The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-01-09
FATHER SUTTON
ON PURGAT0RY
Eminent PaSSiOnist Missionary
Speaks TO Large Crowd at St.
Joseph Church.

An increased audience of all classes
greeted Father Sutton in st. Joseph's
Church, last evening when he spoke
on "Purgatory." The speakers man
ner OF presenting his subject is so
fascinating that all who heard him the
tIst night are eager to hear the
whole series His method is simple
and direct No one can fail TO I'M
Cerstand his meaning. His apt stories
Lot only serve to illustrate but TO put
his hearers in good humor. The
usual prayer. scriptural reading and
hymn began the evening services. He
began by saying that if there are any
nOn-Catholics who Gesire instruction
they may come to the rectOry OF the
church before the regular exercises
are held in the main church.
In the profession of faith Of Catho-
lies is the statement There is a
purgatory and souls in purgatory are
helped by our prayers" There Is
scarcely a doctrine of the church
which is so strongly attacked and Sc
veTely reprobate ed as tnat Of purg&-
tory. We have proofs for its exist
ence from Scripture, from tradition
and from reason. God will judge
everyone exactly as he deserves.
There is a great number of people
who are not so wicked that they de-
serve TO be separated from God for
ever. Ana, there are few indeed who
are so perfect that they will enter d.
rcctly into glory Now, nothing de.
filed shall enter heaven. Where then,
will these souls go? They are still
members of the church and can be
assisted by our prayers, just as theS
are assisted now. The church does
not tell us what is the nature Of pur-
gatory, where it is. or how long souls
stay there. She says we are purified
by suffering, and that is all she says
regarding this doctrine.
II is a common misconceptiOn that
Catholics never go to hell, but get
only as far as purgatory. Untortun-
ately there are many Catholics in the
lower regions, and judging from pres
ent indications there will be a larger
contingent there in the near future.
Priests are said to be only too ready
to promise to free a soul from purga
tory for a, n3aney consideration. But
priests know no more about who arel
or who are not in pargatory than any
boay else. They offer UP prayers
aims. sacrifices and trust that God
will have mercy upon those for whom
they beseech Him. The doctrine of
ruTgatory rests on the doctrine of sin.
Along with the guilt OF a crime
there is also a punishment. Chris!
died for all. but he did not say, Nov
| have died YOU may sin or do as you
please: you are all right" Christ's
merits must be applied to each soul
Individually Baptism eleanses from
original sin But afterwards we fall
into sin. and although the sins may be
forgiven there is still some reparation
to be made for the injury done.
Hence purgatory is the only place
where sanctifcation can be made af-
ter the soul has passed away. Pur
gatory is not a place where God
avenges himself upon souls, but a
Place where he cleanses them. Ali
imperfectiOns of the soul Of whatever
nature. if not mortal. will there be re-
moved, and the soul will then appear
perfect and prepared 10 enter heaven.
It is related in the second part Of
Maccabes, twelfth chapter, that
money was collected for the souls OF
the dead soldiers. This book was
written before Christ came, and il
recognized the necessity for PRAYING
FOR the dead We do not pray for the
lost. nor for those in heaven, hence
there must be midale state. Among
the Jews there was this belief, for
they accepted the money and offered
the sacrifice. Moreover, the Jews
have this doctrine, and it was beliey
ed by them before the Catholic church
was established. Christ condemned
many practices of the Jews, but
nowhere does he condemn this prac
tICe of praying for the dead. The
early editions of the Protestant BIZ
BILE contained the books of the Macca
bes. but later they were abandoned.
Yet their authenticity. is clearly
provea. Christ said: He who sins