The doctrine of purgatory often raises questions, yet its foundations lie in both Scripture and reason.
Revelation 21:27 tells us that “nothing unclean will enter [heaven].” While many die in God’s grace, few are completely free from the effects of sin. Purgatory is understood as the merciful process by which God purifies souls, preparing them fully for the holiness of heaven.
St. Paul alludes to this in 1 Corinthians 3:15, stating that some will be saved, “but only as through fire.” This suggests a form of purification distinct from eternal condemnation. It is not punishment, but refinement.
Moreover, in 2 Maccabees 12:46, prayers are offered for the dead, “so that they might be freed from sin.” This practice presumes a state after death in which souls can benefit from the prayers of the living—a state neither heaven nor hell.
Purgatory, then, is not contrary to God’s justice or mercy, but a beautiful expression of both.
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