Why do people go to Purgatory?

Answer 1

Catholics believe in Purgatory because it is mentioned in scripture. Of course, it is not found in Protestant Bibles because Martin Luther tossed out those books of the Old Testament that mentioned Purgatory. But even without the Scriptures to back it up, it should be obvious to everyone that they cannot enter heaven without being perfect, few people die perfect, and a merciful God would not condemn to hell for all eternity those who died in His friendship who still were imperfect. Bottom line? Catholics believe in purgatory because Our Blessed Lord revealed it to His Church as reality, and a dogma of the Church.

Answer 2

A:Yes. In fact, purgatory as a temporary state of punishment is a peculiarly Catholic tradition that does not form part of Eastern Orthodox belief and which is largely rejected by Protestant Churches.

Answer 3

The Bible talks about a place where people go to cleanse their soul before entering Heaven...We call it Purgatory...Protests have no name for it.

Roman Catholic AnswerThe Final Purification, or Purgatory

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 the church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. (Cf. Council of Florence (1439): Denzinger 1304; Council of Trent (1563): Denzinger 1820; (1547): 1580; see also Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336): Denzinger 1000) The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of cleansing fire: (Cf. 1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7.)

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. (St. Gregory the Great, Dial. 4, 29: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 77, 396; cf. Mt 12:31.)

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Juda Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." (2 Macc 12:46.) From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of god. (Cf. Council of Lyons II (1274): Denzinger 856) The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have3 died and to offer our prayers for them. (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 41, 5: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 61, 361; cf. Job 1:5

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

Answer 4

Catholics have always believed in Purgatory and they still do.

Roman Catholic Answer

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

The Final Purification, or Purgatory

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 the church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. (Cf. Council of Florence (1439): Denzinger 1304; Council of Trent (1563): Denzinger 1820; (1547): 1580; see also Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336): Denzinger 1000) The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of cleansing fire: (Cf. 1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7.)

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. (St. Gregory the Great, Dial. 4, 29: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 77, 396; cf. Mt 12:31.)

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Juda Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." (2 Macc 12:46.) From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of god. (Cf. Council of Lyons II (1274): Denzinger 856) The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have3 died and to offer our prayers for them. (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 41, 5: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 61, 361; cf. Job 1:5

Purgatory is a place you can go to when you die. You go there to repent your sins. If you have truly made no sin at all then you will go straight to heaven. (Almost everyone will enter purgatory. It is not forever, but it takes a very long time to leave purgatory, in some cases.) The more prayers you get when your in purgatory, the less time you spend in purgatory......

It is a state that some souls are in after the soul separates from the body after death. Souls that go to purgatory are guaranteed of their salvation, but they are purified so they are nice and ready when the go to heaven to meet God!

.

Catholic AnswerThere seems to be a lot of confusion about purgatory. First of all, it may not be a place at all, just that state of being purged, and we really don't know a lot about it for sure - like if there is "time" as we understand it all, although we think there must be time involved as time is a measure of change. However, we do know that we can only merit when we are here on earth, and that at the instant we die we are subjected to the particular judgment in which we must stand, trembling and in fear, before the Almighty God and be judged. At that instant, He either acknowledges that we have condemned ourselves to hell, or died in His grace and will enter Heaven. However, nothing imperfect may enter heaven and if there is still detris from sin - although NO mortal sin, even one mortal (serious sin) will mean that we have condemned ourselves to hell, of our own free will, for all eternity. Thus if we have no mortal sin on our soul, purgatory is the word that describes how God cleans our soul of any remaining imperfections so that we will be able to enter heaven. It is the most comforting, loving action of God who wants all to be saved, without this Graciousness on His part, very few would ever enter heaven, but God loves us so much - more than we can comprehend, that He is willing to complete our perfection in us, if we are at least trying when we die. However, the souls in purgatory can do nothing to help themselves, once we have died, our time to merit anything is over, we can only suffer the extreme torments of having our souls purified, and knowing that we have extended our separation from God by our own fault. Those on earth can help us by their good deeds and prayers, please see the books and links below.
Roman Catholic AnswerThe Final Purification, or Purgatory

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 the church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. (Cf. Council of Florence (1439): Denzinger 1304; Council of Trent (1563): Denzinger 1820; (1547): 1580; see also Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336): Denzinger 1000) The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of cleansing fire: (Cf. 1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7.)

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. (St. Gregory the Great, Dial. 4, 29: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 77, 396; cf. Mt 12:31.)

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Juda Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." (2 Macc 12:46.) From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of god. (Cf. Council of Lyons II (1274): Denzinger 856) The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have3 died and to offer our prayers for them. (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 41, 5: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 61, 361; cf. Job 1:5

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

Answer 5

Catholics believe that if one dies in a State of Grace, yet not fully ready to be with God, there is a place of cleansing, called Purgatory, where the soul suffers* until it is ready to be united with God in Heaven (CCC 1031).

Please, see the link below for more information.

* It is held that the cleansing is some type of temporary punishment such as fire or the longing to be united with the Beatific Vision.

Answer 6

1. There is a state between when a person dies and when they enter heaven in which they are purified of their attachments to sin.

2. This purification involves some type of suffering.

3. People on earth can assist others and eventually themselves in purification by praying for them and making sacrifices for them (these are called indulgences).

Answer 7

Roman Catholic AnswerThe Final Purification, or Purgatory

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 the church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. (Cf. Council of Florence (1439): Denzinger 1304; Council of Trent (1563): Denzinger 1820; (1547): 1580; see also Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336): Denzinger 1000) The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of cleansing fire: (Cf. 1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7.)

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. (St. Gregory the Great, Dial. 4, 29: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 77, 396; cf. Mt 12:31.)

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Juda Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." (2 Macc 12:46.) From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of god. (Cf. Council of Lyons II (1274): Denzinger 856) The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have3 died and to offer our prayers for them. (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 41, 5: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 61, 361; cf. Job 1:5

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994