Pope says Lourdes pilgrims can spend less time in Purgatory?

Question

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/sunday/prog_details.shtml
QUOTE "Lourdes 150th anniversary 'indulgences'
This week Pope Benedict announced that pilgrims can obtain an indulgence which will ensure that when they die they will spend less time in Purgatory. This special indulgence marks the 150th anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary to St Bernadette. Father Martin Moran is priest to the English speaking pilgrims to Lourdes from where he joined Roger on the phone." UNQUOTE

What about Croagh Patrick Pilgrims...(it's no joke staggering up that hill barefooted..which the die-hard pilgrims do.. in all weathers in July - http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/margar17/croagh.htm) and the millions of other Pilgrims?

What happens to them?

Answer 1

lies and subterfuge...

the pope is committing the sin against trading standards, hes making statements which cannot be quantified and therefore cannot be made as a statement with ANY authority.

everyday life is purgatory. we dont need to goto france to prove its so...

Answer 2

What are the Christians babbling about now?

There is no such thing as a true Christian.

According to the teachings of the Christians, a person is supposed to give all their worldly goods away to the poor.

I have yet to see this happen.

Priests and Popes live off the fat of the land, while the peasants and surfs suffer the yolk of hard labour and are told, peace will come in heaven were all want and war will end.

Crap!

In my universe, there is no end of war and when I die, I expect to be charging across an open space such as Salisbury plain on my hand-built Celtic war chariot. I will be with my ancestors doing war.

More visitors go to Stonehenge than ever went to Lourdes or any other so-called Christian site.

Wodin!

Answer 3

This certainly applies to all other religious pilgrims everywhere. There many pilgrimages that take place in certain countries all over the world. Lourdes is an international thing, so it gets more publicity. Besides, the Irish probably do not need a strengthening of their faith, to the degree that the French do. We all need it of course.

Answer 4

Hello! The Pilgrims have been living a lie for a long time! The Pope should tell the truth that's from the Bible, he knows this, but because of religion he keep the tradition of the Catholic Church and none will know the truth until they awaken! Jimmy.

Answer 5

No purgatory? maybe, maybe not - no one knows the mind of God. Catholics consider that when the Pope speaks on the subject of religion, he is infallible. He is, you see, Christ's vicar on earth.

So.......if you are a devoted Catholic, you'd better listen up. If your not Catholic, then you can choose to disbelieve.

It's not anymore difficult to believe in the Pope's inrrency than
to believe the "fantastic" old testament Biblical stories that Catholics consider to be metaphors -and- not historical facts.

It's simply a question of one's personal spiritual belief system.

Answer 6

"For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin" (2 Macc. 12:44-45).
"Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny" (Matt. 5:25-26).
"Each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire" (1 Cor. 3:13-15).
"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey . . ." (1 Peter 3:18-20).
"But nothing unclean shall enter it [heaven] . . ." (Rev. 21:27).

Answer 7

Sometimes it just astounds me how that dusty old denomination keeps on going. "We were the original church" - they cry in defence of almost any criticism. I really wish the Catholic faith would get out of the dark ages and actually embrace life! -- Oh and to answer your question - I believe people go where they want or need to go when they die.

Answer 8

You'd think he was more than a man by what he says. Purgatory does not exist I'm afraid....it's heaven or hell. When you snuff it you get no second chances.
I'm amazed that people are so gullible to believe a man !!!
Guess it's a biblical sign of the times.

Answer 9

I wonder why it took 150 years of the faithful taking pilgramiges to that shrine for there to be a shorter waiting period. Shouldn't it have happened in the beginning so we could strengthen our faith?

Answer 10

the pope is a man saying his own opinions not gods