We first examine the Catholic idea of Purgatory, then we compare them to NDE accounts.
Purgatory is the state of existence as the body of Christ, which is short of full divine union. We begin our Purgatory at our entrance into the body of Christ at baptism, and what we purge is our burden of original sin, which distorts our will. We are careful of course not to add to this burden with our own careless actions.
Our Purgatory begins now on earth, if necessary we may, (must) continue our purgation after the death of our body.
We advance in the body of Christ, starting in the human nature of Christ, then finally to a sharing in the divine person of Christ, as we rid our soul of self interest.UUU
The Heavenly wedding feast that Christ speaks of is our full divine union, when we shall participate in his divine nature, (2Pet1:4). This divine union as the fullness of Christ cannot occur until we are free of all traces of sin and even self. We cannot
become Christ if we remain self. From 1John 3:2-3 we read,
“…we shall be like Him [God], for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope purifies himself, just as He [God] is UUU This intermediate stage participation in the human nature of Christ was never intended, but is now necessary because of sin. Sin was never intended, and none of its effects were part of God’s original plan.
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pure.” Because God offers to share his life with man (2Pet 1:4), anyone joining God in his life must be free of every imperfection.
If Christ forgives our sins of impatience for example, we are not turned into a perfectly patient person.
The apostle Paul speaks in some detail about a state of purgation after death in 1Cor 3:10-15. Here Paul speaks of building a structure upon an existing foundation of Christ, (salvation). If a quality structure (gold, silver, gems) having no impurity is constructed, it will stand at judgment. If an imperfect structure that will combust when subjected to the flames of the Holy Spirit, (wood, straw) is built, then it and the builder, (the student and instructor) will need purgation by this fire prior to Heaven. Here purgation due to erroneous teaching is discussed, but willful moral error and imperfection also requires reformation before the attainment of Heaven. Error, distortion and the like are separation from God; we cannot fully participate in Heaven (who is Christ), until we are purged of every distortion and error which separates us from Christ.
Catholic teaching is of four afterlife states: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Limbo. 1Samuel 28:15 tells of the prophet Samuel in the afterlife of Limbo. With the coming of Christ, the holding area of Limbo was no longer needed, those able to entered Heaven, those needing purgation entered Purgatory. Limbo no longer seems to be operational.
Purgatory has not only students but teachers as well, this was shown to Amy C., who spoke with a man who was tasked with the spiritual education of a group in Purgatory.64
This teacher was a man who cultivated the virtue of humility during his stay on earth, and was teaching its principles to others.
He told Amy that all of life’s lessons are much easier to learn in this life. Our bodies and especially our fallen world and 95
damaged virtues give these lessons a real depth that cannot be had as a spirit, or in a perfected realm.VVV
Jean R. was shown a perhaps unexpected dimension of purgatory, “Whenever a person asked God for help, they were removed to another better place. But many were stuck, never asking God for help.”65
This makes sense if we understand self as removal from God, and Purgatory as purgation of self. One would advance toward God as self has less control over the will. As self has lesser control over one’s will, one is more likely to go beyond self containment and ask assistance of God.
During his NDE, Mohammad Z. observed who could have been Jesus or any member of the body of Christ, and he saw the effects of excessive attachment to this life; “I had a vague feeling that there was a presence that was following me all the time, like a shadow. But I was so absorbed in the wonder of this whole experience, my thoughts, what was going on, and those people I was visiting, that I didn’t really pay attention to that presence. Eventually, I noticed him. He was an amazing, divine human-like figure who radiated lots of love and light.
Instantly, I fell in love with this holy and immensely beautiful presence. I noticed that he loves me deeply and unconditionally.
First, I thought he must be a [human] prophet or religious figure, but then I thought that he is even above all that. I realized that he has always been with me throughout my life, always. He was my guide.”
“I got the understanding that everybody who dies has a guide. But some humans are so attached to their physical and material world that they are still worry about their money, VVV With or without NDE’s, life’s lessons are certainly not forgotten in Heaven.
In fact, all members of the body of Christ may make use of the life lessons of any other member. This puts early death on earth in a different perspective.
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possessions. or power even after death. They don’t notice their guide and might not even notice that they are dead! Their soul can stay earth-bound for a long time after their death. For example, my guide showed me a man who apparently used to be in a position of authority and power back on the earth. After this man's death, he still went to the office he used to work in, trying to sit at the same chair and sign documents. He was oblivious to the fact that his signature does not leave any marks and he has no power and effect in the physical world. He kept going to that office trying to sign things and act as he was still working there, not realizing that he is dead. I understood that any strong earthbound attachment can keep our souls from soaring. ”66 WWW
Jean K. observed what could be either Purgatory or Hell,
“Below me I could hear people in distress. I knew that if they would turn toward the Light, their suffering would end, but they would not. ”67 This NDE account is an application of Mk 3:29, that sin against the Holy Spirit cannot not be forgiven. The Holy Spirit is the giver of the grace of salvation. Here the sin is rejection; if we reject the Holy Spirit we must forgo the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including salvation.XXX
George Ritchie’s NDE is one of the most detailed and expansive on record, he was given the grand tour ―Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. He saw people working through their obsessions, addictions and sins in a long and grinding fashion. It is not a pleasant observation, but one that must be understood. 68
WWW This is an amazing story, and the author is not aware of any similar story related by any saint’s visit to Purgatory. It shows that even legitimate behavior, occurring to the point of excluding God, necessarily cuts us off from Heaven, to some degree; Purgatory in this case.
XXX This shows the danger of atheism and its more harmful variety anti-theism. NDE’s do not show God automatically rejecting atheists, but anyone rejecting God does put himself in danger of an afterlife without God.
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“I noticed a certain phenomenon repeatedly — people unaware of others right beside them. I saw a group of assembly line workers gathered around a coffee canteen. One of the women asked another for a cigarette, begged her in fact, as though she wanted it more than anything in the world. But the other one, chatting with her friends, ignored her. She took a pack of cigarettes from her coveralls, and without ever offering it to the woman who reached for it so eagerly, took one out and lit it. Fast as a striking snake the woman who had been refused, snatched at the lighted cigarette in the other one's mouth.
Again, she grabbed at it. And again ... With a little chill of recognition, I saw that she was unable to grip it. Like me in fact, she was dead.”YYY
“In one house a younger man followed an older one from room to room. 'I'm sorry, Pa!'; he kept saying, [author’s note—if this were Hell, there would be no selfless remorse]. 'I didn't know what it would do to Mama! I didn't understand.’
But though I could hear him clearly, it was obvious that the man he was speaking to could not. The old man was carrying a tray into a room where an elderly woman sat in bed. 'I'm sorry Pa,!’
the young man said again. 'I'm sorry Mama.' Endlessly, over and over, to ears that could not hear.” ZZZ
YYY This type of semi detached, but parallel existence of persons is expected by science, and confirmed by religion, and by NDE’s. So too would be all sorts of miracles including time displacement, travel or future observation.
God is the absolute, not the time or space or various dimensions that he creates.
ZZZ Saint Christina the Astonishing, (Belgium, 1150-1224), comes under the dual headings of ‘Purgatory’ and ‘NDE’. Always devout, at age 22 she suffered a seizure, died and was laid out for her funeral. To the amazement of her mourners, she regained life, and rose to the church ceiling, to avoid the smell of sin given off by the congregation. During her NDE, she recounted how angels had led her to Heaven, where she agreed to return to earth to do penance for the souls of Purgatory.
Henceforth her life was truly astonishing; she renounced all self comfort and satisfaction to an extreme degree. She would throw herself into every 98
“Several times we paused before similar scenes. A boy trailing a teenaged girl through the corridors of a school. 'I'm sorry, Nancy!' Also, a middle-aged woman begging a gray-haired man to forgive her.”
“What are they so sorry for, Jesus?' I pleaded. 'Why do they keep talking to people who can't hear them? 'Then from the Light beside me came the thought: 'They are suicides, chained to every consequence of their act. 'AAAA
Jesus and Ritchie continue their observations at a bar where people actually seem to enable or prolong the addictions of the invisible souls of Purgatory. Ritchie observed a sort of barrier between the souls of Purgatory and the people on earth.
In the bar, when a patron became drunk, this barrier was removed and the addicted souls of Purgatory entered into the actions of the drunken patrons.
dangerous or painful situation: fire, rivers, mil water wheels; bearing all the suffering on behalf of the souls of Purgatory. She spent days then weeks in the freezing water of the Meuse River. Bishops, priests, and laity held her in both admiration and fright; many including Saint Lutgardis sought her advice. She ended her days in a convent, where she moderated her physical penance and perfected her prayer life, all to the benefit of the souls of Purgatory. Her feast day is July 24; she is the canonized saint of those suffering mental illness, and those who give care to the mentally ill.
AAAA We observe that these victims of suicide are in Purgatory, not Hell; proven by their selfless remorse. Those committing suicide, by definition die with an imperfectly formed soul. If the sin is forgiven, the imperfections of the soul remain, and must be worked through prior to attaining Heaven. Our prayers for the souls in Purgatory have great effect. We should offer the Eucharistic sacrifice for them. One of the duties of the common priesthood is to offer the sacrifice of the Mass. We should never simply take communion, but always offer it for a worthy cause.
As to Jesus’ idea of a chain of consequences (last sentence), the fullness of any act extends backwards in time to all the causes of the act, and forward in time to all the effects of the act. On the positive side, when we remediate a vice into a virtue, our chain of remediation may restore many prior acts which influence the current local act.
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This strange observation is possible in that each of our actions affects the entire universe of creation. We may help those in Purgatory by our prayers, fasting, and good actions; but anything this side of Heaven is subject to negative influence as well. BBBB
Ritchie’s tour proceeded from Purgatory to Hell, where he saw horrible people attacking each other, their selfishness had advanced to the point that they could not accept even the existence of other people.