What she said.:-)
It leads to a works theology.
When I do good works, it is because I love God, not because I am trying to earn something.
I agree, that's how it should be! I have to admit, for myself, it's taking me a lifetime, and I'm a bit over the proverbial "hill!" : )
As a Catholic, I'm taught to do things in my life for the greater honor and glory of God, and the good of souls, as opposed to doing so for my own temporal gain. Intention has a lot to do with things!
Personally, I love God; I also fear losing the prospect of going to Heaven, the idea of going to hell, and, I admit, His temporal punishments here on earth- not just for me, but for my brothers and sisters in humanity.
We try to get to the point where we avoid sin simply because it is offensive to God when we go against Him, by disobedience, or hurting another. Fasting, prayer, alms, chastity according to our state in life, are some of the ways to achieve this, as are many acts of self-denial, offered with love to God.
I can't stand in judgement of another's soul, although that is pretty tough to avoid sometimes. I believe that only God Himself can truly see that. I can judge an action as right or wrong, however; and few Catholics, I think would look to condone what was done in the sale of indulgences.
At the time of the Reformation, as today, what is known as the Apocrypha was still part of the Bible the Catholic Church uses. In it, the Second Book of Maccabees states: "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins." The story behind that statement explains that much more eloquently than I. The passage, and the events surrounding it, are part of the basis for the Catholic belief in Purgatory.
I believe the things we do in this life have a ripple effect, like stones thrown in a pond. While our sins are forgiven, the effects of our sins remain. Gossip, for instance, can be forgiven, but its effects can cause lasting pain and disgrace for its subject, even for their family. To a Catholic, facing the perfection of God, without these consequences being remitted, would be more than we could bear; thus the soul accepts the purgation of the consequences wrought by their sins, in Purgatory.
We pray for their souls to have the consequences of their forgiven sins mitigated by the Mercy of God. We offer prayers, sacrifices in our daily lives, Masses, all for the good of their souls: we also believe that this kind of charity is pleasing to God!
I also believe that this kind of charity, especially for those gone before, is not only good for the Suffering Souls, but for mine, too: selfish as it may sound, I pray for God's Mercy upon me, in life, and when my time comes to see Him face-to-face!
Thank you for your answer! If I could again impose on you, why did the Reformers choose to remove the Apocrypha from their Canon upon breaking with the Catholic Church? Again, not a rhetorical, but genuine question!
God bless you, and thanks again!