THE EXISTENCE OF PURGATORY

THE EXISTENCE OF PURGATORY AND THE PRAYER FOR THE DEAD
Bro. Fernan B. Presillas

I. INTRODUCTION
Our faith is certainly our greatest treasure - the root and foundation of our salvation. Christian Faith means accepting Christ, and every bit of revelation; to adhere to it, is adhering to God who revealed it, and to formally reject it means rejecting God; for we cannot do anything against the truth (cf. 2Cor 13:8). Unbelief means rejecting Christ.
There are fundamentalists and non-catholic groups who consider themselves the only ones in the truth and consider the Catholic Church as of pagan origin and that its doctrine is a mere product of invention which could not be found in the Bible. One of these is the existence of Purgatory and Prayer for the Dead. They will ask you: “Where can you find the word “purgatory” in the Bible?” They will add: “The Bible is the Word of God, and any doctrine not found literally in the Bible is not true and should not be accepted as coming from God.”
Such being the situation, it is the duty of the Catholic Church to enlighten and forewarn her children. The best way is always the positive way and understands our own riches. Many people join other religions simply because they ignore their own. The best prevention is knowledge and preparedness: know your faith deeply and be ready to defend it. This is the reason why the author in his own little way, presents some reasons why a Catholic really needs not change religion and has no reason to doubt the doctrine of purgatory and the prayer for the dead.

II. DERIVATIVES
A. EXISTENCE, root word “EXIST” from Latin “EXISTERE”
B. PURGATORY, root verb “PURGE” from Latin “PURGARE”
From “PURUS” - clean and “AGERE”- to do
C. PURGE, Spanish “PURGA” / “PURGAR” / “PURGANTE”
D. PURGATION, Spanish “PURGATION”, “PURIFICACIÒN”
E. PRAYER, Latin “PRECARIUS”; from “PRECARI” - to entreat; Spanish “ORACION”, “SUPLICA”; Hebrew “TEPHILLAH”; Greek “DEESIS”, “PROSELICHE”
F. DEAD - Spanish “MUERTO” – corpse, a dead body
- Latin “MORTUUS, “MORTEN”
G. DEATH - Spanish “MUERTE” - the extension of life (cf. Mt. 10:28); Latin “MORS”, “MORTIS”

III. DEFINITION
A. EXISTENCE – state or fact of being, actual being, have reality to continue being, thing that exists.
B. PURGATORY – a state or place in which those who died in the grace of God expiate their sins by suffering any state or place of temporary suffering, or a state in which the souls of the just after death are purified from the stains of sin still remaining, before they can enter heaven.
C. PURGE - to cleanse of impurities, guilt, sin, etc.; to remove by cleansing.
D. PURGATION – a purging or cleansing.
E. PURGATORIO – any place where life is embittered by painful drudgery and troubles.
F. PRAYER – is the active expression of the virtue of religion, which can be practiced by all; the raising of mind & soul to God.
G. DEAD – no longer living, without life, those who have died.
H. DEATH – permanent ending of life.

IV. KINDS OF DEATH
A. PHYSICAL DEATH – Separation of body and soul
Ecc 12:7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to unto God who gave it.”
Mt 10; 28 “…and fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul..”
James 2:26 “...for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.”
Rev 6:7 “…saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God...”

B. SPIRITUAL DEATH – separation between God and man due to mortal sin.
Isa 59:2 “It is because of your sins that he doesn’t hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship Him” (GNB ).
Rom 3:23 “Everyone has sinned and is far away from God’s saving presence.”
1Tim 5:6 “…but a widow who gives herself to pleasure has already died, even though she lives.”

C. ETERNAL DEATH – death in the lake of fire or the eternal punishment. Almost dying but will not die in the fire of hell.
Rev 20:14-15 – “...then death and the world of the dead were thrown into the lake of fire (this lake of fire is the second death). Whoever did not have his name written in the book of the living was thrown into the lake of fire” (cf. Mt 10:28; Mk 9:43-48; Rev 21:8).

V. TRICHOTOMY OR DICHOTOMY?scofield edition
Trichotomy theory teaches that man is composed of three parts: the body, soul and spirit because of the following biblical texts:
Lk 1:46-47 “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in my Savior.”
1Thes 5:23 “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless”
Heb 4:12 “…dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and morrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of hearts…”

Meanwhile, dichotomy theory teaches that man consists only of two parts. The official stand of the Catholic Church teaches that man consists of parts, a material body and spiritual soul; that in man soul and spirit are the same. 

A. MATERIAL BODY OF MAN
Sir 17:1 “Then the Lord formed human beings from the dust and sent each of them back to it again.”

B. SPIRITUAL SOUL
Gen 35:18, 29 “And it come to pass, as her soul was departing for she died… and Isaac gave up the ghost and died” (KJV ).

1. What is Spirit?
   Spirit is from Hebrew “ruah”; “pnuema”in Greek which means “wind, breath or Spirit” as a sign and principle of life.
   Ezek 37:7-9 “Prophesy son of man, and say to the wind (ruah) thus saith the Lord God and breath (ruah) upon these slain that they may live.”
   Gen 2:7 “Then the Lord formed man of the dust, of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life and man become a living being (AB ).

2. What is Soul?
   a. Soul is from Hebrew “nepes”; Greek “Psyche.” It refers to the thinking principle; that by which we feel, know, and which the body is animated. It is spiritual.

b. Soul refers to the immaterial reality, regarded as the spiritual part of the person and having the functions of thinking and willing.

VI. BIBLICAL EXPLANATION WHY SOUL AND SPIRIT IN MAN IS THE SAME (DICHOTOMY)
For the Jews “nepes” or soul has multiple meaning:
A. As being endowed with the gift of life.
Gen 2:7 “...and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils and the breath (ruah or spirit) of life; and man became a living soul” (KJV).

B. As the principle of life in a living body.
Ps 33:19 “...to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.”
Gen 12:13 “Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee”(KJV).
Ps 7:5 “Let the enemy persecutes my soul, and take it, yet let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay my honour in the dust (KJV).

C. Soul also meant knowledge, capability to know and praise God:
Ps 139:14 “I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… and that my soul knows right well” (KJV).

D. Sometimes soul also meant the body itself (physical body).
Ps 44:25 “For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly cleaveth unto the earth” (KJV).
Ps 119:25 “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.”
Job 6:7 “The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.”

E. Soul also meant the community of people.
Num 11:4, 6 “And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting; and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, who shall give us flesh to eat …but now our soul (not souls) is dried away; there is nothing at all, beside manna, before our eyes”(KJV).

F. Soul also meant the living creatures:
Job 12:10 “In whose hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind” (KJV).

Point to remember: The word “breath” in Hebrew is “ruah” which means “spirit.”

G. Soul also meant the a) desire b) aspiration c) intention d) feeling and, e) will of man:
1Sam 18:1 “…and it come to pass, when he had made and end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan lived him as his own soul (KJV).
Ps 107:5 “Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.”
Ps 107: 26 “They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble.”
Prov 27:7 “The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”
Point to remember: the metonymical approach of biblical figure of speech, meaning the use of the name of one thing for that of another associated with it.

Examples of Metonymy:

1. The statement “Malacañang has decided” means “the President has decided.”
2. Jn 2:19 “Jesus answered ‘Tear down this temple, and in three days I will build it again.’”
   “Tear down this temple” is actually “tear down my body.”

Clarification:
Jn 2:21-22 “But the temple Jesus was speaking about was His body. So when he was raised from death His disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and what Jesus had said.”

Conclusion:
A. Soul and spirit in man is but one and the same entity. On the explanation of 1Thes 5:23, the word spirit means “desire, aspiration, or ambition.”
Greek of 1Thes 5:23 “To pneuma (spirit) kai y psyche (soul) kai to soma (body).”

Point to remember: The word “to pneuma” translated as spirit does not mean the spirit which is the source of our intellect and free will out of desire, aspiration, or ambition. This spirit is the same as explained as follows:

1. Prov 25:28 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit (desire) is like a city that is broken down, and without walls (KJV).
2. Prov 18:14 “The spirit (ambition) of a man will sustain his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can bear?” (KJV)

B. The Church as the pillar and foundation of truth and guided by the Spirit of Truth teaches that man consists of two parts: the material body that comes from dust (cf. Gen 3:19) and the spiritual soul from God (cf. Ecc 12:7). The terms soul and spirit are interchangeable in terminology as an incorporeal or spiritual part of the nature of man.

1. Soul – an entity without material reality, regarded as the spiritual part of the person and having the functions of thinking and willing; the moral or emotional nature of man.
2. Spirit – Latin “spiritus”, “breath,” the life principle especially in man; the soul, the thinking, feeling part of man, mind, intelligence.
3. Diwa – spirit, soul, consciousness.

VII. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT PROOF THAT SOUL AND SPIRIT ARE THE SAME AND AS SPIRITUALCOMPONENT OF MAN.
A. Isa 44:3 “I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring” (KJV).
Job 30:16 “…and now my soul is poured out upon me” (KJV).

B. Ezek 37:14 “I shall put my spirit in you and you shall live” (KJV).
Gen 2:7 “...and the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground and breath into his nostrils the breath (ruah or spirit) of life; and man become a living soul” (KJV).

C. Job 27:2-3 “And the Almighty who hath vexed my soul; all the while my breath (ruah) is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils” (KJV).
1Kgs 17:17, 21-22 “The son of the woman… fell sick; and his sickness was so sore that there was no breath left in him…and he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord and said, ‘O Lord my God, I pray thee, let his child’s soul come into him again.’ And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived” (KJV).
Acts 7:59-60 “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! He knelt down and cried…’Lord! Do not remember this sin against them!’ He said this and died” (GNB).
Tob 4:3 “When God shall take my soul, thou shall bury my body” (DV ).
Ecc 12:7 “…and the dust return into its earth, from it was, and the spirit return to God” (GNB).
Mt 10:28 “Fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul.”
James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead” (GNB).

D. Soul or spirit is the same in power of understanding or knowledge:
Prov 19:2 “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good” (KJV).
Job 32:8 “But there is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding” (KJV).
Isa 26:9 “With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yes, with my spirit with me will I seek thee early; for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (KJV).
Gen 35: 18, 29 “…and it come to pass, as her soul was departing for she died… and Isaac gave up the ghost and died” (KJV).

E. Soul or spirit in heaven:
Heb 12:23 “You have come to the joyful gathering of God’s first-born sons, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, who is the Judge of all mankind, and to the spirits of good people made perfect” (GNB).
Rev 20:4 “Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been executed because they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed and the word of God” (GNB).
Rev 6:9 “I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because they had proclaimed God’s word and had been faithful in their witnessing” (GNB).
Acts 7: 55-56, 59-60 “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw God’s glory and Jesus standing at the right side of God. They kept on stoning Stephen as he called out to the Lord, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit… He said this and died” (GNB).

VIII. KINDS OF PRAYER
A. Secret Prayer – Mt 6:6 (Personal Prayer)
B. Family Prayer – Acts 10: 2, 30
C. Group Prayer – Mt 18:20
D. Public Prayer – 1 Cor 14: 14-17

IX. PARTS OF PRAYER (C-A-S-I-T)
A. Confession – James 5:16

1. The need for forgiveness (cf. James 5:16)
2. The need for transparency before the Lord (Ps 139:23-24)
3. The need for healing (cf. James 5:15)
4. The need to beg for mercy (cf. Ps 51: 1-6)

B. Adoration – Dan 4:34-35; Ps 22:3, 149:5-6

1. The need to worship God wholeheartedly (cf. Ps 103:1)
2. The need to praise His divine name (cf. Mt 6:9; Ps 22:3)
3. The need to praise His power (cf. Ps 149: 5-9; 2Chr 20:22)

C. Supplication – 1Tim 2:1-3

1. The need to pray for everything (cf. Eph 6:18)
2. The need to pray for all men (cf. 1Tim 2:1-3)
3. The need to pray for the promise of answer (cf. Mt 7:11)
4. The need to pray to follow the example of Christ (cf. Mt. 6:9-14)

D. Intercession – James 5:14-15, 17-18

1. The need of a priest to pray for us in danger of death (cf. James 5:13-15)
2. The need of guardian angel to pray for us (cf. Tob 12: 12-16)
3. The need of saints to intercede for us in our prayers to God (cf. Job 42: 7-9; Jer 42:1-4; Acts 8:24; Rev 8: 3-4, KJV).

E. Thanksgiving – Phil 4:6

1. The need of thanksgiving in all circumstances (1Thes. 5:18)
2. The need to give thanks to the Lord even in times of trouble (cf. Ps 50: 14-15)

X. POSTURE FOR PRAYER
A. Standing – Neh 9:5
B. Kneeling – Ezra 9:5
C. Sitting – 1Chr 17: 16-27
D. Bowing – Ex 34:8
E. Hands Uplifted – 1Tim 2:8
F. Prostrate – Jos 7: 6

XI. PRAYER METINGS
A. In a room – Acts 1: 13-14
B. In a house – Acts 12: 5-17
C. By a riverside – Acts 16:13
D. On a beach – Acts 21:5
E. In a garden – Mt 26:36-37

XII. PRAYERS OF JESUS
A. Their nature:

1. Adoration – Mt 11:25-27
2. Intercession- Jn 17:15-20
3. Thanksgiving – Jn 11:41-42

B. Their great occasions:

1. At his baptism – Lk 3:21-22
2. Before selecting the Apostles – Lk 6:12-16
3. At his transfiguration- Lk 9:28-29
4. In Gethsemane – Mt 26:36-42

C. Their times and places:

1. In secret – Lk 5:16, 9:18
2. Early in the morning – Mk 1:35
3. The whole night (vigil) – Lk 6:12
4. With others – Lk 11:1
5. On the mountain – Mt 14:23

XIII. WHY WE SHOULD PRAY?
A. Prayer is imperative because we are commanded by Jesus to pray – Lk 18:1; Mt 6:9-14
B. There is joy in prayer – Jn 16:24
C. Prayer will save us out of all our troubles – Ps 34:6
D. Prayer can unlock the treasure chest of God’s wisdom – James 1:5
E. Prayer is a channel of power – Jer 33:3
F. It is a sin not to pray – 1Sam 12:23
G. Sinners, if they repented, can be saved when they pray in faith in danger of death – Rom 10:13-14; James 5:15

XIV. HOW TO PRAY?
A. We are to pray to our Father in heaven – Mt 6:9-13
B. We are to pray to Jesus – Jn 14:13-14
C. How to pray to the Holy Spirit – Jude 1:20
D. We are to pray for His Will to be done – James 4:15
E. We are to pray for the coming of the Kingdom – Mt 25:31-46
F. We are to pray for our daily necessities – Lk 11:3
G. We are to pray for forgiveness – Mt 18: 21-22
H. We are to pray for the leading of the Lord and deliverance from evil – Lk 22:42
I. We are to pray in faith – Heb 11:6; Mt 21:21-22
J. We are to pray by asking intercession of the saints – Acts 8:24; James 5:17-18; Rev 8:3-4, KJV
K. Pray with humility – James 4:6-10
L. Pray with perseverance – Eph 6:18; Mt 24:13

XV. PRINCIPAL FRUITS OF PRAYER
A. Prayer unites us with God – Mt 6:6
B. It makes us spiritually minded – Rom 8:26-28
C. It strengthens us in affliction and temptation – 2Cor 12:7-9
D. It increases sanctifying grace as all good works do – 1Pet 4:7-10
E. It obtains for us a multitude of actual graces – James 4:6-10

XVI. MODES OR WAYS OF PRAYER
A. Vocal Prayer – using a set of words (formulated as the “Our Father”), or by making up our own prayers (spontaneous).
B. Mental prayer – in silence with the presence of God.

XVII. ANSWERS OF PRAYERS
A. In God’s bountiful grace – Eph 3:20
B. Positive answers – 1Kgs 9:3; 2Cor 1:20; Rev 3:20
C. Waiting for His strength – Isa 40:30-31
D. Divine Refusal – 2Cor 12:8-9; Ps 66:18
E. Waiting – Col 4:2
F. Accepting – Acts 10:4, 12:5, 12-18
G. Checking – 1Sam 16:1-3
H. Conforming – Acts 13-1-3
I. Obeying – Acts 9:10-19
J. Praising – Col 1:3-12

XVIII. THE BLOCKS OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER
A. Divided or wrong motives – James 4:3
B. Unconfessed sins – Ps 66:18; Isa 59:1-2
C. Unforgiveness – Mk 11:25
D. Problems in relationships – 1Pet 3:7
E. Lack of Love – Prov 21:13
G. Doubt – James 1:6-7
H. Stubbornness- Zec 7:11-13
I. Spiritual opposition – Dan 10:12-13

XIX. THE FOUR LAST THINGS
A. Death – Sir 10: 9-11, 7: 36

1. In the beginning God created us with the gift of immortality – Wis 2:23
2. The devil brought death into the world – Wis 2:24
3. Death is universal – Rom 5:12-24
4. Conquered by Jesus Christ by the power of His resurrection – 1Cor 15: 51-58
5. By the permissive will of God, He allows death to the door to eternal life – 1Cor 15:12-24, 35-38; Ecc 3:1-2

B. Judgment – Heb 9:27

1. First Judgment – Individual or personal – Ecc 12:7, 14; Heb 9:27; 2Cor 5:1-10
2. Last Judgment (general and final) – 2Tim 4:1; Acts 10:42; Jn 5:27-29; Mt 25: 31-46

C. Heaven – Heb 12:23

1. The twelfth article of the creed is: “and life everlasting”, which means that there will be another existence – after the present life and that the just will be happy in it forever – Mt 25:46
2. When we speak of heaven we generally mean the abode of the just and the joyful union with God – Col 3:1-4; Phil 3:1
3. The greatest joy in heaven is the beatific vision, which means that the blessed see God face to face. This vision is called beatific because it renders happy those who have it. We possess and enjoy with God, the greatest good; we know and love Him to our utmost capacity; and are known and loved by Him in return - 1Cor. 13:12; 2Cor. 12:1-4
4. Earthly things can never fully satisfy the heart, and so we can never be completely happy in this life - 1Tim 6:8-10; Mt 16:26; Lk 16:19-31, 12:13-21
5. However, God is all good in Himself and can satisfy all our desires; will make us supremely happy. Having Him, we shall wish for nothing else – Rev 7:9-17
6. In heaven we shall resemble God – 1Jn 3:2
   Some other joys in Heaven!
7. In heaven there will be no sin, nor death, nor sorrow, and consequently nothing to cause pain of suffering, trouble, or affliction – Rev 21: 1-7
8. We shall have company with the saints and angels – Heb 12:23
9. The knowledge of mysteries and of the secrets of science, and of whatever else we may desire to know, will be given to us. It will afford us pleasure to explore the universe and to behold the beauties of the new heavens and new earth which are promised to us after judgment day – Sir 43:32-33; Mt 22:30; Rev 21:1
10. As we shall have our bodily senses in heaven, we shall be able to enjoy sights pleasing to the eyes, the harmony of voice and sound, and the fragrant odors of paradise, we shall see our parents and friends, whom we shall love intensely than we did on earth – 1Cor 2: 9-16
11. Heaven will last forever – the joys of heaven never satiate; they always delight and will endure without end – Phil 3:20-21; 1Cor 15:42, 50

D. Hell

1. Sin is punished in this world and in the next!
   a. Punishment of sin in this world, sinners suffer in this life from remorse of conscience, from fear and from unhappiness. Their sin often brings upon them disease or death, the hatred of fellowmen, and other temporal punishments. The sinner can never be happy until he forsakes his sin and does penance – 1Cor 11:27-31; Lk 13:5; James 3:13-16, 4:1-4, 5:13-15
   b. The wicked are punished after death by the torment of hell – Mt 25:41
2. What is Hell? It is the place and state of everlasting punishment prepared for satan, and the rebellious angels and to which the souls and bodies of those who die with unrepented sins will be consigned after the last judgment – Mt 25:31-46, 10:28
3. Why God must punish the sinners? God, being a just Judge, must punish sinners because sinners are enemies of God. He created this world and He owns it, and so all creatures must be conformed to His Will. A sinner defies, refuses to do His Will, and must be treated as an enemy. A traitor deserves extreme punishment, and a sinner is a traitor to God – Lk 19:26-28
4. What pains do the damned suffer in hell?
   a. The pain of the senses: the suffering from fire and the torments inflicted on the sight, the hearing and other senses – Mk 9:43-48
   b. The pain of loss – includes the despair of the reprobate at losing God and heaven, remorse over their wicked lives and lost chances, the absence of all hope, and their envy of the happiness of the saints – Lk 16: 19-31, Mt. 7: 21-23
   c. There is no love in hell, only undying hate. The lost hate God and all the demons and their companions in suffering – Rev 21: 8; Ps 10: 3-4
5. Will the punishment in hell be the same for all?
   a. No, each one will be punished more or less, according to the measure of his offenses, no one in hell is punished as much as he deserves – 2Cor 5:10
   b. The sinner by his sin rejects God as his last end and voluntarily chooses to be separated from Him forever, and so He must abide by his own choice – Sir 15:11-20
   c. The wicked must be punished as long as they are enemies of God, and they will be His enemies forever, as they hate Him, and will not and cannot repent – Mt 13:49-50
   d. The punishment in hell is forever – Mk 9:48

XX. THE EXISTENCE OF PURGATORY
A. Purgatory is a state in which the souls of the just after death are purified from the stains of sin still remaining, before they can enter heaven. For the Scripture says that nothing defiled can enter heaven – Rev 21:27 “There shall not enter into it anything defiled….” Defiled means foul dirt, disgusting matter, moral corruption, polluted, filthy, and revoltingly dirty.

B. God does not always remit all of the temporal punishment due to forgiven sin. There are sins that shall be forgiven in the next world to come: Mt 12:32 “…and who so ever speaketh a word against the son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

C. The reasonableness of the doctrine of purgatory: The doctrine of purgatory is entirely according to God’s supreme justice. Christians often die with venial sins upon their souls. All, therefore, who die in venial sins or with the temporal punishment of their sins still unpaid, must atone for them in purgatory.

1. Ps 7:11 “God is a righteous judge and always condemns the wicked.”
2. God’s punishment is always based on justice and gravity of the sins committed: Mt 5:22 “But now I tell you; whoever is angry with his brother will be brought to trial, whoever calls his brother ‘you good-for-nothing!’ will be brought before the council, and whoever calls his brother a worthless fool will be in danger of going to the fire of hell.”
3. All actions of man demands justice from God. Venial sins deserved light punishment while mortal sin should be punished heavier as required by the justice of God required from the person to whom much more is given.
   Lk 12: 47-48 “The servant who knows what his master wants him to do, but does not get himself ready and do it will be punished with a heavy whipping; but the servant who does not know what his master wants, and yet does something for which he deserves a whipping, will be punished with a light whipping. Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.”

D. Required by these reasons, there must be a third place or state aside from heaven and earth where prayers can still be offered to God and that place is not hell.

1. Phil 2:10 “…and so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below” (cf. Mt 12:32)
2. Rev 5:3 “There was no one in heaven or on earth or in the world below who could open the scroll and look inside it.”
3. Rev 5:13 “…and I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below…”

Point to remember: The Church identifies these three places: 1. Iglesia Triumpante - heaven
2. Iglesia Militante - earth
3. Iglesia Purgante – world below (purgatory)

E. The Biblical terminology used to describe this third state is “prison of spirits”:

1. Job 12:14 “When God tears down, who can rebuild, and who can free the man God imprisons? (GNB)
2. This is the place where Jesus descended when He died and preached to the dead the good news of salvation: 1Pet 3:18-20 “For Christ died for our sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God, He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually, and in His spiritual existence, He went and preached to the imprisoned spirits. These were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God when He waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his boat.”
3. Mt 5:26 “…Amen, I say to you, will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

Point to remember: the text tells of imprisoned spirits who had not obeyed God - this is not hell which is the place of the damned. We call this place purgatory because the good news of salvation can still be preached to them in their spiritual existence.
1 Pet 4:6 “That is why the good news was preached also to the dead, to those who had been judged in their physical existence as everyone is judged; it was preached to them so that in their spiritual existence they may live as God lives.”

Point to remember: These spirits had already passed judgment and as a result they were imprisoned. Why not to hell? Why not direct to heaven? Common sense teaches as that by material proofs the existence of purgatory is real.

1. Spirit and soul in man is biblically the same:
   a. Ps 142:7 “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me” (KJV).
   b. Wis 16:14 “A wicked man may kill someone, but he cannot bring the dead person back to life or rescue a soul imprisoned in the world of the dead” (GNB).
   Material Proofs:
   a. Job 12:14 “When God tears down, who can rebuild and who can free the man God imprisons?” (GNB)
   b. Wis 16:14 “…rescue a soul imprisoned in the world of the dead.”
   c. Ps 142:7 “Bring my soul out of prison...” (KJV)
   d. 1Pet 3:19 “In His spiritual existence He went and preached to the imprisoned spirits.”
   e. 1Pet 4:6 “...that way the good news was preached to the dead.” Theologically, the Catholic Church named this third state: purgatory.
2. Why the Catholic Church named this third state as purgatory instead of prison of spirits, prison of souls, God’s prison, world below or world of the dead?

Answer:
It is because the primitive Christianity used the term purgatory referring to this intermediate state. The Church guided by the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16, 26, 6:13; Acts 20:28) has from Sacred Scriptures and the ancient Traditions of the Church Fathers (2Thes 2:15, 3:6) taught in sacred Councils, that there is purgatory, and that the souls therein detained are helped by the sufferings of the faithful, but principally by the acceptance of the sacrifice of the altar (2Mac 12:41-45).

1. Teachings of the Church Fathers of both East and West mention the apostolic custom of praying for the dead:
   a. 160-260 A.D. – Tertullian speaks of anniversary masses in two different passages: “We make on one day every year oblations for the dead, as for their birthdays” (De Cor, Mil., 3). “The faithful widow prays for the soul of her husband, and begs for him in the interim repose, and participation in the first resurrection, and offers on the anniversary of his death (De Monag., 10).
   b. 200-258 A.D. – St. Cyprian decreed that no oblation or sacrifice was to be offered up for a priest who had acted as executor (Epis. LXVI).
   c. 340-397 A.D. – St. Ambrose in his funeral sermon over the Emperor Theodosius, said: “Give perfect rest to thy servant Theodosius, that rest which thou has prepared for thy saints… I have loved him, and therefore will I follow him unto the land of the living; nor will I leave him until by tears and prayers I shall lead him whither his merits summon him, unto the holy mountain of the Lord” (De Obitu, Theod., 36, 37).
   d. 354-430 A.D. – St. Augustine writes: “Lay, she says (his mother, Monica), this body anywhere; let not the care of it in any way disturb you. Only this I ask of you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord, wherever you are” (Conf., IX, 27).
   e. 315-386 A.D. – St. Cyril of Jerusalem writes: “Then we pray for the holy fathers and bishops who have fallen asleep before us, and for all who have died in our communion, believing that the souls for whom prayers are offered receive very great assistance, while the holy and most awful sacrifice lies to open-view (Cath. Myst., V., 9).
   f. 344-407 A.D. – St. John Chrysostom writes; “Not in vain are oblations made on behalf of the departed; not in vain supplications; not in vain alms” (Act. Apost., XXI, 4).
2. All the ancient liturgies of both East and West contain prayers for the dead (Duchesne, Christian Worship; Cabrol, Le Livre dela Priere Antique, ch. XXXIII).
3. The prayer of the Roman Liturgy runs as follows:
   “Be mindful, O Lord, of they servants N. and N., who are gone before us with the sign of faith, a sleep in the sleep of peace. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, a place of refreshment, light and peace, through the same Christ our Lord.”
4. The praise “refreshment, light and peace” is found in many of the catacomb inscriptions.
5. The formula “in pace” (in peace) like our modern “requiescat in pace” (may he or she rest in peace), and the words “mayest thou have eternal light in Christ,” and “may God refresh you,” are found over many Christian’s tombs in the first three centuries.

F. The Origin of the Word Purgatory:
From: purged, purgation, purgationem, pugationes.
Purged:

1. Isa 4:4 “When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have “purged” the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning (KJV).
2. Tob 12:8-9 “Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness… for almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purged away every sin”.

Points to remember: 1. Purged away every sin; 2. Spirit of judgment; 3. Spirit of burning – is connected with fire.
Mk 9:49 “For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.”
1Cor 3:13-15 “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
Jude 1:22-23 “On those who waver, have mercy; save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear, abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.”
Purgation:
Heb 1:3 “And imprint of his essence, and actuating all things by His word of power, took His seat at the right of the majesty on high when he made purgation of sins (BLE ).

Purgationem:
Heb 1:3 “Et figura substantiae e Jus, portans que omnia verbo vertutes suae, purgationem peccaturum faciens.”
Purgationes:
Lk 2:22 “Et postquam implete sunt dies purgationes.”

Conclusive Reminders:
Prayer, fasting, almsgiving, righteousness purged away every sin. Purgation of sin is also biblical. If prayer purged away every sin, there must be a place for the purgation of sins - an intermediary state. The Church named it purgatory where the purgation of sins occurs.

G. Prayer for the dead is useful for those who died under the state of venial sin:

1. 1Jn 5:16-17 “If any one sees his brother committing what is not mortal sin he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.”
2. Mt 12:32 “…and whoever says a word against the son of man will be forgiven… either in this age or in the age to come.”
3. 2Mac 12:41-45 “So they praised the ways of the Lord, the just Judge, who reveals what is hidden, and they begged Him that this sin might be completely blotted out. Then, Judas, that great man, urged the people to keep away from sin, because they had seen for themselves what had happened to those men who had sinned. He also took up a collection from all his men, totaling about four pounds of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. Judas did this noble thing because he believed in the resurrection of the dead. If he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for them; in first and devout conviction that all of God’s faithful people would receive a wonderful reward, Judas made provision for a sin offering to set free from their sin those who had died”(GNB).
4. Prayer for the dead is also common to Christians: Acts 9:36-40
5. All Saints Day – Nov. 1 is based on these biblical passages:
   a. Sir 44:1-2 “Let us now give praise to godly men, our ancestors of generations past, men whom the Lord honored with great glory in whom His greatness has been seen…”
   b. Sir 44:10,14 “But we will praise these godly men whose righteous deeds have never forgotten… their bodies were laid to rest, but their refutations will live forever.”
   c. Sir 33:12 “He blessed some, making them honored and holy, keeping them near Him, others He cursed….” (GNB)
6. We must not forget our dearly departed – Nov. 2
   Sir 7:33 “Be generous to every living soul, and be gracious to the memory of the dead.”

H. What the Council of Trent has to say concerning purgatory?
The Council of Trent says that Scripture and early Tradition of the Church teach that purgatory exists and that souls detained there are helped by the sufferings of the faithful, and especially by the holy sacrifice of the altar (Session 25; cf. 1Tim 3:15; Job 12:14; Ps 142:7, KJV; 1Pet 3:16-19; Mt 5:26, 26:26-28; 2Mac 12:41-45)

1. The principal pain of purgatory is deprivation of the beatific vision, and the general tradition of the Church is that souls also suffer acutely in other ways.
   a. Heb 12:14-15 “Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it. Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison.”
   b. 1Cor 3:15 “But if anyone’s work is burnt up, then he will lose it; but he himself will be saved, as if he had escaped through the fire.”
2. The souls in purgatory, however, have much to console them. They are sure of their salvation and of God’s love, they have no temptation, and they cannot commit the slightest sin, even of impatience. Merely to suffer, when not harassed by anxiety, worry, or any distress of mind, and when one is absolutely sure of a happy deliverance, is bearable. Then, too, the poor souls are comforted by the prayers of the saints in heaven and of good people on earth.
   a. 1Pet 3:18-19 “…for Christ died for our sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God… and in His spiritual existence He went and preached to the imprisoned spirits.”
   b. 1Pet 4:5-6 “…but they will have to give account of themselves to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead. That is why the good news was preached also to the dead, to those who had been judged in their physical existence as everyone is judged; it was preached to them so that in their spiritual existence they may live as God lives.”
   c. Jude 1:23 “Save others by snatching them out of fire; and to others show mercy mixed with fear, but hate their very clothes, stained by sinful lusts.”
   d. 2Mac 12:44-45 “If he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for them. In his firm, and devout conviction that all of God’s faithful people would receive a wonderful reward, Judas made provision for a sin offering to set free from their sin those who had died (cf. Rev 8:3-4, KJV).
   e. Wis 3:3-4 “They leave us, but it is not a disaster. In fact, the righteous are at peace. It might appear that they have suffered punishment, but they have confident hope of immortality” (GNB).
   f. Wis 3:5-6 “Their sufferings were minor compared with the blessings they will receive. God has tested them, like gold in a furnace, and found them worthy to be with you. He has accepted them.”
3. The souls remain in purgatory until they satisfy the justice of God for their sins. The Church does not put any limit to the time during which we may pray or have mass offered for the suffering souls, after the last judgment there will be heaven and hell, but no purgatory. Should there be any souls just before the general judgment who have not yet paid the full debt of temporal punishment due to their sins, they may be purified by more intense suffering in a short time or in some other providential way.
   a. Wis 41:4 “The Lord has decreed it for every living creature. Who are you to object to what the Most High wishes? In the world of the dead, no one will care whether you lived ten years, a hundred, or a thousand” (GNB).
   b. Job 12:14 “When God tears down town, who can rebuild, and who can free the man God imprisons?” (GNB)
   c. Mt 5:26 “There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny….” (cf. 2Mac 12:41-45)
   d. Wis 3:14 “He will receive a special reward more precious than having children; a place in the Lord’s heavenly temple.”
   e. Wis 3:7 “When God comes to reward the righteous, they will blaze out against the wicked like fire in dry straw.”