Indulgences, Purgatory. Really?

Well, I have been thinking about this for some time as a blog topic and really would like to hear what you think on the subjects.  First, there is Purgatory which is described as a place or state where a soul goes to be purged and cleaned of the stains of sin during his or her lifetime.  Second, there are Indulgences which are a form of grace to help us to get into heaven and be with God for eternity.  I know there are a lot of people, including Catholics, who say “What?  Really?  Are you kidding me?”  What about Christ dying on the cross for our sins and the fact that I should have been saved by accepting Him as my Lord and Savior?  And, what about my Faith in Him that saves me?  Well, we know the questions and I am not sure that I can adequately deal with the answers in a blog so I do not pretend to do so here.  I am just raising the issues for your thoughts and consideration. In my last blog, I addressed the issue of an all-just God and the myth of an all-loving god who does not punish. 

God, through the Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, manifests His Divine Mercy as revealed throughout history and, pointedly, through the apparitions of Jesus to St. Faustina.  Jesus, spoke of His love for us and of His desire for all to be saved.  He instructed us to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy that He gave to St. Faustina and directed us to set aside the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.  Well, for all those who don’t believe in punishment and reward, I am sure you will not believe this as well.  You will have to explain yourselves on Judgment Day.

Back to the topic, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2d. Ed.) discusses this topic in sections 1030-1032 which states: “1030   All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

“1031 The Church give the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.  The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence (1439) and Trent (1563).  The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire...” The Catechism defines “(a)n indulgence ..as..a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven...(cc §1072).  “The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment remains.”

(cc §1473). 

If you don’t believe in God or create your own god in order to escape the laws and commands of the real God, you certainly will not accept these long-standing teachings of the Church.  Many were put off by the abuses of selling indulgences in the past.  But, consider this, do you really think those who abused this doctrine escaped severe punishment?  Do you seriously believe that those who purchased them were pure in heart enough that these indulgences were really granted? Do you really think that your repulsion for those abuses justifies your rejection of Catholicism?  Think about this blog and

Let me know what you think.

Let the light of our Lord shine upon you!

REM (Ray Makowski) Co-Founder, Director and Secretary-Treasurer