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Purgatory is not a place so much as a state. Once you die, you are just a spirit, as your body dies and decays in the earth. Your spirit has no dimensions and is not subject to "place" the way that we, alive in the physical world, understand it. Purgatory is the state that you go to when you die if you are destined for heaven but die imperfect (if you die with serious sin on your soul, you go immediately and eternally to hell). So it is just a state of being on your way to heaven but being purified of any sin that is still staining you.
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from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994
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.
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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-Schonmetzer, Enchiridion Symbolorum, defniitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum (1965) 1304; Council of Trent (1563) DS 1820; (1547); 1580; see also Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336): DS 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 a 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, Dail. 4, 39; J.P. Migne, ed, Patrologia Latrina (Paris: 1841-1855) 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 [Judas 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): DS 856) the church also commend 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 the offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them. (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. In 1 Cor. 41, 5: PG 61, 361; cf Job1:5
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Can people go to purgatory?
In Catholic belief, purgatory is a temporary state after death where souls undergo purification before entering heaven. It is said to be for those who die in a state of grace but are not yet fully purified of their sins. Other Christian denominations may have different beliefs about the nature of the afterlife.
Can people go to pugatory?
No ''purgatory'' is not even real
Can people in purgatory haunt you?
No, because purgatory doesn't exist
Where do Catholics get the idea that their soul first goes to purgatory and then people on earth pray for them to go to heavend?
First of all, not everyone goes to purgatory before going to heaven. Some people die and go straight to heaven. Others are not completely free from sinful attachments. Because of their attachment to sin, they are not yet ready for heaven because as the Bible tells us, "nothing unclean can enter heaven." So they go to purgatory where they are purified. Second of all, the prayers of people on earth are not necessary for someone to go from purgatory to heaven. It is God who purifies the souls, and He doesn't need anyone's help. However, He allows us to participate with Him by praying for those in purgatory because as the Bible tells us, it is good to pray for one another. We pray for those in purgatory not because it is necessary for them to go to heaven, but because it is a charitable thing that God allows us to do for each other.
Use purgatory in a sentence?
I can't imagine going through purgatory after death. -OR- Purgatory is where people from a certain religion go through after death where they can clean themselfs from their sins or impurities, there they decide wether to go to hevan or hell. <---- That's kind of the religious definition but it still is a sentence.
What happen to people who died back then?
They go to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell like everyone else does today when they die.
What is a place you go that starts with the letter p?
Purgatory.
Where in Ireland is st patricks purgatory?
In Lough Derg, county Donegal. It is a place of pilgrimage. There is an island in the middle of the lake that people go to.
Do you go to heaven after purgatory?
OpinionYes, when a soul enters purgatory it begins the cleansing process, (removal of sins) so the soul can be purely good and so worthy to be entirely in God's presence (heaven).In other words a soul in heaven is guarenteed a place in heaven.OpinionSome churches believe that Purgatory is a temporary state before you can go to heaven. While some other churches believe that it is a place for those not good enough for heaven, but too good for hell; and once in purgatory you remain there indefinitely.Other churches do not believe there is a purgatory at all; they believe that after death people go directly to heaven or hell depending on how God judges them.
Where may Catholics go between death and heaven?
Purgatory.
What it is called when you do not go to heaven or hell?
Purgatory or something like that.
Do you go to purgatory if you were good or bad when you were alive?
Some Christians hold that if you were good, but still a sinner (as we all are, according to most divisions of Christianity), you go to Purgatory where you are purged of your sins. For how long? Possibly until Christ rises again. Others say for some determined amount of time. Purgatory is especially part of the Catholic tradition, I believe. Personally, my definition is this: Hell is where you go when neither you nor your significant whoevers can forgive each other, Purgatory is where you go when you are waiting for your wife to forgive you, and Heaven is where go as soon as you quit worrying about those who would put you in hell or purgatory! So, I just entered Heaven, but I know both Hell and Purgatory always have their doors open for me! How about you?
