The Word Purgatory
-Catholic Doctrine-
The word Purgatory is sometimes taken to mean a place,
sometimes as an intermediate state between Hell and Heaven.
It is, properly speaking, the condition of souls which, at the
moment of death, are in the state of grace, but which have not
completely expiated their faults, nor attained the degree of purity
necessary to enjoy the vision of God.
Purgatory is, then, a transitory state which terminates in a
life of everlasting happiness. It is not a trial by which merit
may be gained or lost, but a state of atonement and expiation.
The soul has arrived at the term of it's earthly career; that life
was a time of trial, a time of merit for the soul, a time of mercy
on the part of God. This time once expired, nothing but justice is
to be expected from God, whilst the soul can neither gain nor
lose merit. She remains in the state in which death found her;
and since it found her in the state of sanctifying grace, she is
certain of never forfeiting that happy state, and of arriving at
the eternal possession of God. Nevertheless, since she is burdened
with certain debts of temporal punishment, she must satisfy
Divine Justice by enduring this punishment in all it's rigour.
Such is the signification of the word Purgatory, and the
condition of the souls which are there.
On this subject the Church proposes two truths clearly defined
as dogmas of faith: first, that there is a Purgatory; second, that
the souls which are in Purgatory may be assisted by the
suffrages of the faithful, especially by the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass.
Besides the two dogmatic points, there are several doctrinal
questions which the Church has not decided, and which are more
or less clearly solved by the Doctors. These questions relate:
(1) to the location of Purgatory; (2) to the nature of the
sufferings; (3) to the number and condition of the souls which
are in Purgatory; (4) to the certainty which they have of their
beatitude; (5) to the duration of their sufferings; (6) to the
intervention of the living in their behalf, and the application of
the suffrages of the Church.
Taken from: Purgatory Explained (pp 4-5)
Compiled by: Father F.X. Schouppe, S.J.
Imprimatur: Herbertus Card.Vaughan, Archiep. Westmonasterien
Published by: www.TanBooks.com
Copyright: Original October 11, 1893
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