“Christ died on the cross in atonement for our sin, then why do we need Purgatory?” This thought would come through our minds I’m sure many times when the word Purgatory is mentioned. Purgatory is quite simple to understand; and even though it isn’t mentioned by name in Scripture, it is very much biblical. Catholics understand Purgatory as being the final purification. As we know that even if we sin, we are still in a friendship with God. However, nothing that is unclean will enter the kingdom of Heaven. (see Revelation 21:27). Heaven is pure and holy, so it would make sense that even though Christ opened the gates to enter His Kingdom, we need to be washed clean from any stains from our sins. 

 

To clarify this idea of purification by way of an example, let’s consider a scene from “My Fair Lady”. There is a scene of the movie near the beginning where Eliza (who speaks in a broad cockney accent) goes to Professor Higgins house, aiming to improve her speech. While we can ignore the Professor’s main intentions and personality, he accepts Eliza and lets her reside in his home. However, after he accepts her, since she is dirty from coming in from the “outside world” she has to be cleaned up and dress like a proper lady. This scene shows to us that she was accepted in the first place, as dirty and poorly spoken as she was, and provided a resistance, however to be known to others she would be residing there, she had to “fit in”.

 

Purgatory is a part of God’s mercy. He is helping us prepare to enter into the wedding feast of the Lamb. Catholics believe that Jesus’ death on the cross alone forgives sins. God has already chosen us for Heaven, though we need to be fully washed to enter the supper of the lamb. It goes by what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, if we come to God’s feast without being reconciled with him, we cast judgement upon ourselves. 

 

Some people mistake Purgatory as an intersection between Heaven and Hell, where it’s the final decision, are you going to Heaven or Hell? This is not the case. Purgatory is a temporary place connected to Heaven where the souls who have died in the state of friendship with Christ and chosen to enter Heaven, however, require ongoing purification for the preparation for the Supper of the Lamb. 

 

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he takes a moment to mention that at the end of our time, those who are working for God, their work will be tested by fire, (see 1 Corinthians 3:9-15). Paul speaks clearly here that on the day of judgement, each man’s work will be tested by fire, even though the works will be burnt up, the person will be saved and receive their reward. At least five Early Church Fathers believe that 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 is speaking about Purgatory. 

Purgatory is in no way undermining Christ’s Sacrifice on the cross, nor saying that we need to work more to gain God’s favour. God loves us more than we could ever imagine, and extends that mercy to us so that we could become pure and spotless members of God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

“Temporal punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by some after death, by some both here and hereafter, but all of them before that last and strictest judgment. But not all who suffer temporal punishments after death will come to eternal punishments, which are to follow after that judgment.” Augustine (The City of God 21:13 [A.D. 419]).