21
votes
Accepted
Did Martin Luther accept or reject the existence of Purgatory?
Luther's beliefs on purgatory evolved over time. A quick search on the Internet will find people claiming he accepted purgatory, offering quotes to prove it, and others saying he rejected it, also ...
- 7,754
10
votes
Accepted
Did Augustine believe in Purgatory?
It appears that Augustine believed that purgatory was real, but didn't believe the matter was settled.
His agnosticism seems clearest in this passage:
It is a matter that may be inquired into, and ...
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10
votes
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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?
The Catholic Church teaches ways by which we are freed from the temporal consequence of our sin, and thereby eliminate our need of Purgatory.
One is the Sacrament of Baptism:
By Baptism all sins are ...
- 504
9
votes
Accepted
Where did Augustine say that the same fire that tortures the damned purifies the elect?
This quote does come from Augustine, but its application to the doctrine of purgatory seems to be the work of Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas (who mistakenly attributes it to Gregory the Great) quotes ...
8
votes
Purgatory - is it a place or state?
To the best of my knowledge, the details of purgatory have never been set out in an official Vatican document (like a papal bull, council decree, etc.). The magisterium of the church is somewhat vague ...
- 81
6
votes
Accepted
Offering Indulgences to the Poor souls in Purgatory
A soul in purgatory is a soul in purgatory. No where does the Church define that an indulgence for particular soul in purgatory has to be named in order to receive an indulgence when we meet the ...
- 61.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Does Romans 8:1 Cast Doubt On Purgatory?
In Catholic belief, purgatory is not condemnation: It is a place of penance and purification (note the Latin root in common with "purging", "purgare", meaning to purify), in ...
- 259
5
votes
Accepted
According to the Catholic Church, are Adam and Eve in heaven?
What Catholic tradition speaks of them to be in heaven?
This is the doctrine known as the Harrowing of Hell. It says that, after his crucifixion, Jesus descended to the realm of the dead, in order to ...
- 3,793
5
votes
Accepted
Purgatory - is it a place or state?
In an appendix to Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica, Jean Nicolai, a 17th-century commentator on Aquinas, states that not much can be said about Purgatory, but he seems to imply that it is a place:
...
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5
votes
Accepted
Purgatory for those who are saved outside the Church?
I thought I would share some relevant words from 'The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich':
“I was present when God passed sentence on notorious sinners. Great is
His justice, but ...
- 5,339
5
votes
Accepted
According to Catholicism, what is the purpose of praying for the dead?
Those on earth do not know with certainty whether one is in hell, purgatory, or heaven—unless the Church has canonized the faithfully departed as a saint, in which case one is certain he or she is in ...
- 36.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Which Catholic theologians say that Purgatory is a "fiery moment"?
The only one I've seen Wright specifically identify is Pope Benedict XVI. In Wright's 2004 book For All the Saints?, after briefly discussing Karl Rahner's unusual purgatorial theology, he turns to a ...
- 15.1k
5
votes
Purgatory and Plenary Indulgences?
Purgatory and Plenary Indulgences?
In order to gain a plenary indulgence we must have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin. That means we must not have any desire ...
- 61.5k
4
votes
Does the Eastern Orthodox Church believe in Aerial Toll Houses?
It's a complex issue which might not be addressed completely by this answer right now. But given enough time I'll elaborate more detail to address many aspects related to this controversy in great ...
- 1,399
4
votes
Offering Indulgences to the Poor souls in Purgatory
The Church documents on this refer to the dead (the souls in purgatory) in general terms. For example:
Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution on Indulgences says:
n.3—Partial as well as plenary ...
- 36.3k
4
votes
Accepted
According to the Catholic Church, what did Jesus mean by the phrase "in the age to come"?
Catholics see this passage as evidence for the existence of Purgatory (i.e. there are sins that will be pardoned after death).
1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly ...
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4
votes
According to Catholicism, what is the purpose of praying for the dead?
The Catholic Church believes that souls who die in the state of grace, yet still need to be purified from the temporal punishment due to sin are purified in Purgatory.
Catholic teaching regarding ...
- 61.5k
4
votes
How does Catholicism biblically defend purgatory in a way that upholds the sufficiency of Christ's work?
The Catholic Church teaches the doctrine of Purgatory while also teaching the sufficient and superabundant merits of the Passion of Christ.
The first component to understanding this is the dogma that ...
- 2,453
3
votes
Does Hades (The bosom of Abraham) still exist after Christ's resurrection
I will answer the question from the viewpoint of Roman Catholic doctrine.
Before Christ's death, the state or "place" of the souls of all dead people (Hebrew sheol, Greek hades and Latin inferus [1]) ...
- 1,627
3
votes
Accepted
Purgatory, 2 Corinthians 5:10, and Protestantism
Regarding Purgatory and Protestantism, I found an article that starts thus:
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Purgatory is “a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, ...
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3
votes
Did Martin Luther accept or reject the existence of Purgatory?
Reading through Martin Luther's sermons, it appears he clearly rejected purgatory as early as 1524, with doubts beginning as early at 1522
Luther on Purgatory
A Sermon by Martin Luther; taken from his ...
- 31
3
votes
What is the means of forgiveness in Purgatory?
The means of any forgiveness is penance. The following is taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
ARTICLE 4: THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
1422 Those who approach the ...
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3
votes
How does Catholicism biblically defend purgatory in a way that upholds the sufficiency of Christ's work?
My question is not about the prayers or the process of purification in purgatory. My question is about the notion of there being some aspect of Divine Justice that was not satisfied on the sinners ...
- 8,095
3
votes
What was the Early Church's position on Purgatory?
I use only one Catholic source for this answer, beginning with the eschatological aspect which had to be formed first, gives the history of the doctrine, then explains some of the differences that ...
- 23k
3
votes
Accepted
According to Catholic Church, how long should a person pray for the soul of his/her dear ones after the death of the latter?
According to Catholic Church, how long should a person pray for the soul of his/her dear ones after the death of the latter?
The Church does not limit in any way the duration of time that should pray ...
- 61.5k
3
votes
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?
Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. [Romans 14:23 KJV.]
All that believe are justified from all things [Acts 13:39 KJV.]
The question about purgatory can be answered by concentrating on ...
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3
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Did the Early Church believe in purgatory?
Pohle-Preuss, Eschatology or the Catholic Doctrine of the Last Things: A Dogmatic Treatise, pt. 1, ch. 5 on purgatory:
Tertullian mentions anniversary masses for the dead.18 That he had Purgatory in ...
- 36.3k
3
votes
Accepted
What is the merit of praying for the souls of the faithful in purgatory compared to for the living?
What you quote is very similar to what St. Thomas Aquinas writes in Summa Theologica suppl. q. 71 a. 5 ad 3 (= Super Sent. lib. 4 d. 45 q. 2 a. 2 qc. 1 ad 3):
Suffrage for a dead person is more ...
- 36.3k
2
votes
How is the Catholic belief in Purgatory supported?
What One must examine is the Hebraic origins. The Hebrew culture is the source of some of the Held traditions, and Beliefs of Christianity, and Catholicism. The Issue with Gentiles adopting this ...
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