99 & 1/2 Won’t Do – A Meditation on Purgatory

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | November 1, 2010 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

99 & 1/2 Won’t Do – A Meditation on Purgatory

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

I have blogged before on Purgatory. For example here: Purgatory – Biblical and Reasonable. I have also provided a PDF document on the Biblical roots of the teaching here: PDF Document on Purgatory .

On this Feast of All Souls I want to reflect on Purgatory as the necessary result of a promise. Many people think of purgatory primarily in terms of punishment, but it is also important to think of it in terms of  promise, purity and perfection. Some of our deceased brethren are having the promises to them perfected in purgatory. In the month of November we are especially committed to praying for them and know by faith that our prayers are of benefit to them.

What is the Promise which points to Purgatory? Simply stated, Jesus Made the promise in Matt 5:48: You, Therefore, must be perfect as you Heavenly Father is perfect. Now in this promise is an astonishing declaration of our dignity. We are to share in the very nature and perfection of God. This is our dignity:  that we are called to reflect and possess the very glory and perfection of God.

St. Catherine of Siena was gifted by the Lord to see a heavenly soul in the state of grace and her account of it is related in her Dialogue. It is here summarized In the Sunday School Teacher’s Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism:

The Soul in the State of Grace- Catherine of Siena was permitted by God to see the beauty of a soul in the state of grace. It was so beautiful that she could not look on it; the brightness of that soul dazzled her. Blessed Raymond, her confessor, asked her to describe to him, as far as she was able, the beauty of the soul she had seen. St. Catherine thought of the sweet light of that morning, and of the beautiful colours of the rainbow, but that soul was far more beautiful. She remembered the dazzling beams of the noonday sun, but the light which beamed from that soul was far brighter. She thought of the pure whiteness of the lily and of the fresh snow, but that is only an earthly whiteness. The soul she had seen was bright with the whiteness of Heaven, such as there is not to be found on earth. ” My father,” she answered. “I cannot find anything in this world that can give you the smallest idea of what I have seen. Oh, if you could but see the beauty of a soul in the state of grace, you would sacrifice your life a thousand times for its salvation. I asked the angel who was with me what had made that soul so beautiful, and he answered me, “It is the image and likeness of God in that soul, and the Divine Grace which made it so beautiful.” [1].

Yes, this is our dignity and final destiny if we are faithful to God.

So, I ask you, “Are you there yet?” God has made you a promise. But what if it is not yet fulfilled and you were to die today without the divine perfection you are promised yet completed? I can only say for myself that, if I were to die today, as far as I know I am not aware of mortal sin. But I am also aware of not being perfect. I am not even close to being humanly perfect, let alone having the perfection of the heavenly Father!

But Jesus made me a promise: You must be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect. And the last time I checked, Jesus is a promise keeper!. St. Paul says, May God who has begun a good work in you bring it to completion. (Phil 1:6).  Hence, If I were to die today, Jesus would need to complete a work that he has begun in me. By God’s grace, I have come a mighty long way. But I have a long way to go. God is very holy and his perfection is beyond imagining.

Yes, there are many things in us that need purging. Sins, and attachments to sin. Worldly clingings, and those rough edges to our personality. Likewise most of us carry with us hurts, regrets, sorrows and disappointments. We cannot take any of this to heaven with us. It wouldn’t be heaven. So the Lord, who is faithful to his promise, will purge all of this from us. The Book of Revelation speaks of Jesus ministering to the dead in that he will wipe every tear from their eyes  (Rev 21:4).  1 Corithians 3:13-15 speaks of us as passing through fire in order that our works be tested and that what is good may be purified and what is worldly may be burned away. Job said, But he knows the way that I take; and when he has tested me, I will come forth as pure gold (Job 23:10).

Purgatory has to be – Yes, gold, pure gold, refined, perfect and pure gold. Purgatory has to be if God’s promises are to hold. The Protestants have no place for Purgatory because they interpret our perfection merely to be a legally declared perfection. Classical Protestantism speaks of an “imputed righteousness.”  Imputed righteousness is  a righteous that is merely said of us but is not actually so. Luther thought of us as a dung hill, completely depraved, and God covered us with his righteousness like snow on the surface, but we were still dung underneath. For Luther we merely have declared of us a justitia aliena (an alien justice). But Catholic Theology has always taken God seriously on his promise that we would actually be perfect as the Father is perfect. The righteousness is Jesus’ righteousness, but it actually transforms us and changes us completely in the way that St. Catherine describes above. It is a real righteousness, not merely imputed, not merely declared of us by inference. It is not an alien justice, but a personal justice, by the grace of God.

Esse quam videri – Purgatory makes sense because perfection promised us is real: Esse quam videri (To be rather than to seem). We must actually be purged of the last vestiges of imperfection, worldliness, sin and sorrows. And, having been made perfect by the grace of God, we are able to enter heaven of which Scripture says, Nothing impure will ever enter it (Rev 21:27). And again, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the souls of the just made perfect (Heb 12:22-23).

How could it be anything less? – Indeed, the souls of the just made perfect. How could it be anything less if Jesus died to accomplish it for us?  Purgatory makes sense based on the promise of Jesus and the power of his blood to accomplished complete and total perfection for us. This is our dignity, this is our destiny. Purgatory is about promises not mere punishments. There’s an old Gospel hymn that says, “O Lord I’m running, trying to make a hundred. Ninety-nine and half won’t do!” 

That’s right, 99 1/2 won’t do. Nothing less than 100 is possible since we have the promise of Jesus and the wonder working power of the precious blood of the Lamb. For most, if not all of us, purgatory has to be.

[Melian]

There IS only one Church: the one Christ started. The Catholic Church. The thousands of other Christian churches are weak off-shoots that were started by men after they pruned the Scriptures.

I see the same trite and vain repetitions of false and hackneyed phrases in your latest posts against the Catholic Church. There is AMPLE truth posted in this thread alone that refutes your statements about the Catholic Church.

Christians-lite can follow preacher Billy Bob (who got religion a couple of years ago) and his “inspired” interpretations of the sadly desecrated and dissected bible, if they want to. I guess it feels better for them to find an interpretation that they agree with, rather than conform their thoughts/actions to Christ’s will, no matter how difficult. That’s their choice, and, as Christ said, there are many rooms in Heaven.

The final Truth is this: the Bible stood for hundreds of years as the Word of God, untouched. Then men, full of their own importance, began to cut parts out and whittle it away. What arrogance. What folly! Any Christian should be FURIOUS about that. Every Christian should be insulted by that man-made bible. The fruits of that folly are the proof: there a a multitude of churches and interpretations now- exactly the OPPOSITE of what Christ stated was His will for his Church. The entire construct of Protestantism is built on sand.

I am thrilled to be Catholic and follow the original teachings of Christ to the letter, no matter how tough. I praise God that Christ prayed for His Church to remain united and that He sent the Spirit to guide it forever. We are the faithful remnant, holding fast to the original, to the end.

I will pray for you, presently no screen name.

[Judith Anne]

The book is available on Amazon... buy it if you doubt it

No, I don't plan to buy a book that has one line taken out of context. Do you own the book? Did you take it out of context? I'm asking, because while that is possible, there is another possibility, which I have presented. Gratuitous quote mining from the writings of the saints, looking for remarks which can be taken out of context to inflame anti-Catholic sentiment or bolster anti-Catholic arguments are, in my experience on the RF, much more likely. Reformers do it with the Holy Scriptures all the time.

So, no, I won't be buying the book that you say it's from, just to find out if the anti-Catholic website took it out of context. If a reformed poster on this thread owns the St. Catherine of Siena book containing the quote, let them put it in context. If you own the book, then you can.

[RnMomof7]

Additional Scripture to support Purgatory: 2 Mac 12: 42-46, Mt 12:32, Luke 12: 58, Luke 16:19-31, 1 Cor 3: 10-15, 1 Pet 3:19, Rev 21: 27.

Did you bother to read any of the NT scriptures? Not ONE of them teaches purgatory ...not ONE

These are official Catholic proof texts, taken out of context ...with the PRESUPPOSITION OF PURGATORY.. they certainly do not teach it..

Consider this......scripture CLEARLY teaches HELL.....Jesus spoke on Hell more than heaven ...if there was a purgatory Christ would have taught it clearly ...To believe in purgatory is to commit the very damning sin that is addressed Mat12:32-33 that you gave me..

Either Jesus saves us or we save our selves, either Jesus was the propitiation for our sins or He was not, Either Jesus redeemed us or He did not

Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

[RnMomof7]

You do not have to believe it, after all Catholics do not believe Christ saved them ..but they fall on their face before the pope.. this is America where people are free to worship satan himself if they want too.

[RnMomof7]

Matt 7:21 “Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” A life lived with faith is what is required. Not just faith.

I can not believe that anyone could read this without understanding it..

It teaches exactly the opposite of what you are saying. It is a condemnation of a works based salvation ...now IN CONTEXT

Hear Jesus teaching on salvation by works

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

So the works do not make one good..but they tell us the condition of the the relationship with God

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done MANY WONDERFUL WORKS?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Christ NEVER knew them, they were never saved then lost.. HE NEVER knew them , They pleaded their case on works.. BUT their fruit was rotten to the core, because its roots were not in Christ

Scripture tells us what is not of faith is sin... so all those works done to save oneself are in fact sin..because they show no faith in Christ

[Judith Anne]

Frankly, your post looks as though it has made Melian’s case, rather than whatever you were trying to get across.

[RnMomof7]

Not surprised you can not read scripture either Judith.. Jesus was condemning a man that thought his works earned his salvation... man the word of God is always true

1Cr 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

[presently no screen name]

I will pray for you, presently no screen name

How sweet but I'm not going to purgatory. I'm a child of the Most Higher, saved by Blood of The Lamb and have every spiritual blessing. I could go on and on about the blessings of My God but don't want you to be angst how the god you serve makes you pay up when you are shipped out! And how you're told to pray to dead saints and I am told to go boldly to the throne of The Creator of All, The Almighty God for all my needs. Seems your god directs you to the bottom of the barrel crumbs.

It's no wonder you seem not to be able to let go of me.

[Judith Anne]

Not surprised you can not read scripture either Judith..

Mind-reading is against the rules. The fact that others interpret it differently than you does not mean they cannot read scripture. Again, with the "spiritual discernment" baloney.

God will "discern" and I am very comfortable with that. No unschooled anonymous internet church lady is my "discerner" or "interpreter of Scripture."

[RnMomof7]

You told me what you thought, so I did not have to read your mind Judith... Interesting that the scripture quote I gave said man is to discern...my lament was most catholics can not discern the scriptures God speaks through

I never ask anyone to believe me or trust me..I try to point them to the word of God and hope the spirit of God illuminates it to them

Jhn 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

[presently no screen name]

Again, with the "spiritual discernment" baloney.

1Cr 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Scripture is baloney to you? The Holy Spirit as Teacher is baloney to you?

[Judith Anne]

Scripture is baloney to you? The Holy Spirit as Teacher is baloney to you?

See, that's why I never trust a reformer to "discern." Twist someone else's statement, every time. Reformers' so-called spiritual discernment is a joke -- baloney, in other words.

And now, I'm busy helping put up a small chandelier, so have at it with the 7th grade remarks and self-congratulatory lauds.

[presently no screen name]

Again, with the "spiritual discernment" baloney.

What's the joke? I don't see it. Is it you want me to read your mind so you can have another chance to whine and hit the abuse button?

[Melian]

Jesus Himself said we’d have to pay to the last penny. It’s not my teaching; it’s His.

The earliest Christians prayed to the dead saints and martyrs. It’s not my teaching; it’s what the first Christians did.

The Protestant Bible was edited by men after standing intact for hundreds of years after it was collected and declared sacred Scripture. It’s an abomination.

The Blood of the Lamb does save: it is shed again at every Catholic Mass. Christ told us so. He also told us not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter Heaven. He made it very clear He requires more than lip service; He requires works.

These are all facts. As long as you keep responding with untruths and negativity, I’ll keep responding to you. I consider it my duty to continue to try to enlighten you. From the tone of your answers, I think you feel the Hound of Heaven tracking you.

If one is sure, one wouldn’t need to go negative or say things that are untrue.

[Melian]

“Christ NEVER knew them, they were never saved then lost.. HE NEVER knew them , They pleaded their case on works.. BUT their fruit was rotten to the core, because its roots were not in Christ”

You’ve illustrated my point exactly. They THOUGHT they were saved, but unless they actually produced the good fruit in accordance with God’s will, they were not.

Actions based on God’s will are required for salvation. Without that, one is cast into the fire. Matt 7:22 is more of the same: Evangelicals and other Protestants can talk until the cows come home about God, and how they are the only ones who are definitely saved, and they even demonstrate some spiritual gifts- but the fact is, Christ made it very clear there is no assurance and that it is very difficult even for believers to enter Heaven.

Frankly, I think the holier-than-thou, “I’m the only one who’s saved” message that many Protestants espouse is a work of iniquity. It’s the inverse of Christ’s actual message of love and humility.

I understand this chapter of Matthew very well- and I am secure in the knowledge that hundreds of great saints, dozens of theologians, thousands of martyrs, the 12 Apostles, St. Paul, the multitude of priests who study theology for many years, and the entire Church today all interpret this passage as I do.

Of course, ALL those amazing Christians are wrong; and you, Blessed RnMomof7, must be right. You alone seem to have the real understanding of this passage, as you read it in that butchered bible.

No. Catch a clue: you are reading through a dark glass. A glass that was distorted by mere (pompous) men.

There is one Truth; not two thousand interpretations of the truth.

One Truth. One True Church. One God. One Bible.

[Melian]

Purgatory is taught as clearly as the Trinity is. Like the Trinity, which I assume you believe in, it is alluded to and an extension of the logic revealed in certain of Christ’s statements.

If you find enough evidence for the Trinity in the New Testament, you should also find enough evidence for Purgatory.

If you look with honesty and openness at the original texts of the New Testament, you will see it.

Each of these passages provides the logic that caused the Spirit-led leaders of Christ’s Church to declare there must be a place like Purgatory: 2 Mac 12: 42-46, Mt 12:32, Luke 12: 58, Luke 16:19-31, 1 Cor 3: 10-15, 1 Pet 3:19, Rev 21: 27.

[Melian]

Agreed, Judith Anne. I’ve attempted to shed light on this special brand of darkness. I consider it my duty.

Thank you for adding to the light— on this thread AND with your chandelier!

[RnMomof7]

My dear new friend.. they did think they deserved to be saved because they did good works.. but works done to earn your salvation are not pleasing to God.. He is not fooled..they do not glorify HIM , to Him they are sin.. self serving acts.. the only thing that pleases God is HIS work in you and through you.

In context what that chapter tells us is that HE produces the fruit... the fruit does not attach itself to the limb or the limb attach itself to the vine , the fruit that pleases him is produced by a limb that IS ALREADY attached to Him

Works that are pleasing to God are the fruit of our salvation NOT ITS ROOTS

I think the pride ALL falls on the catholic side because they really think their good works will help save them.. salvation is all of them ..they earn it and they deserve it.. salvation then is not a gift but wages due

I am nothing special, scripture says God chooses the foolish things of this earth ... I can never do one thing that could merit Gods grace, or commend me to God.. I do not deserve to be His child.. yet He saved me, and calls me His..

How does one thank God for such grace and mercy? On the day I was saved 34 years ago, I remember asking “why me God ?Why me? “ To this day I still ask the same question.. I am a sinner, saved by grace and kept by His work, not mine

You think it pride to proclaim the gift.. I think it pride to think I could earn it, or deserve it..

[Melian]

The parable of the barren fig tree contradicts your post. Christ cursed the fig tree for not bearing fruit. He expected the fig tree to produce on it’s own. That was its job. We are made to know and love God and we are expected to produce fruit from that love. We have free will and we must choose to produce good works that are in keeping with God’s will. Christ requires that we demonstrate love of God through actions.

I never said salvation is through works alone or begins with works. I say works are important to salvation. You are not quoting me correctly. They are a component of salvation and Christ made that clear in His words and through His parables.

To whom much is given, much is required. We are given the amazing gift of salvation but we are then required to continue to be worthy of it. Responsibility to live as God, whom we claim to love and believe in, comes with it.

St. James, one of the three apostles continually singled out by Christ for special honor, also believed that works are required. If you read the unedited writings of James, you will see that I am correct. The Son of Thunder, the first Apostle to by martyred, put works in their proper place. He loved, and was loved by, Christ. He looked on His face and saw all His miracles and received the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Do you also deny James’ ability to discern Christ’s wishes?

History, tradition, Sacred Scripture, two thousand years of great saints and theologians, multitudes of martyrs, and every faithful follower of the Catholic Church do not agree with your man-made interpretation of this issue. The weight of Christianity’s facts are against your position. Your position on this issue was the result of Luther’s disillusionment— it did not come from God; it came from Luther’s own mind. He took the words that DID come from God and cut them to ribbons. How can you tolerate that?

I feel the same as you about the gift of my faith. But I add, “Why was I so lucky to be born and raised Catholic and have the fullness of faith at my fingertips from birth?” I do not have to settle for part of the message; I receive ALL the Good News and I thank God for that gift every day. I am so thankful and grateful for the gift of the Sacraments. I don’t just have the gift of the Word; I have the additional gift of the outward signs/miracles instituted by Christ to give grace. I have the Sacraments that tie me in mysterious ways to Christ that are indescribable, ancient, and miraculous. Christ is in me and with me in the realest sense- in fact, through all my senses! Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!

I hope someday you will investigate the original Scriptures with an open heart from the courageous position of objective inquiry. Many Protestants only read with the intention of finding something to pin on Catholics, rather than let the Word take them where it will.

The actual Word will take you somewhere strange, miraculous, and unexpected: the Catholic Church.

[Melian]

Whoops, left out a word: Responsibility to live as God asks, whom we claim to love and believe in, comes with it.