Purgatory, Heaven, And The Bread Of Life

Last updated on: December 28, 2020 at 6:58 am by William Hemsworth

Purgatory, Heaven, And The Bread Of Life 2020-12-28T06:58:45-07:00 William Hemsworth

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One of the things that seems to confuse our non-Catholic Christian brethren is the subject of purgatory. Those who enter purgatory are guaranteed to go to heaven at some point.

Purgatory Is Not A Second Chance

Purgatory is not a second chance at redemption, and nor is it a permanent destination. The church has always taught what the scriptures teach in Hebrews 9:27, “And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment” (NRSV). It is a place that individuals go who have died in the friendship of God, but who must be purified before they enter the presence of God. This is also echoed in Revelation 21:27 which states, “But nothing unclean will enter it” (NRSV).

After Death Comes Judgment

After death each person will be judged (Hebrews 9:27). Immediately after death, each person’s immortal soul will be judged by God according to his/her faith and works.

One may be judged worthy to go straight to Heaven. Perhaps they go to purgatory to be cleansed of the consequence of venial sin, or to hell for unrepentant mortal sin. It is in this regard that hell and purgatory are both a consequence of sin. However they are vastly different because Hell is permanent, and purgatory is temporary. Those in purgatory are have been judged and their final destination is Heaven.

Heaven and purgatory are vastly different from hell because hell is eternal separation from God. Regarding this the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created” (Catechism para 1035).

Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, Stairs, Path

Heaven And The Eucharist

Heaven, the resurrection of the body, and the Eucharist speak to the body culture that makes up our culture today. The answer to our youthful body obsessed culture is the true fountain of youth-the risen, immortal, glorified Christ in the Eucharist. We will only get eternal, youthful glory with a glorified body in Heaven. Jesus is this, and we are what we eat.

For us to get to Heaven we must have faith in Christ and live the way he tells us to live. He tells us to be responsible for our own behavior. Christ will come again, and at that time the last judgment will commence. Jesus states in John 5:29 “and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (NRSV). He also comes at every Masss.in the form of the blessed sacrament. This helps us to endure the challenges of life and make good decisions. He gives us the very gift of himself to help us do the things he wants us to do.

Saint Quotes On Purgatory

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice (Job 1:5), why would we doubt that our 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

The practice of recommending to God the souls in Purgatory, that He may mitigate the great pains which they suffer, and that He may soon bring them to His glory, is most pleasing to the Lord and most profitable to us. For these blessed souls are His eternal spouses, and most grateful are they to those who obtain their deliverance from prison, or even a mitigation of their torments. When, therefore, they arrive in Heaven, they will be sure to remember all who have prayed for them. – St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

With Charity towards the dead we practice all the works of charity. The Church encourages us to aid the souls in purgatory, who in turn will reward us abundantly when they come into their glory.– St. Francis de Sales

Each one will be presented to the Judge exactly as he was when he departed this life. Yet there must be a cleansing fire before judgement because of some minor faults that may remain to be purged away. – Pope St. Gregory the Great

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