|
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Purgatory, the final purification
By Ed del Rosario
(1st of two series)
THE Webster Dictionary defines Purgatory, as a state or place after death for expiating sins by suffering. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines Purgatory as "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven," which is experienced by those "who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified," (CCC 1030). It notes that "this final purification of this elect...is entirely different from the punishment of the damned,"(CCC 1031).
The doctrine of purgatory or the concept of final purification is not an invention of the Catholic Church, because this has been part of the true faith since before the time of Christ. The Jews already believed it before the coming of the Messiah, as revealed in the Old Testament as well as in other pre-Christian Jewish works.
In the second book of the Maccabees it says, "He also took up a collection from all his men, totaling about four pounds of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. Judas Maccabeus did this noble thing because he believed in the resurrection of the dead. If he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for them.
In his firm and devout conviction that all of God's faithful people would received a wonderful reward. Judas made provision for a sin offering to set free from their sin those who had died" (2Maccabees 12:43-45 TEV). This verse so clearly illustrates the existence of purgatory, but during the time of Reformation, Protestants had to cut the Book of the Maccabees from their Bibles in order to avoid accepting the doctrine.
Another concrete passages in the Scripture that clearly illustrates that it is not only heaven and hell that is mentioned but also speaks about a "third condition" where the souls of those people who were not included in the Arch of Noah were kept or in prison. In the first Book of Peter it says, "For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically but made alive spiritually. And in his spiritual existence he preached to the imprisoned spirits (souls).
These were the spirits (souls) of those who had not obeyed God when he waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his boat. The few people in the boat--eight in all--were saved from the water, which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you." (1Peter 3:18-20 TEV).
In this passage it is very clear that there is still another place in between death and heaven. And surely it is a place after death for expiating sins through suffering--as the verse is very clear about the word "imprisoned," which connotes sufferings. And since Jesus Christ visited and preaches to them after resurrection it means that all of them are already cleaned and worthy of eternal life in heaven.
The word "purgatory" is not found in the Bible, but it doesn't mean that it does not exist. The Bible is very clear that there is a "place" or a "third condition" after death and before entry to heaven. Catholics believes that the appropriate word for that "third condition" or "place" is the word Purgatory.
Why is purgatory necessary before entering heaven?
Everyone should go to purgatory to be cleansed, for "nothing unclean shall enter heaven. Any one who has not completely freed from sin and its effects is, to some extent, "unclean." Through repentance he may have gained the grace needed to be worthy of heaven, which is to say, he has been forgiven and his soul is spiritually alive. But that's not sufficient for gaining entrance to heaven and sees God face to face and gains eternal life. Someone needs to be cleansed completely.
Those who are being cleansed and purified in purgatory are not the unbelieving and the impenitent, who will go to hell; the souls in purgatory are those who have already been justified by grace and are peace with God at their life's end.
All Christians agree that we won't be sinning in heaven. Sin and final glorification are utterly incompatible. Therefore, between the sinfulness of this life and the glories of heaven, we must be made pure. Between death and heaven there is "final purification."
(December 1, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
|
