Purgatory is real

  

 

Reading through “The Imitation of Christ” again, this time through Ascension Press with Fr. Mike Schmitz, I came across this quote:

“It is better now to purge away our sins and to cut off our vices than to reserve them to be purged hereafter.” 

Wow! 

Our station in death, for the sake of our purification before we reach heaven, is identified as purgatory. In order to move beyond purgatory, we rely on those who are still living to pray for us.

Who will pray for me, after I die?

If you don't believe in purgatory, check out this quote from the St. Paul Center:

"Since the Bible assures us that nothing unclean shall enter heaven (see Rev 21:27; cf. Heb 12:14), this implies that souls who die in a state of imperfect friendship with God must undergo some kind of final purification prior to their entry into eternal life. This fits with what Sacred Scripture teaches more generally about how God acts as a “refiner’s fire” (Mal 3:2) who disciplines His children in order to purify them of their unhealthy attachments to sin (see Wis 3:1-9; Heb 12:5-6, 10-11). But even so, if Catholics are right about purgatory, then we would expect there to be some passages in the Bible which point to its existence." Clement Harrold

I invite you to visit the direct link below to learn some excellent scripture references about the existence of purgatory.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

Here is the direct link: 

https://stpaulcenter.com/posts/5-bible-passages-which-point-to-purgatory?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23238481834&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5uDIBhDAARIsAOxj0CFqZJLHEM9FmGBe1p-N4zKWf-gMpN1Vr1Hs0HnqgtouN-0Lq95J3foaAm1UEALw_wcB 

 

After what you have done . . . can God still love you?

 

All people can change . . . The person is the image of God, and God does not scorn his own image--he redeems that image, he always finds the way to restore it when it is clouded."

These words from Pope Francis in his book "Hope" made me think about how many people feel that their past behavior has made them unlovable by God, but how, in reality, since we are made in God's own image, he will not scorn us.

Those are powerful words and good news if you are struggling with your past sins. God does not give up on us, and he rejoices when we return to him.

Do not presume that God's love is limited to those who live holy lives. Jesus said so himself, when he said in Luke (5:31):

“Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Return to God and be grateful for his merciful, unconditional love. After all, he died for you--for each of us--showing us we can trust in the Father's unending love.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

Just askin'

 

  

                                              Photo Credit:  FAVPNG.com

 

I came across this quote in a book I have been reading (“The Art of Power/Pelosi”). It said that it was a prayer on a wall in Sierra Leone:

“When I die and happily meet my Creator, He will ask me to show Him my wounds. If I tell Him that I have no wounds, my Creator will ask: Was nothing worth fighting for?”

What an interesting question.

What in your circle of interest, in your ability, in your power to change, is worth fighting for?

What wounds—or sacrifices—have you made that reveal what you care about?

This is a personal question that I think we would all do well to consider.

Any thoughts?? 

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy