Questions tagged [purgatory]
Purgatory is a primarily Catholic doctrine (but not exclusively) involving a possibly temporary in-between place that is neither heaven or hell.
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Can you explain purgatory and how to get out?
We have the concept of purgatory. I read in different places that purgatory happens after death. But what should be stated clearly is whether they mean physical death or spiritual death when ...
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What is the merit of praying for the souls of the faithful in purgatory compared to for the living?
From the preface by the publisher to Rev. Schouppe's Purgatory Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints:
Our suffrages or offerings for the dead are more agreeable to God than our prayers and ...
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Can Catholic works of ‘satisfaction’ (prayer, fasting, etc.) for the removal of temporal punishments of venial sin be credited to others still alive?
Here is what I think I understand:
A Catholic believes in something called penance that is understood as a sacrament by which forgiveness of sins (committed after baptism) is granted through the ...
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Did the Jews in Our Lord’s time or earlier believe in a form of purgatory?
Purgatory is most often dismissed as being nothing more than a Roman Catholic belief, but does Judaism have a form of purgatory? (ie a place where our remaining sins are purged) or to quote from the ...
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According to Catholic Church, how long should a person pray for the soul of his/her dear ones after the death of the latter?
Catholics believe in the existence of Purgatory where one's soul gets purified before one is granted entry into the abode of God. So, we have November, the month dedicated to the prayer for the souls ...
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What is the basis of the teaching that souls in purgatory can intercede for the living?
Point 6 in the Our Sunday Visitor Article "9 truths about purgatory" is that souls in purgatory can intercede for us:
The souls in purgatory can’t do anything for themselves, but the Church ...
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Did the Early Church believe in purgatory?
Roman Catholics believe in purgatory, which is a state of purgation in which our soul goes through before entering into the kingdom of God, but are there any Early Church Fathers who believed in the ...
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A problem with Purgatory: How could Jesus say what he did to the repentant criminal on a cross next to him if Purgatory existed?
If I understand the matter of Purgatory correctly, it is as stated in this Catholic Encyclopedia of Theology which speaks of ‘believing humanity, characterized by finality of decision’ – which surely ...
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What is the biblical basis for the rejection of purgatory? [duplicate]
Often from protestants, I get asked the biblical basis for purgatory. But I want to flip the question around and ask protestants this: What is the biblical basis against the cleansing of the soul ...
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How do Christians who reject the idea of purgatory deal with the fact that most people don't repent of every sin before they die?
It is an observable fact that most people, even most Christians, don't repent of every sin individually before they die. Even that really great guy at church who's everyone's best friend and is first ...
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What is the Protestant argument against the doctrine of Purgatory?
The Roman Catholic Church teaches the idea of Purgatory, which is defined by Wikipedia as follows:
Purgatory is, according to Catholic teaching, the state or place of
purification or temporary ...
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Does Romans 8:1 Cast Doubt On Purgatory?
Romans 8:1:
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
How do Catholics respond to the apparent incompatibility between this verse and purgatory? That being that we ...
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Purgatory and Plenary Indulgences?
In regards to the purification of the soul before entering heaven; suppose a person has a desire that is sinful and has struggled with it for many years to the point that it has become habitual. The ...
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According to Catholicism, if we sin and become repentant will our sins be forgiven too like St. Peter?
At the catechism class we learned that as Peter was repentant after betraying Jesus his sin was forgiven.
If we sin, become repentant and do confessions will our sins be forgiven too? Or do we have to ...
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What was the Early Church's position on Purgatory?
I like to look at views that the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Church share. One of those views that they don't share is purgatory. This got me thinking. Is there any evidence that the Early Church ...
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Existence of Hell in Christianity [duplicate]
What are the biblical basis for hell in Christianity? Are there any and if there are what are they based on in bible or in Christianity in general. I have seen many articles about the bible not ...
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According to the Catholic Church, is there any indirect mention of purgatory in the Gospels? [duplicate]
While the Gospels make a number of references to eternal damnation, they do not appear to directly mention purgatory, which is a strong precept of the Catholic faith. My question therefore is: ...
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Did Martin Luther accept or reject the existence of Purgatory?
Martin Luther rejected many dogmas and doctrines of the Catholic Church. What was his belief concerning Purgatory? Did he accept it or reject it?
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According to the Catholic Church, does purgatory have a symbol?
I haven't found it on the internet. Are there any symbols for purgatory, or related to purgatory?
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According to Roman Catholic Doctrine, what things have the power to decrease a person's time in purgatory?
Roman Catholic teaching states that many people spend a certain amount of time in purgatory after they die before going to heaven. I remember hearing something to the effect that people who are still ...
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Can an indulgence be applied to a deceased non-Catholic Christian?
The Manual of Indulgences published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states that
The faithful can obtain a partial or plenary indulgences for themselves, or they can apply them to ...
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Purgatory for those who are saved outside the Church?
The Catholic Church teaches that some might be saved outside the Catholic Church.
This question relates to those, for example a non-denominational Christian that lives his life ignorantly but ...
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What is the difference between immediate judgment after death and the final judgment, according to Catholicism?
According to this site, adapted from the United States Catechism for Adults,
"Our Church teaches that immediately after death, our soul separates from our earthly body and we stand before God for ...
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Does Hades (The bosom of Abraham) still exist after Christ's resurrection
I've been listening to this pastor from AoC Network that has been talking about Hades as there is/was a place of torment and a place of peace, before Christ's resurrection. This is where people who ...
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Did Augustine believe in Purgatory?
Purgatory was one of the doctrines the Reformers reacted most strongly against, though many Reformers claimed Augustine of Hippo as being in agreement with their theology. Did Augustine teach a ...
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How does Catholicism biblically defend purgatory in a way that upholds the sufficiency of Christ's work?
Below is a quote from an answer to this question "What is the basis of the teaching that souls in purgatory can intercede for the living?:
The (Catholic) Church refers to the souls in purgatory ...
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According to the Catholic Church, are Adam and Eve in heaven?
According to this site
As we have said elsewhere, Adam and Eve are not called saints in
ordinary reference, historical or scriptural. But they may be called
saints on their feast day, which is ...
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What's the name of this doctrine and (when) did the Eastern Orthodox Church condemn it?
"God is merciful and He wants all people to be saved, thus, all the humans, even the worst ones, having fully redeemed themselves from their wrongdoings by spending some adequate time in the hell, ...
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Offering Indulgences to the Poor souls in Purgatory
Obviously this Question is strictly for Catholics.
When all conditions are met from those being granted an indulgence, particularly a plenary indulgence for the souls in Purgatory. Is it necessary ...
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Can someone atone for the sins of another, in the life after death, if they asked this grace from Our Lord before their own death in this life?
At 1 Peter 2:24 we read:
" He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. "
Of course, one would be ...
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Did Dante's Divine Comedy describe or define Christian views on the afterlife?
Dante's Divine Comedy, the 14th century epic poem describing a journey through the various levels of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven and the persons or types of persons who inhabit each level (including ...
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Purgatory - is it a place or state?
According to Catholicism, does purgatory refer to a place or state? Has it ever been described as a place and then later a state, or vice-versa?
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How do those who reject both predestination and purgatory justify their beliefs?
For the sake of this question:
Predestination = from the foundations of the universe, God chose who will be saved.
Purgatory = a place where people suffer / are purified, and afterwards, they go to ...
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Where did Augustine say that the same fire that tortures the damned purifies the elect?
I've seen it quoted on internet sites that Augustine said that the same fire that tortures the damned purifies the elect. Supposedly he meant by this that the fires of Purgatory and Hell are the same. ...
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Purgatory, 2 Corinthians 5:10, and Protestantism
2 Corinthians 5:10 reads:
(NA28) τοὺς γὰρ πάντας ἡμᾶς φανερωθῆναι δεῖ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ βήματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα κομίσηται ἕκαστος τὰ διὰ τοῦ σώματος πρὸς ἃ ἔπραξεν, εἴτε ἀγαθὸν εἴτε φαῦλον.
(My ...
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How is the Catholic belief in Purgatory supported?
There is already this question on this site: What is the Biblical support for Purgatory?
But I believe there might be more to the Catholic argument. We know that Catholics regard the Holy Tradition ...
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In Christ's time the Jews believed in Purgatory and still do. Why don't Protestants? [closed]
The Jews believe in Purgatory, why don't Protestants?
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What do mormons believe about eschatology? [closed]
As I understand, mormons affirm some sort of final judgment where people are judged according to their works.
I'm curious what that looks like. Is it a balancing scale, where if you did more good ...
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Luke 16:19-31—Is the rich man in Hell or Purgatory? [closed]
Luke 16:19-31 (NASB)
Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered ...
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According to the Catholic Church, what did Jesus mean by the phrase "in the age to come"?
We read at Matthew 12:31-32 (RSVCE):
31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 And whoever says a word ...
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Old Roman Catholic Bibles having indulgence charts?
I just listened to a podcast of an Orthodox priest talking about his conversion into the Eastern Orthodox church. He mentioned something about how he once courted an irish Catholic girl who had a big ...
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According to Roman Catholic teaching, did people who died in Old Testament times spend time in Purgatory?
I understand that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that people today spend time in Purgatory after they die prior to going to heaven.
However, this teaching does not appear to have been taught in ...
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According to Catholicism, what is the purpose of praying for the dead?
What is the purpose of praying for the dead according to Catholicism?
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How do Catholics explain Jesus' words to the thief on the cross, in light of the doctrine of Purgatory?
In Luke 23, there is a brief conversation between Jesus and one of the thieves crucified beside him:
42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43Jesus answered him, “Truly ...
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Does the Eastern Orthodox Church believe in Aerial Toll Houses?
In the Oration, St. Gregory of Nazianzus talked about “last baptism,” the baptism of eschatological fire, longer lasting and more painful than one’s penance for sins (Or. 39.19). Some Protestants have ...
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Which Catholic theologians say that Purgatory is a "fiery moment"?
I was watching a video interview of NT Wright about life after death, in which he makes a statement that:
Some Roman Catholic theologians now say that that's actually what Purgatory is actually ...
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What is the means of forgiveness in Purgatory?
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.
Matthew 12:32 (...
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Are funerals a way to reduce the time of the dead in purgatory
I was reading an article on TVTropes and I've found this :
In a way, there's a "Person Needs Prayer Badly" in medieval European Catholicism... in order to go to Heaven (or reduced their ...
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What is the Biblical support for Purgatory?
Exactly as the title asks; where do Catholics get their Scriptural support for the idea of Purgatory? To be more specific, how I think of Purgatory (which may be incorrect) is that it's a temporary ...
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According to Catholicism, in what cases is Purgatory necessary?
As I understand it, there are at least two "steps" necessary for a person to reach Heaven; I hope this description is valid from nearly all Christian viewpoints. First the person has to choose to ...
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