Day 159 – Mrs. Flusche’s Super Basic Primer on the Four Last Things (Part VI)

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is depicted in a stained-glass window at St. Andrew Church in Sag Harbor, N.Y. The feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on June 28 in 2019. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

Saturday, August 22, 2020 –

Al right, readers! We have officially covered the Four Last Things: Death; Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. BUT wait…there’s more! Well, more explanation anyway. Tied up within the realm of the Four Last Things is a little place we like to call: PURGATORY.

For me, purgatory is oddly comforting. While I strive to do the Lord’s Will and repent of my sins, I know that I am human. I fall flat on my face repeatedly and find myself in the Confession line a lot.

So what happens to those of us working our little hearts out to try and make it to heaven, but have a bit of a dented halo, so to speak? Well, in God’s infinite mercy, there is a final place of purification for those of us who die without mortal sin, but still need a little extra time sorting out our soul. Okay, it is a place of purification to “buff out the dents” before entering our everlasting reward in heaven.

Here is what the Catechism says about Purgatory:

1030 All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.
1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: “Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead…

Here, again, is our bullet point summary:

  • Purgatory is TEMPORARY (but we do not know how long each soul needs)
  • There is only one door out of purgatory, and that leads to heaven
  • Who goes to purgatory? Those who:
    • Died in God’s grace and friendship (i.e. those who have NOT rejected God’s love)
    • Do NOT have mortal sins when they die (mortal sin = rejected God’s love)
    • Have lesser faults (things like venial sins, habitual complainers, people who do not use turn signals, etc.)
    • Still imperfectly purified and need a little more purification (cleansing fire) to achieve holiness
    •  Will go to heaven after purification
  • THIS is why we should pray for the souls of the dead. If they are in purgatory, our prayers HELP them in their purification
  • We should also do works of mercy and penance for them as well as almsgiving, indulgences, and prayer, prayer, PRAYER!

In short, strive for heaven, always. Pray for the dead in case they are in purgatory.

Heart of Jesus, our peace and our reconciliation, have mercy on us.

Please follow and like us:
Pin Share