I Can Play The Background - Lecrae

Proof of Purgatory: Biblical, Church Fathers, Others

Dante's envisionment of Purgatory

Jews, Catholics, and the Eastern Orthodox have always historically proclaimed the reality of the final purification. It was not until the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century that anyone denied this doctrine. 

Biblical:

^{Matthew 5:25} “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny...⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

(Catholics believe that Jesus is the just Judge and 

that the prison refers to Purgatory which will 

"purge" us from all effects of sin even to the last "penny" 

so that we are perfect as our heavenly Father is 

-- as nothing unclean can enter into Heaven. (Rev 21:27) 

^{1 Pet 3:19} In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison: ²⁰ Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water.

(Catholics believe that "prison" refers to Purgatory 

and that the "spirits" were the holy ones who died before Jesus came. 

They were righteous so they couldn't be in Hell, but they couldn't be in Heaven yet either.)

^{1 Cor 3:12-15} If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 

(Catholics believe that "Day" is the particular day of judgement 

and that the sum of person's work will be tested through fire 

before receiving a "reward" which is, entering heaven; 

the person whose works were not of the finest quality

- not perfectly done - will suffer through the flames before entering Heaven.) 

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.  

(Catholics believe that "or the age to come" refers to Purgatory

 - the final opportunity for becoming perfect.)

^{Other verses often used by Catholics in support of Purgatory: 2 Macc 12:38, Matt 12:32, Matt 18:21-35, Matt 22:1-14, Luke 12:58, Luke 16:19-31, 1 Pete 4:6, 1 Cor 15:29, 1 Tim 1:16} 

 

Early Church Fathers:

180-200AD, Epitaph of Abercius:

The citizen of an eminent city, this monument I made whilst still living, that there I might have in time a resting place for my body. My name is Abercius, the disciple of the holy shepherd who feeds his flocks of sheep on the mountains and in the plains, who has great eyes that  see everywhere. This shepherd taught me the Book worthy of belief. It is he who sent me to Rome to behold the royal majesty and to see the queen arrayed in golden vestments and golden sandals. There also I saw the people famous for their seal. And I saw the plains of Syria and all its cities, and also Nisibis when I crossed the Euphrates. Everywhere I met brethren in agreement, having Paul as a companion. Everywhere faith was my guide and everywhere provided as my food the Fish of exceeding great size and pure whom the spotless virgin caught from the spring. And faith ever gives this food to his disciples to eat, having the choicest wine and administering the mixed drink with bread. I, Abercius,  standing by, ordered these words to be inscribed, being in the course of my seventy second year. Let him who understands these words and believes the same pray for Abercius. 

(Why would the early Christians want to be prayed for and offer up sacrifices for the dead 

when those in Heaven have no need for prayer 

and those in Hell can't be helped by prayer? 

Catholics believe that it is so that those in "prison" 

can be helped in paying the "last penny" quicker and be with God sooner. 

For example, those in earthly prisons can't do much for themselves and need others to post bail, etc.,  ) 

208-212 AD Tetrullian, The Soul:  Every soul, therefore, is shut up in Hades? Whether you do or not, it is a fact.  And there are already punishments and rewards there;  and there you have a poor man and rich one( Luke 16:2).  The soul does not perform all its operations with the assistance of the flesh; and divine judgment pursues even simple thoughts and mere desires. "Whoever shall look in lust has already committed adultery in his heart. (Matt 5:28)" Therefore and on this account it is most fitting that the soul, without waiting for the flesh, be punished for what it did without the partnership of the flesh. And for the pious and benevolent thoughts in which it shared not with the flesh, without the flesh it will be refreshed.... In short, if we understand that prison which the Gospel speaks to be Hades, and if we interpret the last farthing (Matt 5:25-26) to be the light offense which is to be expiated there before the resurrection, no one will doubt that the soul undergoes some punishments in Hades, without prejudice to the fullness of the resurrection, after which recompense will be made through the flesh also.  

(Purgatory is often understood as a temporary outer part of Hell 
that will pass away at the end of "time". 
Hell, where the wicked reside, will remain for eternity.)

208-212 AD Tetrullian, The Crown: We offer up sacrifices for the dead on their death anniversaries.  

208-212 AD Tetrullian, Monogamy:  A woman, after the death of her husband, is bound not less firmly but even more so, not to marry another husband... Indeed, she prays for his soul and asks that he may, while waiting, find rest; and that he may share in the first resurrection. And each year, on the anniversary of his death, she offers sacrifice. 

 

304-310 AD, Lactantius, The Divine Institutions: First of all, therefore, we say that the power of God is so great, that He perceives even incorporeal things, and manages them as He will. For even angels fear God, because they can be chastised by Him in some unspeakable manner; and devils dread Him, because they are tormented and punished by Him. What wonder is it, therefore, if souls, though they are immortal, are nevertheless capable of suffering at the hand of God? For since they have nothing solid and tangible in themselves, they can suffer no violence from solid and corporeal beings; but because they live in their spirits only, they are capable of being handled by God alone, whose energy and substance is spiritual. But, however, the sacred writings inform us in what manner the wicked are to undergo punishment. For because they have committed sins in their bodies, they will again be clothed with flesh, that they may make atonement in their bodies; and yet it will not be that flesh with which God clothed man, like this our earthly body, but indestructible, and abiding for ever, that it may be able to hold out against tortures and everlasting fire, the nature of which is different from this fire of ours, which we use for the necessary purposes of life, and which is extinguished unless it be sustained by the fuel of some material. But that divine fire always lives by itself, and flourishes without any nourishment; nor has it any smoke mixed with it, but it is pure and liquid, and fluid, after the manner of water. For it is not urged upwards by any force, as our fire, which the taint of the earthly body, by which it is held, and smoke intermingled, compels to leap forth, and to fly upwards to the nature of heaven, with a tremulous movement. The same divine fire, therefore, with one and the same force and power, will both burn the wicked and will form them again, and will replace as much as it shall consume of their bodies, and will supply itself with eternal nourishment: which the poets transferred to the vulture of Tityus. Thus, without any wasting of bodies, which regain their substance, it will only burn and affect them with a sense of pain. But when He shall have judged the righteous, He will also try them with fire. Then they whose sins shall exceed either in weight or in number, shall be scorched by the fire and burnt: but they whom full justice and maturity of virtue has imbued will not perceive that fire; for they have something of God in themselves which repels and rejects the violence of the flame. So great is the force of innocence, that the flame shrinks from it without doing harm; which has received from God this power, that it burns the wicked, and is under the command of the righteous. Nor, however, let any one imagine that souls are immediately judged after death. For all are detained in one and a common place of confinement, until the arrival of the time in which the great Judge shall make an investigation of their deserts. Then they whose piety shall have been approved of will receive the reward of immortality; but they whose sins and crimes shall have been brought to light will not rise again, but will be hidden in the same darkness with the wicked, being destined to certain punishment.

315-386AD, St Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures: 

Then we commemorate also those who have fallen asleep before us, first Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, that at their prayers and intercessions God would receive our petition(2). Then on behalf also of the Holy Fathers and Bishops who have fallen asleep before us, and in a word of all who in past years have fallen asleep among us, believing that it will be a very great benefit to the souls(3), for whom the supplication is put up, while that holy and most awful sacrifice is set forth.

 And I wish to persuade you by an illustration. For I know that many say, what is a soul profited, which departs from this world either with sins, or without sins, if it be commemorated in the prayer? For if a king were to banish certain who had given him of-fence, and then those who belong to them(4) should weave a crown and offer it to him on behalf of those under punishment, would he not grant a remission of their penalties? In the same way we, when we offer to Him our supplications for those who have fallen asleep, though they be sinners, weave no crown, but offer up Christ sacrificed for our sins(5), propitiating our merciful God for them as well as for ourselves.

Other sources:

Part 1: Proof of Purgatory? Look No Further.

Where is Purgatory in the Bible?

The Bible Teaches Purgatory

The doctrine of Purgatory, central to Christianity, is brutally attacked by certain non-Catholic polemicists.

The Roots of Purgatory (Teachings of Christians from 160AD-421AD)

True Catholic Joy

Excerpts by Fr. Roger Landry - April 24, 2009

It was Archbishop Dolan's Christian joy — even more than his incredible talent as a preacher of the Gospel — that was most on display during the installation festivities. During my years in seminary, he once gave a rector's conference on joy in which he stressed that joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God within. He said that a man of God who is not joyful is an oxymoron who makes the Good News seem like a lie. He stressed that joy is a gift of God, a fruit of the Holy Spirit that flows from the conviction that God loves us, dwells within us when we're in the state of grace, sustains us with his providential care, and answers our prayers. He predicted that if Catholics were really joyful, people would be busting through the doors to invade our churches. The world is longing for this joy that the world can't give and take away, he asserted, but often does not find it in us.

In an op-ed in the New York Daily News on the morning of the installation Mass, Archbishop Dolan explicitly wrote about his joy and how the Catholic faith makes him — and should make us — joyous. "I aim to be a happy bishop, sharing joys and laughs with you. … Being Catholic is not a heavy burden, snuffing the joy out of life; rather our faith in Jesus and His Church gives meaning, purpose and joy to life. I love being a Catholic, I love being a priest, and I fully intend to love being archbishop of New York while loving all of you in the Church in New York."

From: http://www.catholicity.com/commentary/landry/00741.html

Emphasis mine.

Joy Is Found in Comforting Christ

Its been hard for me to write about joy -- even for my friend -- because I struggle with it.  I think it is because to a certain extent, I don't want to be joyful.  I want to cling to the hurt/frustration/whatever because I can use it to protect myself.  It is an excuse to stay in my comfort zone or a way to put all my problems on someone else.  Also, I think that it is less threatening to be a grumbler.

However a comment from a reader on my page  Shoulder Wound of Christ reminded me how to have the greatest joy. 

"Our Lord bearing this unrecorded burden for us has touched my heart and soul so greatly.  Whatever I must do in my days..., I offer it up for His shoulder wound.  In doing so, I feel blessed that my Lord has allowed me to comfort Him; therefore, He comforts me."

Personally, when I give to others, I am filled with joy.  I love helping others.  I love to find thoughtful ways to warm their hearts.  When I surrender my time and energy to helping others, I forget about all my interior grumblings -- and my life is no longer as awful as I make it seem.

If I am joy filled when I comfort even strangers, what joy awaits me when I comfort my Lord?  Even if all my dreams and plans are for naught, if I could comfort my Savior even for a brief moment isn't it worth it?

My prayer for today:

Jesus, it is my new hope that I can comfort You today by sharing in Your Passion.  Do with me what You will.  If you desire me to suffer with You the betrayal of Judas, or the abandonment of Your beloved Apostles at the hour of Your greatest need, I will no longer grumble about betrayals against me.  If You want me to suffer physically in my body, I do so willingly.  Your body was shred by scourging.  It was bruised by beatings and falls.  It was pierced by thorns, nails and a spear... You could count all of Your bones.  What do I have to complain about? Teach my joy in all things.

Refurbishing the Soul: Making Room for Joy

If our souls are clouded by pain we can't be joyfilled.  Joy isn't something that we can "fake until we make it."  Rather, it is an effect of a true undergoing of the soul, which is health.

We spend much time on our body and mind, but what about our memories, understanding or will? How much time do we spend on healing our memories?  Do we even know how?

Babsie Bleasdell explains how to heal the hidden parts of our souls:

EWTN Audio Library File Index

Refurbishing the Soul Back to Series List
	Program Name	Audio File Name - Click to download
1.	Episode 1 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_1.mp3
2.	Episode 2 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_2.mp3
3.	Episode 3 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_3.mp3
4.	Episode 4 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_4.mp3
5.	Episode 5 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_5.mp3
6.	Episode 6 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_6.mp3
7.	Episode 7 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_7.mp3
8.	Episode 8 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_8.mp3
9.	Episode 9 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_9.mp3
10.	Episode 10 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_10.mp3
11.	Episode 11 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_11.mp3
12.	Episode 12 Host - Babsie Bleasdell	refurb_12.mp3