Why Do Catholics Believe in Purgatory?

This was a really good, and easy to follow, explanation of purgatory. I appreciated understanding it better, and being able to share something with friends who ask!

Loved your explanation of purgatory. I'm so glad am Catholic ☺️

It’s important to read the scriptures. In 1 Corinthians 3, it is not the person that is being put through the fire, but each persons “work” that is tested. 1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have – Jesus Christ. Know anyone who builds on that foundation May use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hey or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see weather or not it keeps its value. If the work survived the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder we will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames.” We must be very careful of false doctrine especially now during these times of deception in many of the churches. God bless you, sharing the truth in love.

The words of the criminals hanging on the cross next to Jesus - "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." The other rebuked him, saying, ..."We receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" Luke 23:39-43

"Purgatory is where the mercy of God tempers the justice of God." Fulton Sheen

Jesus said it is finished!

The Holy Spirit purge's us also we are perfect in Christ Jesus when we come through the blood of the Lamb and receive His righteousness. No sir there is no such thing as praying for the dead they are dead once your gone your life on earth is over you have one chance to receive eternal life on this side of glory.

I think it was Dr. Brant Pitre who brings up the parable in Luke 12:43-48. In this set of parables Jesus is explaining what dying and judgement will be like. This particular parable talks of the faithful going to Heaven (put in charge of all possessions), the unfaithful servant being cast out (hell) with the unfaithful; then there is the category of those not deserving either, but will receive punishment (some severe, some light); but not cast out into the eternal darkness. Seems like a spot on description of purgatory to me.

Purgatory is the biggest disrespect to Jesus. His blood wasn’t enough

I have heard Rabbi’s say purgatory last for 11 months, not sure were they get that from or how they would know that. I’ve never heard Christians give a time line on it. Any thoughts? Thanks!

John 14 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Yes the second great commandment is about living your neighbor. This one I think is broken by most people who say they are christian, what God hates most is man hating his fellow man, but many Christians are quilty if this. Even in the many Sunday school classes of the many denominations,this is not taught because of the widespread racism that excist in the United States. Go to confession , pray to Mary, and love your neighbor. And yes I'm a cradle Catholic of Sicilian decent, and yes I firmly believe in purgatory!

I was told that the fires of purgatory in the area of brink of hell are like the fires of hell but a soul has hope to see God. Now I'm being told the fires are are of God's love. Could the fires of God's love be the "other end" of purgatory?

I still don't get it.. When does it happen? If you can't pray for those in hell bc there's no longer salvation, and those who are in heaven don't need it anymore, how would we know?? How can we know??

Praise GOD FOR HIS MERCIFUL LOVE. However, we should NOT take his mercy for GRANTED. NO NOT HAVE A LACK OF ZEAL TO AVOID SIN & TO WORK TOWARDS LOVING HIM & BEING FAITHFUL TO HIM EVERYDAY. Many Catholics take for granted our LORD JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST & RECEIVE HIM NOT BEING IN THE STATE OF GRACE. THAT HARMS OUR SOULS WHEN WE RECEIVE HIM IN SIN. GO TO CONFESSION WITH INTENTION YOU WILL TO EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO NOT SIN. GOD BLESS.

If Hell may be crowded, imagine Purgatory as we are all sinners. Not a nice place to be, so use the Catholic tools to get out of there asap (scapular highly recommended), frequent confession, etc…

How do you pray for the dead?

Why wasn’t the concept of purgatory discussed by the orthodox synod in any of the councils they had? Oh wait it’s because it’s a baseless concept that only the Catholics brought up after splitting from the synod… it’s from the same church that thinks that the pope is “infallible” too

Here is the Biblical explanation of hell. Jesus taught that all people would be either saved lost or, that they would go to either heaven or hell. “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” No question about it, it’s one place or the other according to Jesus. What goes to hell? Jesus answers it for us in Matthew 5:30 “And if thy right hand offends thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” He says the “whole body” would be cast into hell, not a spirit or “soul”. BTW, the term “soul” is defined in Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” It says here man “became a living soul”, not that he was given a soul. He, man, was formed of the dust of the earth and given the breath of life from God, or the metabolism, the spark of life if you will and became a soul. In a ship disaster they say, “All souls on board were lost”, meaning all people. So the whole “body” will be cast into hell. When does this happen? Not at the moment of death. According to Jesus it in the parable of the wheat and the tares, Matthew 13:29 – 43, it happens at the harvest and “the harvest is the end of the world” (verse 39). 2 Peter 2:9 says, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished”. Where are the unjust “reserved”. Jesus says in John 5:28 & 29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” When will those in their graves hear His voice and come forth? At Christs 2nd coming. When does Christ reward the good and the evil? Mathew 16:27 “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” When He comes again. Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Daniel 12:2 “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” They are “reserved” in the grave until then. Then where is hell? 2 Peter3:7 & 10 “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” And “…and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” He says the earth is “reserved” for that purpose. Also see Isaiah 34:8 & 9 and Psalm 11:6. Matthew 10:28 Jesus said “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”. He said God will “destroy” body and soul in hell, meaning all of the unsaved, every part of them, will be destroyed. Not punished eternally. Would God do that, eternally torment and torture someone who chose to believe in evolution but lived a relatively good life? Not the God of the Bible. He will destroy them and they will suffer the 2nd death. Revelation 20:14 & 15 says “ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”. The unsaved suffer eternal death not eternal suffering. Is that not bad enough, to be eternally separated from God. Must He torture people forever? So after a trillion years of torture, exquisite pain and suffering, God will tell those suffering “You have only just begun”? Whoa, really? That’s not what the Bible teaches, that’s not the God of the Bible. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Also see 2 Peter 3:13. How long do they burn? How can we inherit it if it is a lake of fire? John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” and Roman 6:23 says “The wages of sin is death”. 1 John 5:11 & 12 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” John 3:16 says unbelievers will “perish” and Paul say the wages of sin is death. Ezekiel 18:4 makes it clearer “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” It is clear, the unsaved die, not live forever. So, what Jesus tells us about hell is that it is the final destination of those who do not choose salvation through Jesus, that an unsaved persons “whole body” will be cast into hell and not a “soul” or “spirit”, they will be destroyed in hell and not suffer eternally. Their punishment will be eternal. There will be no second chances after that, but they will not be tortured forever, they will be eternally destroyed. Hell is not eternal. It’s consequences are. Hell will be on this earth and sin will be burnt up with sinners then the earth will be made new. A new heaven and a new earth, free from sin where God and His people will live together. All this is taught in the Bible, from the mouth of Jesus. Check it out for yourself. Don’t take my word or the word of anyone else. Your life depend on you knowing the Truth personally. Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. Trust Him and His Word only. Blessings as you study His Word. Purgatory is not Biblical

My argument against Purgatory is not that it isn't in the Bible, it is because Purgatory enstates Jesus's sacrifice on the cross was a failure and that he did not pay for all of our sins.