purgatory

DanielMicah · Jan 12, 2006

When and how did this Roman Catholic doctrine develop?

Gold Dragon · Jan 12, 2006

Scripture cited to support purgatory include:
Dan 12:10
Zech 13:9
Mal 3:2-3
2 Mac 12:42-45
Matt 5:26
1 Cor 3:13-15
Rev 21:27

Early Church Fathers quoted as holding to a theology with a purgatory-like concept include :

Gregory of Nyssa (4th century)

When he has quitted his body and the difference between virtue and vice is known he cannot approach God till the purging fire shall have cleansed the stains with which his soul was infested. That same fire in others will cancel the corruption of matter, and the propensity to evil.
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Augustine of Hippo (5th century)

Temporal punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by some after death, by some both here and hereafter, but all of them before that last and strictest judgment. But not all who suffer temporal punishments after death will come to eternal punishments, which are to follow after that judgment
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The name purgatory seems to have arisen around the 11th century. The oldest document with the word known was written by the Benedictine monk Nicholas in 1176.

Purgatory was first clearly stated as official doctrine in the Council of Florence in the 1430s.

"From the time of the Apostles," he said, "the Church of Rome has taught, that the souls departed from this world, pure and free from every taint,—namely, the souls of saints,—immediately enter the regions of bliss. The souls of those who after their baptism have sinned, but have afterwards sincerely repented and confessed their sins, though unable to perform the epitimia laid upon them by their spiritual father, or bring forth fruits of repentance sufficient to atone for their sins, these souls are purified by the fire of purgatory, some sooner, others slower, according, to their sins; and then, after their purification, depart for the land of eternal bliss. The prayers of the priest, liturgies, and deeds of charity conduce much to their purification. The souls of those dead in mortal sin, or in original sin, go straight to punishment."
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The Council of Trent in the mid-1500s developed the concept further.

"Whereas the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Ghost, has from the Sacred Scriptures and the ancient tradition of the Fathers taught in Councils and very recently in this Ecumenical synod (Sess. VI, cap. XXX; Sess. XXII cap.ii, iii) that there is a purgatory, and that the souls therein are helped by the suffrages of the faithful, but principally by the acceptable Sacrifice of the Altar; the Holy Synod enjoins on the Bishops that they diligently endeavor to have the sound doctrine of the Fathers in Councils regarding purgatory everywhere taught and preached, held and believed by the faithful" (Denzinger, "Enchiridon", 983).
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The Catechism of the Catholic Church currently describes purgatory in this way.

III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY

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 gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.604 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:605

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.606

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."607 From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.608 The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.
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Catholic Encyclopedia : Purgatory
Catechism of the Catholic Church : Purgatory
Wikipedia : Purgatory

DanielMicah · Jan 12, 2006

Was the idea of Purgatory (with prayer for the dead and indulgences being of consequence) universially accepted prior to the Reformation or was it like the apochypha of occassional usage?

Gold Dragon · Jan 12, 2006

I'm not sure if you can say any doctrine truly holds universal acceptance.

I also don't know if I would say "occassional usage" is an accurate description of the Protestant apocrypha or RCC deuterocanonical books in the western church prior to the Reformation.

I believe both purgatory and the deuterocanonicals were widely accepted in the western church immediately prior to the Protestant Reformation with a growing contingent of skeptics.

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