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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
General Judgement	Scott	Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Question: I have read Catholic writings state that there will be no more purgatory after the general judgement and resurection of the bodies. Also, Our Lady of Fatima said that Lucia's friend would be in Purgatory until the end of time, for another example. 1. How will those here on earth at the second coming of Christ be able to be purified to see God, if purgatory will end right before they lose their earthly life? 2. We are taught that most people will have to go through purgatory before heaven. Does this mean that those alive on earth during that time will get to go staright to heaven, even if they have venial faults or temporal punishment not yet expiated on their souls? Is there any certain view or belief of the church on this matter? Please comment.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Scott: It is correct that purgatory will cease right before the last Great General Judgment. The Catholic Encyclopedia states: The very reasons assigned for the existence of purgatory make for its passing character. We pray, we offer sacrifice for souls therein detained that "God in mercy may forgive every fault and receive them into the bosom of Abraham" (Const. Apost., P. G., I col. 1144); and Augustine (De Civ. Dei, lib. XXI, cap.xiii and xvi) declares that the punishment of purgatory is temporary and will cease, at least with the Last Judgment. "But temporary punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by others after death, by others both now and then; but all of them before that last and strictest judgment." We must remember that in the spiritual realm there is no such thing as time as we know it. This is one reason why the Church stopped assigning days off of purgatory for various acts of charity and devotion. "Days" as we know it on earth are meaningless in purgatory, heaven, or hell. Thus, a person in purgatory may be there for only one second in earth time before going to heaven. That means that the people alive on the earth at the time of the Second Coming who are going to heaven will be purged of whatever it is they need to have purged before the Judgment. That can be done in a blink of an eye in earth time. And I might add, from the perspective of the person being purged that blink of an eye could seem like 100 years to that person. It is all a matter of perception. But the actual and literal "time" as we think of it on earth may be a micro-second. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

General Judgement

Scott

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Question:

I have read Catholic writings state that there will be no more purgatory after the general judgement and resurection of the bodies. Also, Our Lady of Fatima said that Lucia's friend would be in Purgatory until the end of time, for another example.

1. How will those here on earth at the second coming of Christ be able to be purified to see God, if purgatory will end right before they lose their earthly life?

2. We are taught that most people will have to go through purgatory before heaven. Does this mean that those alive on earth during that time will get to go staright to heaven, even if they have venial faults or temporal punishment not yet expiated on their souls?

Is there any certain view or belief of the church on this matter? Please comment.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Scott:

It is correct that purgatory will cease right before the last Great General Judgment.

The Catholic Encyclopedia states:

The very reasons assigned for the existence of purgatory make for its passing character. We pray, we offer sacrifice for souls therein detained that "God in mercy may forgive every fault and receive them into the bosom of Abraham" (Const. Apost., P. G., I col. 1144); and Augustine (De Civ. Dei, lib. XXI, cap.xiii and xvi) declares that the punishment of purgatory is temporary and will cease, at least with the Last Judgment. "But temporary punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by others after death, by others both now and then; but all of them before that last and strictest judgment."

We must remember that in the spiritual realm there is no such thing as time as we know it. This is one reason why the Church stopped assigning days off of purgatory for various acts of charity and devotion. "Days" as we know it on earth are meaningless in purgatory, heaven, or hell.

Thus, a person in purgatory may be there for only one second in earth time before going to heaven. That means that the people alive on the earth at the time of the Second Coming who are going to heaven will be purged of whatever it is they need to have purged before the Judgment. That can be done in a blink of an eye in earth time. And I might add, from the perspective of the person being purged that blink of an eye could seem like 100 years to that person. It is all a matter of perception. But the actual and literal "time" as we think of it on earth may be a micro-second.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum