Purgatory

1
Purgatory

• We believe in the communion of saints and the
  forgiveness of sins.

2
First of all- If you go to Purgatory, you are
assured of going to heaven- just not right away

• Purgatory could really be seen as a form of Gods
  mercy- God knows that our own conscience will not
  allow us in His presence with the stain of sin on
  us, so out of his love for us, He gives us
  purgatory as a place of purification so that we
  can ultimately come into full communion with Him

3
If youre in, youre gonna get there!

• The main purpose of Purgatory is to purge us of
  the affects of our sin
• Although some call this temporal punishment of
  sin God does not punish us. Rejecting sin and
  its results on us is a natural thing we would do
  once we realize the full extent of Gods love for
  us.
• P.S. This can begin on earth!

4
Getting ready to spend eternity in total and pure
love

• When we sin, the sin gets into our system, into
  our conscience, into our spirit- we become
  attached to the sin, which is why sin can become
  so addictive.
• Purgatory allows this attachment to be purged
  from us, so we can enter Gods presence
  completely free of any attachments to sin

5
God made us aware of an intermediate state
neither Heaven nor Hell since the beginning

• The Jews offered atonement and prayer for their
  deceased brethren, who had clearly violated
  Mosaic Law. Such a practice presupposes
  purgatory, since those in heaven wouldn't need
  any help, and those in hell are beyond it.
• Jesus Christ did not correct this belief, as He
  surely would have done if it were erroneous (see
  Matthew 522,25-26, 1232, Luke 1258-59,
  169,19-31
• The doctrine of purgatory has the unanimous
  support of the Church Fathers (early Christians)
  who addressed the matter, either in direct
  references to an intermediate state prior to
  heaven, or in reference to prayers for the dead.
• Luther, as late as 1519, had said that the
  existence of purgatory was undeniable. This view
  held sway until 1530 when he lessened his
  support, saying that its existence could not be
  proven. He later rejected it that same year. In
  1543, however, he permitted the insertion of
  prayers for the dead in the official edition of
  his church directory

6
How to avoid Purgatory?

• A conversion which proceeds from a fervent
  charity can attain the complete purification of
  the sinner in such a way that no punishment would
  remain. ccc 1472
• GET IT? It is actually possible to endure
  suffering NOW, here on earth, and be purified
  completely so that Purgatory would not be
  necessary!

7
More on how to avoid purgatory

• Sin has eternal and temporal consequences
• In reconciliation
• Absolution takes away eternal punishment
• Penance takes away temporal punishment
• Examine your conscience and get to reconciliation
  more often than you have in the past!

8
What gives the Church the power to forgive sin
and to remit temporal punishment?

• Matt 16 13-19
• You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my
  church and the gates of hell shall not prevail
  against it. And I will give thee the keys of the
  kingdom of heaven and whatever thou shall bind
  on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever
  thou shall loose on earth shall be loose in
  heaven.
• Mat 18 15-18
• Sin has temporal consequences
• 2 Sam 12 13-14

9
Acts of faith and good deeds also produce
temporal benefits

• Gen 22 15-18
• Ex32 7-14, 21-35

10
We gain merit for ourselves and others because of
the Mystical Body of Christ..

• Rom 12 5-8
• Rev 6 9-12
• Rom 5 18-21

11
Suffering and penance produce spiritual fruit.

• Col 1 24
• Rom 8 13-17
• Rom 8 35-39
• Rom 12 1-2
• Phi 3 7-11

12
Our life on earth is preparation for eternity
spent in Eucharistic adoration!
I would rather take my beating down here than up
there! Saint JoseMaria

• Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood,
  Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our
  Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and
  those of the whole world for the sake of His
  sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the
  whole world
• Saint Faustina

13
In order to defend Purgatory you must be able to
explain two preliminary distinctions

• 1.) Between guilt and punishment
• 2.) Between mortal and venial

14
Some one may Challenge you and ask you

• Does God forgive the guilt of sin and still
  require atonement?
• David said to Nathan I have sinned against the
  Lord. And Nathan said to David The Lord has
  put away your sin you shall not die.
  Nevertheless, because by this deed you have
  utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born
  to you shall die.

15
God Forgives.

• He still required Reparation in the form of
  suffering. A man might forgive a Teen for
  breaking his window, but still insists he pay for
  the repairs.

16
People may want you to defend the difference in
the two kinds of sin.

• Where does Scripture distinguish between mortal
  and venial sin?
• 1John 516-17 (talks about Venial sins)
• James 114-15 (talks about Mortal sins)

17
What happens to the faithful who die without
perfect holiness or with sin that is not deadly?

• The biblical, logical, and historical answer is
  Purgatory.
• Purgatory comes from the word purge meaning to
  purify or cleanse We should keep this notion of
  purification in mind when explaining this
  doctrine.

18
People will try to test you with this question.

• Is Purgatory Scriptural?
• First, we should note that the word purgatory
  is not found in the Sacred Scripture. This is not
  the point. The words trinity and incarnation
  are not found in Scripture, yet these doctrines
  are clearly taught there. Likewise, the Bible
  teaches that an intermediate state of
  purification exists. We call it Purgatory. What
  is important is the doctrine, not the name.