MARY, OUR MOTHER

"I am not afraid of Purgatory. I know that I am not worthy to enter that place of expiation with those holy souls. But I know, also, that the fire of Love is more sanctifying than the fire of Purgatory." (St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus)

CHAPTER LXXIV: TWO HEARTS OF WIT & WISDOM

PURGATORY

Why do Catholics insist on believing in Purgatory? Really, the word Purgatory does not appear in the Bible. How can you explain this one?

Please read these words carefully taken from the Bible, II. Machabees, 12 Chapter, 42. Verse:

"The valiant Judas (not Judas Iscariot, the traitor) exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened because of the sins of those that were slain (in the battle).

"And making a gathering, --he sent 12,000 drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the Resurrection:

"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins."

These words mean exactly what they say:

Consider:--Those who are in HELL--it's no use praying for them it's too late.

And those who are in Heaven--need no more prayers, they are already saved.

So, there must be another PLACE, where "they may be loosed from their sins" --a PLACE of atonement where they can pay the debt of their sins to finally enter Heaven.

And--Jesus said--: "You are to be perfect even as my Heavenly Father is perfect." Matt. 9/48. Also: "Nothing defiled enters into the Kingdom of Heaven!"

Obviously we must first of all pay the price--and be purified of our sins and the punishment due to sins.

The Church calls this place simply PURGATORY, a state of being, where you are purged of your sins, to be ready then to see God face to face and all the Saints and the Mother of God and all the Angels.

Jesus Himself made an important reference to Purgatory when He said: "Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him (or her) either in this world or in the world to come."

The obvious implication is simply: Again--

There is no forgiveness in Heaven.

There is no forgiveness in Hell.

So therefore, there must be another Place, where sins are forgiven. We call this state of temporary being PURGATORY. No problem.

Or--you have another name for it? - - -

By the way: Just where did the souls go in the Old Testament days? Heaven was closed, because of the fall of Adam & Eve. So, they either went to Hell or some other PLACE awaiting Jesus' Redemption! Think about it.

P.S. If there were no Purgatory you and I would have a hell of a time to get into Heaven.

"Dost thou think thou art so perfect to go

straight from this corrupt world to the Throne

of God and His Saints and Angels?"

You and I better get washed up first!

Luckily there is such a PLACE--or you and

I would be in a bad shape!

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