What is purgatory?

The Catholic teaching on Purgatory is one of the most misunderstood topics. Even among us Catholics there is a lack of clarity about what the Church teaches about Purgatory and what all forms the basis for this teaching. As a result when someone asks us about this we are unable to answer or even worse give them the wrong information. It is our responsibility, as Catholics, to know what we believe in and to be ready to answer the queries of others regarding our faith (1 Peter 3:15) and lead them towards the full truth about Christ, which is found only in His bride, the Church (1 Timothy 3:15). 

Sin and its consequences

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods which results in a double consequence (Eternal and Temporal). Grave sin separates us from being in communion with God and thereby makes us incapable of having an eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, imposes an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which renders the soul imperfect. This imperfection needs to be purified in this life or in the next freeing one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin.

During Sacrament of Reconciliation, the remission of eternal punishment of sin takes place, but temporal punishment of sin remains (i.e. the soul is still imperfect). Since the soul still has some effect of sin, it is to an extent unclean and as a result it cannot enter heaven as “nothing unclean enters it” (Revelation 21:27). Therefore God in his infinite mercy cleanses the soul of the imperfections in it, caused by sin and its effects, and sanctifies it so that it can enter heaven. This state of the soul in which purification takes place is called Purgatory. 

Where is Purgatory mentioned in the Scripture?

Though the term “Purgatory” is not mentioned in the Bible, the doctrine can be found there. In Matthew 12:32 Jesus says that “whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Which in turn implies that there are some sins which could be forgiven “in the age to come” – after death. In Luke 12:42-48 Jesus talks about a master who comes back home and rewards his slaves as per their works, this is nothing but the Judgement that awaits us all. The one who was found at work was put in charge of all of the master’s household, an invitation into heaven (God’s household). The one who was found doing evil was cut into pieces and put with the unfaithful (hell). Interestingly, Jesus also talks about two more slaves who receive beatings (temporary punishment). There can be no punishment in heaven and that which is in hell is eternal. This verse can only be resolved using the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory. 

St. Paul too points towards the existence of Purgatory by talking how each man’s works will be tested by fire on “the Day” and if someone’s works where to be burned up by the fire, he will suffer loss but would still be saved but only through fire (1 Corinthians 3:15). There is no suffering in heaven nor can anyone in hell be saved. This only happens in Purgatory, where the imperfections in us will be “purged” so as to sanctify our soul and make it absolutely pure.

Connected to Purgatory would be the prayers for the dead mentioned in 2 Maccabees 12:39-45. Here we find Judas making “atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin.” It is also said that by doing so “he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection.” Those in heaven do not require prayers to be offered for them, nor does it have any effect on those in hell, as their punishment is eternal. This could only mean that the Jews in that time had a belief that some kind of forgiveness can still be received even after death – again pointing to the existence of Purgatory. El Malei Rachamim is a Jewish prayer for the soul of a person who has died which the Jews recite (even today) during the burial service and also the memorial services. It goes something like this: “God, full of mercy, Who dwells above, give rest…to the soul of (name of the departed)…for whom charity was pledged to the memory of his soul. Therefore, the Master of Mercy will protect him forever…”. They (the Jews) also have an understanding that upon death there is spiritual purification that takes place for 11 months after which the soul moves on to Olam Ha-Ba (the world to come). 

As it can be seen, the doctrine of Purgatory is not something that was invented by the Catholic Church, but rather is as taught by Jesus Christ himself, his apostles and the Old Testament.