Four Last Things – Purgatory

August 27, 2011

Rev 21:27 says that nothing unclean shall enter Heaven, which is why it is necessary that there be a place where we are purified before we enter Heaven. 2 Maccabees explains that there must be a place, as there would be no sense in offering prayers for the dead otherwise. The Catechism, in section 1030ff, explains much about the doctrine of Purgatory. In Matt 12:31f, Jesus states that some things may be forgiven in the age to come, again providing evidence of forgiveness in the next life. Again, in Matt 5:23-26 and 18:18-35, Jesus tells us that we will never get out of our debt of sin until we have paid the last penny, implying that this place is not Hell, which no one will ever leave.

Aquinas tells us that the purgatorial fire is a purifying, rather than afflictive fire.  Mortal sin deprives us of communion with God, and this deprivation is eternal punishment in Hell. The suffering in Purgatory, on the other hand, is that of yearning for God, and it is not God’s vengeance, and the Church has always commended almsgiving and prayers for those who are in Purgatory.

The Limbo of the unbaptized infants is something that scholars and saints have had myriad opinions on, with a variety of beliefs such as (1) unbaptized infants go to Hell, (2) that the infants go to Hell, but do not have the torments of Hell, (3) that they live on the edge of Heaven, a sort of limbo, or (4) that God will save unbaptized infants, and we should trust them to God’s grace. It is not known for certain what the whole truth is, but even those who postulated Limbo believe that parents may save their children by desiring baptism for them.

  • /
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

Download MP3 (45:25; 26 MB)

Matthew Lecture 12 – Prepare the Way

September 26, 2023

Matthew Lecture 11 – The Essenes

September 12, 2023

Matthew Lecture 10 – The Kingdom of Heaven

September 5, 2023

Matthew Lecture 9 – John the Baptist

August 29, 2023

Matthew Lecture 8 – A Real Savior

August 21, 2023

Matthew Lecture 7 – Star of Wonder

August 8, 2023

Matthew Lecture 6 – The Hasmoneans

August 1, 2023

Matthew Lecture 5 – The Descent of Christ, Part II

July 11, 2023

Matthew Lecture 4 – The Descent of Christ, Part I

July 4, 2023

Matthew Lecture 3 – The Most Important Gospel, Part III

February 28, 2023

Matthew Lecture 2 – The Most Important Gospel, Part II

February 21, 2023

Matthew Lecture 1 – The Most Important Gospel, Part I

February 14, 2023

David Lecture 24 – The Accession of Solomon

January 17, 2023

David Lecture 23 – The Last Acts of David

January 3, 2023

David Lecture 22 – The Imprecatory Psalms

December 27, 2022

David Lecture 21 – Sins of the Father

December 20, 2022

David Lecture 20 – Absalom, Part II

December 13, 2022

David Lecture 19 – Absalom, Part I

December 6, 2022

David Lecture 18 – David and Bathsheba, Part II

November 15, 2022

David Lecture 17 – David and Bathsheba, Part I

November 8, 2022

David Lecture 16 – David Victorious

November 1, 2022

David Lecture 15 – The Ark Retrieved

October 25, 2022

David Lecture 14 – David Becomes King, Part II

October 18, 2022

David Lecture 13 – David Becomes King, Part I

October 11, 2022

David Lecture 12 – The Death of Saul

September 27, 2022

David Lecture 11 – David in Exile, Part II

September 20, 2022

David Lecture 10 – David in Exile, Part I

September 13, 2022

David Lecture 9 – David at Court

September 6, 2022