The Irish standard., 1911-12-02
The Doctrine of Purgatory
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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ing Purgatory may easily be gathered
from the definitions of the councils of
Florence and Trent. In the council Of
Florence, Session "a, it is defined: IF
the truly penitent depart this life in
the love of God before having salts
fled the divine justice for their sins
o. commission and omission by works
OF penance, their souls after death
must be cleansed by the pains of
Purgatory." And the council of Trent
Session 6, DEGREES: "If any one says
that the grace of justification so re-
mits sin and the eternal punishment
due thereto that no temporal punish
ment remains to be suffered either in
this world or in the next in Purgatory
before entering the kingdom of heav-
en-, let him be anathema." From
these definitions we see that the
Church has taught nothing about
Purgatory only that it exists and that
1t is a place of temporary punish
ment, 1t has not defined it's location,
or in what way the souls therein i'm
prisoned are purified, whether by fire
or otherwise. 1t teaches nothing about
the rigor or duration of the punish
ment inflicted on the holy souls, or
how much they are solaced by our
prayers and good works, or whether
the sacrifice Of the mass is applied
equally to all or only to the ones for
whom it is expressly offered. On these
questions, since they are not of faith,
Catholics may hold any opinion they
choose providing it contains no sup
erstition. The teaching Of these coun-
ellis is founded on tradition. yet it is
also proved by reason and Scripture.
Il. 4. Cap 91) says: "The soul is de-
filed by sin is as much as 1t adheres
Unfortunately to inferior things. but it
may be cleansed in this life by PEN
ance and the other sacramento. 1t
sometimes happens that this Duritlca-
ton of the soul does not take place
IL
or, because death comes suddenly,
hence it is necessary that it suffer
punishment unto publication after
death. otherwise the condition of the
careless and negligent would be bet
ter than that of the solcitous and
dutiful." Hence the souls of the just,
Il they depart this life before they
have satisfied the divine Justice must
suffer the pains of Pursatory. This
is confirmed by Saint Paul who says
q. Cor. CHI 3:15): "If any mans work
burn, he shall suffer loss; but he HIM
self shall be saved. yet so as by fire."
And Christian tradition informs us
that such has been the belief Of Chris
tians in every age.
Tertulian, the earliest Of the Latin
Fathers and who lived in the second
century says I'VE offer prayers for
the souls Of the departed on the ami
versary of their death. If for this and
like practices you seek n law in the
Scriptures you will not find 1t. Ira
dition is the author, custom the con-
f1rmer and faith the observer" Ode
Corona Mil. cap 81. Saint Cyprian in
the third century said: 1.-The Bishops
our predecessors have wisely ruled
that no one when dying should make
a cleric his executor. And in case this
x,to
said, no sacrifice would be offered for
the repose of the soul of the trans
gressor" IL. 1, Ep So. In the fourth
century Saint Gregory of Nyssa at
frmed that nothing wrong has been
transmitted by the disciples of Christ.
In all the Churches the custom has
for those who died in the true faith
since 1t Is pleasable to God and profit
able to them (Apud S. ]. Damase l..
de lis quD. In the fifth century Saint
John Chrysostom tells us: ut was not
without reason that the apostles pre-
scribed that in the celebration of the
awe-inspiring mysteries commemora-
ton for the dead should be made since
they well knew how helpful it Is to
these souls" (Hom. 60 ad Pop. ANTI. In
the same century Saint Augustine
says: mo matter what heretics may
say the practice Of the Church to pray
for the dead is most ancient Ode
Haeres. Haer 53). And again he af-
firms: even If it could not be read
in the Scriptures that sacrifice was
offered for the dead, nevertheless the
authority of the Church is no small
matter in this custom" Ode Cura
MorD. Saint Isodore in the sixth GEN.
tury affirmed that "since it is a Gus
tom observed by the whole world to
offer prayers and sacrifice for the
dead, we believe that it has been