52:13 · answer #9 · answered by hope 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm just sitting back and watching people who aren't Catholic expound on what "they" (Catholics, of course) believe, as if there's some actual knowledge behind the statements.
It's becoming quite entertaining, actually. This happens every time there's a question addressed to Catholics. Most of us wouldn't presume to hop in and answer questions specifically directed to a different church ... at least not by slamming the church in question. Nobody seems to have any problem adding their heavily biased two cent's worth to questions like this, however.
Regardless, you got answers from Catholics with Bible verses, as requested. I can't improve on their input, but since this is an open forum, I'm adding my own two cents.
"If any one says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20)
2007-10-30 14:41:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋