Image of a fiery purgatory by In Roman Catholic theology, purgatory (: Purgatorium, via and ) is an after physical in which some of those ultimately destined for must first 'undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven,' holding that 'certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.' And that entrance into Heaven requires the 'remission before God of the temporal punishment due to [venial] sins whose guilt has already been forgiven,' for which indulgences may be given which remove 'either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin,' such as an 'unhealthy attachment' to sin. Only those who die in the but have not yet fulfilled the temporal punishment due to their sin can be in purgatory, and therefore, no one in purgatory will remain forever in that state nor go to.

The notion of purgatory is associated particularly with the of the Catholic Church (in the it is a doctrine, though it is not often called 'purgatory', but the 'final purification' or the 'final theosis'). Although denying the existence of purgatory as formulated in Roman Catholic doctrine, the and traditions along with, affirm the existence of an intermediate state,, and thus, Eastern Orthodox Churches believe in the possibility of a change of situation for the souls of the dead through the prayers of the living and the offering of the, and many Orthodox, especially among ascetics, hope and pray for a general. Also believes in the possibility of after-death purification and may even use the word 'purgatory' to present its understanding of the meaning of.

Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven. Special thanks to those who contributed to the creation of this 40 Days Prayer Guide. Thou Creator, Upholder, Proprietor of all things, I cannot escape from thy presence or control, nor do. From the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power.

The word purgatory has come to refer also to a wide range of historical and modern conceptions of postmortem suffering short of everlasting damnation and is used, in a non-specific sense, to mean a condition or state of or torment, especially one that is temporary. Image of a fiery purgatory in the.

While use of the word 'purgatory' (in purgatorium) as a noun appeared perhaps only between 1160 and 1180, giving rise to the idea of purgatory as a place (what called the 'birth' of purgatory), the Roman Catholic tradition of purgatory as a transitional condition has a history that dates back, even before, to the worldwide practice of caring for the dead and praying for them and to the belief, found also in Judaism, which is considered the precursor of Christianity, that contributed to their purification. The same practice appears in other traditions, such as the medieval Chinese Buddhist practice of making offerings on behalf of the dead, who are said to suffer numerous trials.

Roman Catholic belief in after-life purification is based on the practice of praying for the dead, which is mentioned in 2 Maccabees 12:42-44, what the Roman Catholic Church has declared to be part of Sacred Scripture, and which, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, was adopted by Christians from the beginning, a practice that presupposes that the dead are thereby assisted between death and their entry into their final abode. Belief in after-life 'temporary punishments agreeable to every one's behaviour and manners' was expressed in the early Christian work in known as, which was once attributed to (37 – c.

100) but is now believed to be by (170–235). Shortly before becoming a Roman Catholic, the English scholar argued that the essence of the doctrine is locatable in ancient tradition, and that the core consistency of such beliefs is evidence that Christianity was 'originally given to us from heaven'.

Roman Catholics consider the teaching on purgatory, but not the imaginative accretions, to be part of the faith derived from the revelation of Jesus Christ that was preached by the. Of the early, says that 'He who comes to be saved, comes to be saved through [a] fire' that burns away sins and worldliness like lead, leaving behind only pure gold. Speaks of a kind of 'baptism of fire' which is located at the entrance to Heaven, and through which all must pass, at the end of the world. Says that the belief in purgatory is 'established' (constat) and 'to be believed' (credendum), insisting, however, that the purgatorial fire can only purify away minor transgressions, not 'iron, bronze, or lead' or other 'hardened' (duriora) sins. By this he meant that attachments to sin, habits of sin, and even could be removed in purgatory, but not, which, according to Catholic doctrine, causes. Over the centuries, theologians and other Christians then developed the doctrine regarding purgatory, leading to the definition of the formal doctrine (as distinct from the legendary descriptions found in poetic literature) at the (1245), the (1274), the (1438–1445), and the (1545–63).

Christianity [ ] Some denominations, typically, recognize the doctrine of purgatory, while many Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches would not use the same terminology, the former on the basis of their own doctrine, combined with their exclusion of from the Protestant Canon of the Bible, the latter because the Orthodox Churches consider purgatory a non-essential doctrine. Catholicism [ ] The gives the name purgatory to the final purification of all who die in God's grace and friendship but are still imperfectly purified. Though purgatory is often pictured as a place rather than a process of purification, the idea of purgatory as a physical place with is not part of the Church's doctrine. Heaven and Hell [ ]. A depiction of purgatory by Venezuelan painter (1890) representing the boundary between heaven (above) and hell (below) According to Catholic belief, death is immediately followed by the in which the soul's eternal destiny is specified. Some are eternally united with God in, envisioned as a paradise of unending bliss, where is completed and one experiences the.

Conversely, others reach, that is chiefly a state of eternal, irreversible separation from God often envisioned as an abode of unending torment, often characterised as a fire that may be considered. Role in relation to sin [ ] In addition to accepting the states of heaven and hell, Catholicism envisages a third state before being admitted to heaven. According to Catholic doctrine, some souls are not sufficiently free from the effects of sin and its consequences to enter the state of heaven immediately, nor are they so sinful and hateful of Christ as to be destined for hell either. Such souls, ultimately destined to be united with God in heaven, must first be cleansed through purgatory – a state of purification. Through purgatory, souls 'achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.'

The Church makes a distinction between, which incurs both temporal punishment and eternal punishment, and, which incurs only temporal punishment. Mortal sin is a 'sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.' 'If it is not redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ's kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back.'

In contrast, venial sin (meaning 'forgivable' sin) 'does not set us in direct opposition to the will and friendship of God' and, although still 'constituting a moral disorder,' does not deprive the sinner of friendship with God or the eternal happiness of heaven. However, since venial sin weakens charity, manifests a disordered affection for created goods, and impedes the soul's progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good, it merits temporal punishment. The Church notes that purification from our sinful tendencies can occur during life. The situation has been compared to that of someone who needs to be cleansed of any addiction. As from any addiction, rehabilitation from the 'disordered affection for created goods' will be a gradual and probably painful process. It can be advanced during life by voluntary self-mortification and penance and by deeds of generosity that show love of God rather than of creatures.

After death, a cleansing process can be recognized as a still necessary preparation for entering the divine presence. The writings of Saint explain: 'As for paradise, God has placed no doors there. Whoever wishes to enter, does so. An all-merciful God stands there with His arms open, waiting to receive us into His glory. I also see, however, that the divine presence is so pure and light-filled – much more than we can imagine – that the soul that has but the slightest imperfection would rather throw itself into a thousand hells than appear thus before the divine presence. Tongue cannot express nor heart understand the full meaning of purgatory, which the soul willingly accepts as a mercy the realization that that suffering is of no importance compared to the removal of the impediment of sin.' Pain and fire [ ] Purgatory is commonly regarded as a cleansing by way of painful temporal punishment, which, like the eternal punishment of hell, is associated with the idea of fire.

While 'pain of the senses' (as opposed to 'pain of longing' for the ) is not doctrinally defined as being a part of purgatory, the overwhelming consensus of theologians has been that it does involve pain of the senses. Several regarded as evidence for the existence of an intermediate state in which the dross of lighter transgressions will be burnt away, and the soul thus purified will be saved. Fire was the Bible-inspired image ('We went through fire and through water') that Christians used for the notion of after-life purification. Described the fires of cleansing as more painful than anything a man can suffer in this life, and wrote that there must be a cleansing fire for some minor faults that may remain to be purged away.

Wrote about the fire that needs to purify the soul. Also wrote about the purging fire. Another image of being purified by flames in purgatory Most theologians of the past have held that the fire is in some sense a material fire, though of a nature different from ordinary fire, but the opinion of other theologians who interpret the Scriptural term 'fire' metaphorically has not been condemned by the Church and may now be the more common view among theologians. The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of a 'cleansing fire' and quotes the expression 'purgatorius ignis' (purifying fire) used by Pope Gregory the Great. It speaks of the temporal punishment for sin, even in this life, as a matter of 'sufferings and trials of all kinds.'

It describes purgatory as a necessary purification from 'an unhealthy attachment to creatures,' a purification that 'frees one from what is called the 'temporal punishment' of sin,' a punishment that 'must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin.' Prayer for the dead and indulgences [ ]. Of with in purgatory begging the Virgin for. In the same context there is mention of the practice of. An indulgence is a remission before God, through the mediation of the Church, of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. Indulgences may be obtained for oneself, or on behalf of the dead. Despite popular perception, the Catholic Church has never taught that indulgences forgive any sins, for this is God's jurisdiction alone.

Any persons who have taught that acts of charity such as indulgences can forgive sins have been condemned as heretics by the Catholic Church. It is also a heretical position to suggest that indulgences are applied no matter how weak a Christian may be in his faith. An indulgence (or any act of charity for that matter) is dependent on the present faith of the individual Christian (see ). Prayers for the dead and indulgences have been popularly envisioned as decreasing the 'duration' of time the dead spend in purgatory, an idea associated with the fact that, in the past, indulgences were measured in terms of days, 'quarantines' (i.e. 40-day periods as for ), or years, meaning, not that purgatory would be shortened by that amount of time, but that the indulgences were equivalent to that length of canonical penance on the part of a living Christian. When the imposition of such canonical penances of a determinate duration fell out of custom these expressions were sometimes popularly misinterpreted as reduction of that much time of a soul's stay in purgatory. A prayer roll that once belonged to claimed that 'this image of pity devotedly say 5 Pater Noster, 5 Ave Maria and 1 Credo.'

Gave a pardon and reduction of time in purgatory of '52,712 years and 40 days of pardon.' In 's revision of the rules concerning indulgences, these expressions were dropped, and replaced by the expression 'partial indulgence', indicating that the person who gained such an indulgence for a pious action is granted 'in addition to the remission of temporal punishment acquired by the action itself, an equal remission of punishment through the intervention of the Church.' Historically, the practice of granting indulgences, and the widespread associated abuses, led to them being seen as increasingly bound up with money, with criticisms being directed against the 'sale' of indulgences, a source of controversy that was the immediate occasion of the in and. As a physical place [ ]. Dante gazes at purgatory (shown as a mountain) in this 16th-century painting. However, in antiquity and medieval times, Heaven and Hell were widely spoken of as places existing within the physical universe: Heaven 'above', in the sky; Hell 'below', in or beneath the earth. Similarly, purgatory has at times been thought of as a physical location.

This is nowhere maintained in the Catholic Catechism of 1992. In 1206, a peasant named Thurkhill in England claimed that Saint Julian took him on a tour of purgatory.

He gave precise details, including descriptions of what he called purgatory's 'torture chambers', and was widely believed, including by the Church historian. In Dante's fourteenth-century work ( The Divine Comedy), purgatory is depicted as a mountain in the. It is apparently the only land there. Souls who loved God and man half-heartedly find themselves at, where there are two levels and then Seven Levels representing the Seven Deadly Sins with ironic punishments.

For example, on the first level for Pride, the penitents are weighed down by huge stones. This forces them to look down in humility at the pavement, which depicts examples of sinful Pride such as. When they reach the top, souls will find themselves at Jerusalem's, the itself. Thus, cleansed of all sin and made perfect, they wait in this Earthly paradise before ascending to Heaven.

In 1999, referred to purgatory as 'a condition of existence,' implying that it is most likely not an actual physical location or place, but is a state wherein 'those who, after death, exist in a state of purification, are already in the love of Christ who removes from them the remnants of imperfection.' In 2011, John Paul II's successor,, spoke of Saint (1447–1510) and how, despite the view in her time that the purification of souls (purgatory) was pictured as a location in space, the saint saw purgatory as a purifying inner fire, such as she experienced in her profound sorrow for sins committed, when compared with God's infinite love. She said that being bound still to the desires and suffering that derive from sin makes it impossible for of God. The Pope commented: 'We too feel how distant we are, how full we are of so many things that we cannot see God. The soul is aware of the immense love and perfect justice of God and consequently suffers for having failed to respond in a correct and perfect way to this love; and love for God itself becomes a flame, love itself cleanses it from the residue of sin.'

Roman Catholicism [ ] The, first published in 2005, is a summary in dialogue form of the. It deals with purgatory in the following exchange: 210. What is purgatory?

Purgatory is the state of those who die in God’s friendship, assured of their eternal salvation, but who still have need of purification to enter into the happiness of heaven. How can we help the souls being purified in purgatory?

Because of the communion of saints, the faithful who are still pilgrims on earth are able to help the souls in purgatory by offering prayers in suffrage for them, especially the Eucharistic sacrifice. They also help them by almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance.

These two questions and answers summarize information in sections 1020–1032 and 1054 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in 1992, which also speaks of purgatory in sections 1472 and 1473. Earlier statements are those of the in 1563 and the in 1439. The Latin Rite of the Catholic Church does not teach that the suffering of purgatory is imposed by God. Among the many theologies that attempt to explain purgatory, one might maintain that it is the burning regret one feels when one's life is revealed in full after death, and the remorse that precedes putting this behind and passing on to the state of blessedness. Knowing the acts of love that those on earth are offering for one might conceivably make more bearable the remorse. Eastern Catholicism [ ] The 23 sui iuris, which are in with the Pope, also have a similar concept.

There are however some differences between the theologies of the and some of the Eastern Catholic Churches on aspects of the concept, mostly relating to terminology and speculation. The Eastern Catholic Churches of tradition do not generally use the term 'purgatory', but agree that there is a 'final purification' for souls destined for heaven, and that prayers can help the dead who are in that state of 'final purification'. In general, neither the members of the Latin Church nor the members of these Eastern Catholic Churches regard these differences as points of dispute, but see them as minor nuances and differences of tradition. A treaty that formalized the admission of the into the full of the Roman Catholic Church stated: 'We shall not debate about purgatory, but we entrust ourselves to the teaching of the Holy Church,' implying, in the opinion of a theologian of that Church, that both sides can agree to disagree on the theological speculations and opinions of what is called purgatory, while there is full agreement on essential dogma. Between the Latin Church and some other Eastern Catholic Churches, such as the, there is no variance about theological opinions of purgatory.

Eastern Catholic Churches belonging to the Syriac Tradition (Chaldean, Maronite, and Syriac Catholic) generally believe in the concept of purgatory but use a different name, like 'Sheol'. They claim that this does not contradict the Latin Rite doctrine. Eastern Orthodoxy [ ].

See also: and While the rejects the term 'purgatory', it acknowledges an intermediate state after death. It believes in the determination of Heaven and Hell as stated in the Bible and that is necessary.

According to the: The moral progress of the soul, either for better or for worse, ends at the very moment of the separation of the body and soul; at that very moment the definite destiny of the soul in the everlasting life is decided.There is no way of repentance, no way of escape, no reincarnation and no help from the outside world. Its place is decided forever by its Creator and judge. The Orthodox Church does not believe in purgatory (a place of purging), that is, the inter-mediate state after death in which the souls of the saved (those who have not received temporal punishment for their sins) are purified of all taint preparatory to entering into Heaven, where every soul is perfect and fit to see God. Also, the Orthodox Church does not believe in indulgences as remissions from purgatorial punishment.

Both purgatory and indulgences are inter-corelated theories, unwitnessed in the Bible or in the Ancient Church, and when they were enforced and applied they brought about evil practices at the expense of the prevailing Truths of the Church. If Almighty God in His merciful loving-kindness changes the dreadful situation of the sinner, it is unknown to the Church of Christ. The Church lived for fifteen hundred years without such a theory. Eastern Orthodox teaching is that, while all undergo a immediately after death, neither the just nor the wicked attain the final state of bliss or punishment before the Last Day, with some exceptions for righteous souls like the (), 'who was borne by the angels directly to heaven.' The Eastern Orthodox Church holds that it is necessary to believe in this intermediate after-death state in which souls are perfected and brought to full, a process of growth rather than of punishment, which some Orthodox have called purgatory. Eastern Orthodox theology does not generally describe the situation of the dead as involving suffering or fire, although it nevertheless describes it as a 'direful condition'.

The souls of the righteous dead are in light and rest, with a foretaste of eternal happiness; but the souls of the wicked are in a state the reverse of this. Among the latter, such souls as have departed with faith but 'without having had time to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. May be aided towards the attainment of a blessed resurrection [at the end of time] by prayers offered in their behalf, especially those offered in union with the oblation of the bloodless sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, and by works of mercy done in faith for their memory.' The state in which souls undergo this experience is often referred to as '. The Orthodox Confession of (1596–1646), adopted, in a Greek translation by Meletius Syrigos, by the 1642 Council of in Romania, professes that 'many are freed from the prison of. Through the good works of the living and the Church's prayers for them, most of all through the unbloody sacrifice, which is offered on certain days for all the living and the dead' (question 64); and (under the heading 'How must one consider the purgatorial fire?' ) 'the Church rightly performs for them the unbloody sacrifice and prayers, but they do not cleanse themselves by suffering something.

The Church never maintained that which pertains to the fanciful stories of some concerning the souls of their dead who have not done penance and are punished, as it were, in streams, springs and swamps' (question 66). The Eastern Orthodox declared that 'the souls of those that have fallen asleep are either at rest or in torment, according to what each hath wrought' (an enjoyment or condemnation that will be complete only after the resurrection of the dead); but the souls of some 'depart into, and there endure the punishment due to the sins they have committed. But they are aware of their future release from there, and are delivered by the Supreme Goodness, through the prayers of the Priests and the good works which the relatives of each do for their Departed, especially the unbloody Sacrifice benefiting the most, which each offers particularly for his relatives that have fallen asleep and which the offers daily for all alike. Of course, it is understood that we do not know the time of their release. We know and believe that there is deliverance for such from their direful condition, and that before the and, but when we know not.' Some Orthodox believe in a teaching of ' for the souls of the dead.

According to this theory, which is rejected by other Orthodox but appears in the hymnology of the Church, 'following a person's death the soul leaves the body and is escorted to God by angels. During this journey the soul passes through an aerial realm which is ruled by demons. The soul encounters these demons at various points referred to as 'toll-houses' where the demons then attempt to accuse it of sin and, if possible, drag the soul into hell.' Protestantism [ ] In general, churches reject the doctrine of purgatory. One of Protestantism's central tenets is ('scripture alone').

The general Protestant view is that the Bible, from which Protestants exclude such as, contains no overt, explicit discussion of purgatory and therefore it should be rejected as an unbiblical belief. Another view held by many Protestants is ('by faith alone'): that faith alone, apart from any action, is what achieves, and that good works are merely evidence of that faith. Justification is generally seen as a discrete event that takes place once for all during one's lifetime, not the result of a transformation of character. However, most Protestants teach that a transformation of character naturally follows the salvation experience.

Instead of distinguishing between mortal and venial sins, Protestants believe that one's faith dictates one's state of salvation and one's place in the afterlife. Those who have been saved by God are destined for heaven, while those have not been saved will be excluded from heaven. Accordingly, they reject any notion of a provisional or temporary afterlife state such as purgatory. Some Protestants hold that a person enters into the fullness of one's bliss or torment only after the resurrection of the body, and that the soul in that interim state is conscious and aware of the fate in store for it. Others have held that souls in the intermediate state between death and resurrection are without consciousness, a state known as. As an argument for the existence of purgatory, Protestant religious philosopher Jerry L. Walls wrote Purgatory: The Logic of Total Transformation (2011).

The book evoked reviews and news stories. It received a positive review in the Roman Catholic Philosophical Reviews. Historically informed, philosophically competent, and theologically alert,... As careful and fair a discussion of the doctrine of purgatory as one is likely to find. Suggested that, if Protestants followed Walls’ logic, they might accept his view of an without calling it purgatory.

Within, he finds 'biblical hints of purgatory' and examines them. In a survey of Christian writers, whom he calls the 'Fathers and Mothers of Purgatory', Walls finds the beginnings of the doctrine of purgatory in their writings. These three sources led up to the 'birth of purgatory' in the 12th century. The 13th century saw the beginnings of purgatory’s adoption and its adoption as doctrine in 1274.

Walls does not base his belief in purgatory primarily on Scripture, the Mothers and Fathers of the Church, or the (doctrinal authority) of the Roman Catholic church. Rather his basic argument is that, in a phrase he often uses, it 'makes sense.' For Walls, purgatory has a as in the title of his book. Walls documents the 'contrast between the satisfaction and sanctification models' of purgatory. In the satisfaction model, 'the punishment of purgatory' is to satisfy God’s justice. In the sanctification model, Wall writes that 'Purgatory might be pictured... As a regimen to regain one’s spiritual health and get back into moral shape.'

In Roman Catholic theology, Walls finds that the doctrine of purgatory has 'swung' between the 'poles of satisfaction and sanctification' sometimes 'combining both elements somewhere in the middle.' He believes the sanctification model 'can be affirmed by Protestants without contradicting their theology' and find that it 'makes better sense' than an instantaneous purging of sin at the moment of death. While purgatory was disputed by the reformers, the Early Patristic Theologians of the Eastern Church taught and believed in ', the belief that all creation would be restored to the original perfect condition after a remedial purgatorial reformation. Was one of the early church theologians who taught this view through key scriptures. Many today are discovering that the reformers did an injustice to Early Christian understandings concerning purgatorial restoration.

Vision Hd 600 Wifi Prix. Protestants have always contended that there are no second chances. However, Lutherans have a similar doctrine of what may happen to the unevangelized in a book titled What about those who never heard.

Also several Apologists of both Protestant,Universalist and Catholic backgrounds dig deeper into the subject in the book, 'Four Views of Hell'. Thomas Talbott and both wrote books defending the Early Church view of the unlimited atonement, and the ultimate salvation of all mankind. Anglicanism [ ] Purgatory was addressed by both of the 'foundation features' of Anglicanism in the 16th century: the of Religion and the. Article XXII of the Thirty-Nine Articles states that 'The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory... Is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.' Prayers for the departed were deleted from the 1552 Book of Common Prayer because they suggested a doctrine of purgatory. The 19th century led to restoring prayers for the dead., in his of 1841 §6, discussed Article XXII.

He highlighted the fact that it is the 'Romish' doctrine of purgatory coupled with indulgences that Article XXII condemns as 'repugnant to the Word of God.' The article did not condemn every doctrine of purgatory and it did not condemn prayers for the dead. As of the year 2000, the state of the doctrine of purgatory in Anglicanism was summarized as follows: Purgatory is seldom mentioned in Anglican descriptions or speculations concerning life after death, although many Anglicans believe in a continuing process of growth and development after death., an Anglican bishop, writes that ', or the place of the dead, is represented as a spacious receptacle with gates, through which the dead enter.' The Anglican Catechist elaborates on Hades, stating that it 'is an between death and the, in which the soul does not sleep in unconsciousness, but exists in happiness or misery till the resurrection, when it shall be reunited to the body and receive its final reward.' This space is divided into and 'but with an impassable gulf between the two,', with exception of and, remain in Hades until the and 'Christians may also improve in holiness after death during the middle state before the.' As such, the Book of Common Prayer includes, both that they may be 'purged' of 'defilements... Contracted' in their 'earthly life' and that they may increase in the 'knowledge and love' of God.

(1930-2012) offers this rationale for prayers for the dead: No one is ready at the time of death to enter into life in the nearer presence of God without substantial growth precisely in love, knowledge, and service; and the prayer also recognizes that God will provide what is necessary for us to enter that state. This growth will presumably be between death and resurrection.' Anglican theologian (1898-1963), reflecting on the history of the doctrine of purgatory in the, said there were good reasons for 'casting doubt on the 'Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory' as that Romish doctrine had then become' not merely a 'commercial scandal' but also the picture in which the souls are tormented by devils, whose presence is 'more horrible and grievous to us than is the pain itself,' and where the spirit who suffers the tortures cannot, for pain, 'remember God as he ought to do.' Lewis believed instead in purgatory as presented in 's. By this poem, Lewis wrote, 'Religion has reclaimed Purgatory,' a process of purification that will normally involve suffering. Lutheranism [ ], founder of the, believed that it was of no avail to pray for the dead.

Nonetheless, a core statement of Lutheran doctrine, from the Book of Concord, states: 'We know that the ancients speak of prayer for the dead, which we do not prohibit; but we disapprove of the application ex opere operato of the Lord's Supper on behalf of the dead. Epiphanius [] testifies that Aerius [] held that prayers for the dead are useless. With this he finds fault. Neither do we favor Aerius, but we do argue with you because you defend a heresy that clearly conflicts with the prophets, apostles, and Holy Fathers, namely, that the Mass justifies ex opere operato, that it merits the remission of guilt and punishment even for the unjust, to whom it is applied, if they do not present an obstacle.' The, however, believes in the doctrine of purgatory, as well as papal infallibility and all dogma. Additionally,, like, is more likely to accept some form of purgatory.

[ ] Methodism [ ]. Further information:, in keeping with Article XIV - Of Purgatory in the, hold that 'the Romish doctrine concerning purgatory. Is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of, but repugnant to the Word of God.' However, in the, there is a belief in, 'the of souls between death and the,' which is divided into (for the righteous) and (for the wicked).

After the, Hades will be abolished., the founder of Methodism, 'made a distinction between (the receptacle of the damned) and Hades (the receptacle of all separate spirits), and also between paradise (the antechamber of heaven) and itself.' The dead will remain in Hades 'until the when we will all be bodily resurrected and stand before Christ as our Judge. After the Judgment, the Righteous will go to their eternal reward in Heaven and the Accursed will depart to Hell (see ).' Mormonism [ ]. Main articles:,, and Mormonism, the group of beliefs espoused by, teaches of an intermediate place for spirits between their death and their bodily resurrection.

This place, called 'the spirit world,' includes 'paradise' for the righteous and 'prison' for those who do not know God. Spirits in paradise serve as missionaries to the spirits in prison, who can still accept salvation. In this sense, spirit prison can be conceptualized as a type of purgatory. In addition to hearing the message from the missionary spirits, the spirits in prison can also accept posthumous baptism and other posthumous ordinances performed by living church members in temples on Earth. This is frequently referred to as 'baptism for the dead' and 'temple work.'

Mormons believe that during the three days following Christ's crucifixion, he preached his gospel to inhabitants of spirit prison. Judaism [ ] In, is a place of purification where, according to some traditions, most sinners spend up to a year before release. The view of purgatory can be found in the teaching of the Shammaites: 'In the last judgment day there shall be three classes of souls: the righteous shall at once be written down for the life everlasting; the wicked, for Gehenna; but those whose virtues and sins counterbalance one another shall go down to Gehenna and float up and down until they rise purified; for of them it is said: 'I will bring the third part into the fire and refine them as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried' [Zech. 9.]; also, 'He [the Lord] bringeth down to Sheol and bringeth up again' (I Sam. The Hillelites seem to have had no purgatory; for they said: 'He who is 'plenteous in mercy' [Ex.

6.] inclines the balance toward mercy, and consequently the intermediates do not descend into Gehenna' (Tosef., Sanh. 16b; Bacher, 'Ag. Still they also speak of an intermediate state. Regarding the time which purgatory lasts, the accepted opinion of R. Akiba is twelve months; according to R. Nuri, it is only forty-nine days. Both opinions are based upon Isa.

23–24: 'From one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before Me, and they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched'; the former interpreting the words 'from one new moon to another' to signify all the months of a year; the latter interpreting the words 'from one Sabbath to another,' in accordance with Lev. 15–16, to signify seven weeks. During the twelve months, declares the baraita (Tosef., Sanh. 16b), the souls of the wicked are judged, and after these twelve months are over they are consumed and transformed into ashes under the feet of the righteous (according to Mal. 3]), whereas the great seducers and blasphemers are to undergo eternal tortures in Gehenna without cessation (according to Isa. The righteous, however, and, according to some, also the sinners among the people of Israel for whom Abraham intercedes because they bear the Abrahamic sign of the covenant are not harmed by the fire of Gehenna even when they are required to pass through the intermediate state of purgatory ('Er.

Main article: Islam has a concept similar to that of purgatory in Christianity. Is thought to be a realm between paradise () and hell () and according to the place of those who go neither to hell or to heaven. But because it does not purify the souls it resembles more the Christian than the purgatory. In some cases, the Islamic concept of hell may resemble the concept of doctrine of purgatory, for just punishes people according to their deeds and releases them after their habits are purified. A limited duration in Jahannam is not universally accepted in Islam.

Purgatory and life review [ ] The undergone by those who have had a (NDE) can resemble a sort of purgatory. Bruce Horacek Ph.D and the International Association of Near-Death Studies () write about the Life Review: 'During a predominantly pleasurable NDE, usually while in the light, the NDEr may experience a life review. In this review, the NDEr typically re-views (sees again) and re-experiences every moment of his/her life. At the same time, the NDEr fully experiences being every other person with whom the NDEr interacted. The NDEr knows what it was to be on the receiving end of his/her own actions including those that caused others pain.

At this time, the NDEr usually reports feeling profound remorse, along with extreme regret that the harm cannot be undone. At the same time, the NDEr typically reports feelings consistent with unconditional love from the light, which communicates forgiveness because the NDEr was still learning how to become a more loving person. NDErs tend to say that this 'learning how to love' is the purpose of life.' In 's novel, a newly dead character sees all the events of his life unfold in reverse, then later experiences the same thing slowly, in a self-evaluation process that the novel equates with purgatory. This may be seen to complement the final description under 'Roman Catholicism' above.

Cultural references [ ]. La Divina Commedia di Dante (Dante and the Divine Comedy), fresco by, in the of the, Italy Literary references to purgatory go back at least as far as. In his story, Mount Purgatory is split into different terraces for those being made to be ready for heaven. At the top of Mount Purgatory is the.

In the 1991 film, 'purgatory is like Paradise City' in which 'souls hang around awaiting the verdict of their hearings.' The TV series uses purgatory as the world of the dead and undead, with characters often forced to travel to purgatory to find key items or rescue important allies. The movie takes place in purgatory, which the Fallen Angels have transformed into a Dark City. Purgatory is referenced in the American TV series as a place to which all monsters go after they are killed. It also serves as the prison of the Leviathans (essentially God's prototypes, locked into purgatory since they were too dangerous). See also [ ].

NOVENA FOR THE DEAD FIRST DAY Leader: Lord our God, receive our supplications, prayers and mortifications and sighs in suffrage for the holy souls for whom we make this novena; and we pray that by the motherly love bestowed on you by your most holy Mother, when she followed you on the way of sorrow up to Mount Calvary, and grant what we ask of you in this novena for your greater honour and glory. Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruely removed from your wounded body, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water. Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. SECOND DAY Leader: Merciful God, we beseech you, by the pain which your Holy Mother saw you suffer and agonise on the cross, that the holy souls in purgatory be freed from those pains; especially for the soul of _____________, for whom we are praying and offering in This novena. Bring those who are submerged in their sins to a true knowledge of their guilt and grant what we ask of you in this novena, for your greater honour and glory. All: AMEN Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruely removed from your wounded body, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water. Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

THIRD DAY Leader: Almighty Father, to whom nobody asks without the hope of receiving, by the intercession of St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, enable the suffering souls in purgatory to be able to leave that place, especially for the soul of ____________. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruely removed from your wounded body, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water. Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. FOURTH DAY Leader: Gracious God, through whose mercy the saints rest in glory, we beg you to set free those blessed souls in purgatory, especially for the soul of___________, for whom we are praying in this novena.

May you radiate your compassion and love to them so they may enter into your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruely removed from your wounded body, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water.

Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. FIFTH DAY Leader: Souvereign Lord, in whom it is proper to be merciful, through the intercession of St. Michael, the archangel, and by the sorrow of your Blessed Mother who suffered when the soldier pierced your side with a lance, have mercy on the soul of __________ for whom we are offering this novena and bring him/her to your eternal rest in heaven, for the better glory and honour of your name.

Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruely removed from your wounded body, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water.

Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. SIXTH DAY Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, incline your ears to our petitions. Have mercy on the souls in purgatory, especially for the soul of_______ for whom we make this novena. We humbly ask you to set them free and bring them to the happiness in heaven, for the greater glory and honour of your name. Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruely removed from your wounded body, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water. Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. SEVENTH DAY Leader: Lord of mercy, hear our prayer.

May our brother/sister _______, whom you called your son/daughter on earth, enter into the Kingdom of peace and light, where your saints live in glory. We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Billa 2 300mb. Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruely removed from your wounded body, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water. Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. EIGHT DAY Leader: Creator and Redeemer of all mankind, through the infinite merits of passion, death and resurrection, we beg you to shower the immense treasures of your clemency on those blessed souls, especially for the eternal repose of the soul of ___________.

Bring those who are in sin to a true knowledge and repentance and grant what we ask for in this novena, through Christ, our Lord. Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruely removed from your wounded body, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water. Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. NINTH DAY Leader: Lord God, you are the glory of the believers and the life of the just. Your Son redeemed us by dying and rising to life again.

Our brother/sister ________________, was faithful and believed in the resurrection. Give to him/her the joys and the blessings of the life to come. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of.

Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruely removed from your wounded body, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross, Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water. Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of. To submit a question to our office, please use this Copyright © Catholic Doors Ministry.