Does the Church Still Believe in Purgatory?

by Brandon Jubar

"I don't know that I agree with that whole purgatory thing," he said. "I had a friend of mine challenge me to find any mention of it in the Bible, but it's not there? Does the church even believe in that anymore?"

I was both amazed and saddened by this exchange, which occurred several years ago. It was another one of those instances where a Catholic didn't understand a doctrine so decided that he probably wouldn't agree with it anyway. Setting aside the debate over whether or not one can call oneself Catholic and not believe Church doctrine, let's take stab at figuring out just exactly what purgatory is, where the belief comes from, and what the Church says about it today.

Grubby with God?

During part of his homily last weekend, our Associate Pastor talked a bit about purgatory. His analogy was excellent, describing the way in which we would purify our homes and ourselves if Pope John Paul II were coming over for dinner. Would we have a messy house and greet the Holy Father in our sweat pants and t-shirt? No, we would have cleaned the house, prepared a wonderful meal, washed ourselves and put on our nicest clothes. In essence, that is what purgatory does for one's soul.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes purgatory as being a "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven." It is a place where those "who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified" will go in order to be cleansed and prepared for heaven (CCC 1030).

So even though God will accept us as we are in this life, He cannot abide with sin in the next. Scripture even says that "nothing unclean will enter [heaven]" (Rev. 21:27 NAB). But the Catechism points out that all who enter purgatory "are indeed assured of their eternal salvation."

When Did Catholics Invent Purgatory?

Many non-Catholics claim that the Catholic Church "invented" the doctrine of purgatory at the Councils of Florence and Trent. And though the doctrine was more fully explored and formalized at these councils, they most certainly did not invent it.

The understanding of an interim place between heaven and hell dates back to the earliest days of the Church. Scripture even speaks of a cleansing fire that will sanctify us (1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7).

Offering prayers for the dead dates back to the earliest days of the Church, and it is significant in coming to an understanding of purgatory. If upon your death the only two destinations were heaven and hell, why would the apostles have taught that we should pray for the souls of those faithfully departed? If they're in heaven already, they don't need our prayers. And if they're in hell, no amount of prayer by us is going to redeem them!

The Catholic Church did not invent the concept of purgatory, any more than scientist invented DNA... they simply discovered and began to fully understand what God had already made.

"Purgatory" Isn't in the Bible

Perhaps the weakest argument of all is that the word "purgatory" does not appear in the Bible. This is often said with such profound finality that it's as if the person who has spoken knows that there is no way to explain this fact away! If it doesn't appear in Sacred Scripture, it must be something that we made up!

Well... the word "Trinity" doesn't appear anywhere in the Bible. And neither does the word "Incarnation". Of course, these are both very clearly taught by most Christian denominations. Purgatory, like many of God's truths, has ancient roots that go back to understandings and beliefs in the Old Testament. And like so many other truths, it was more fully revealed to the Church by the Holy Spirit as time went on.

Purgatory is not a bad thing, but a necessary one for most of us. It is where we will be purified and sanctified, in preparation for the day when we will abide in Heaven with our Father. It is neither a silly belief nor an obsolete one -- it is simply not understood by many Catholics these days. It is a very important belief, though, and one that sets us apart. It is a doctrine that is grounded in our understanding that nothing unclean can enter into heaven.

You wouldn't entertain the Holy Father while covered with mud from head to toe. And we shouldn't expect to live with our Heavenly Father while tainted with sin. Does the Church still believe in Purgatory? Yes. She most definitely does.

Life Applications:

What have you been taught about purgatory?

How would you explain purgatory to a non-Catholic?

Take a minute and read what the Catechism has to say:
http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/art12.html#FINAL

Copyright 2002 by Brandon Jubar   
All rights reserved.