What You Should Know About Purgatory

What is meant by the final purification? Understanding the Catholic notion of purgatory requires knowing the difference between a temporal consequence and an eternal consequence; this difference has nothing to do with damnation and salvation. Some people reject the idea of purgatory because they misunderstand its purpose. In this video, Fr. Mike explains why purgatory is needed and straightens out some of those misunderstandings.

To learn more about purgatory, check out these articles on Ascension’s Great Adventure Blog:


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[angelicguidance]

I’ve listened to about 20 of your videos today. Even my 14 year old was like. “I like this Priest” praise God

[andrewbromley]

This is really helpful - as a non-Catholic I approached with skepticism but it not only makes sense it addresses sin in a way which is logical. The more I learn of Catholicism the more I like it. Thanks!

[theresariley]

My dad passed in Dec 2019. Just a few hours before he passed (he was in a semi-coma state) he asked me and my brother to get him his two watches - he proceeded to put his watches on each wrist. We had the sense that he was preparing (cleaning up - dressing nice) to enter. Fr. Mike, thank you for explaining this about purgatory - it's comforting.

[Ryan-cudy]

4:45 is the most relatable thing ever. Imagine us as humans wanting to go to heaven a place of pureness and no sinfulness, imagine wanting to enter when you are still attached with sins like randomly getting angry at peaple lustful thoughts you don't act on . It's so difficult to be pure of heart almost impossible

[LennonTedesco]

I wish that no evil and fire existed. O lord please don’t take any of these people to the fire let them live in your grace

[jacquelinejacobson]

My mother was dying of colon cancer back in 2002. I made a mental promise to make a novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal before - but I had forgotten. At her funeral a pebble fell at my feet from the ceiling- my friend and I had been talking and suddenly this pebble drops from nowhere - we both stopped talking and looked at it. 2 weeks later it was the night before I had to go back to work ( I had taken a leave to care for my mother). At 3AM I heard my mother call my name loud and clear. I got simultaneous information with her voice - that she was young ( about 30 yr old), and I heard a demon yelling/growling in the background. I immediately understood that she was in purgatory. As I left for work a few hours later, I saw a Miraculous Medal sitting right on the doorstep! And then I remembered about my promise to her! I made the Novena for her and never heard anything else after, but I did feel she was at peace.

[zoilife]

Thank you so much Father Mike!!!🙏🏻 I am a Christian Orthodox and I am having this confusion since long time ago! I couldn’t find an explanation why we do memorials ( aside showing our love). In our church we talk about memorials and how important it is to pray for the diseased. We have so many experiences in the church of people that passed away asking their family to help them in the afterlife, or others thanking their families for memorials, prayers, rosary and doing charity for the souls, but no one could really explain why ! I was always thinking, since after death there is not a second chance why do we pray for the diseased??Your video solved my confusion!!! Thank you so much for the amazing videos! You can’t imagine how many times your videos have brought answer and clarity to my questions!!! Your blessings Father!🙏🏻

[elijahclarke]

Hey my name Is Elijah a Christian. 1 Corinthians 3 speaks of the works and how the we as Christian’s utilize our gifts for the ministry of God our work for the will of God (the quality of our work). Please friends read the scriptures do research of the people hat is mentioned. It’s so important and most of all pray that God through his spirit will reveal the truth to you.

[justinuihlein]

As a practicing Roman Catholic Father helped me to understand that I need more practice---I remain a work in process.
Blessed be the name of Jesus!

[adamhovey]

I always thought it was weird how people will condemn belief in Purgatory, but only when it applies to Catholics. Orthodox folks pray for the dead (though avoid the term Purgatory), Jews do as well. This is hardly a Catholic thing. If you've said "Rest in Peace", you've prayed for the dead.

[EmmaBerger-ovni]

The good news of the gospel is to say you have nothing to fear in death. Purgatory robs you of that. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul speaks fo the fonal generation, of those alive at the second coming of Christ. It says we shall be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye. If God can do that, the resurrection of the body, in an instant, He can surely do the final cleansing of the soul in an instant.

[lilahlyons]

I never thought about purgatory as a gift. Thank you, Father, for helping me understand this doctrine.

[jimmcilvain]

Ephesians 2: 8-9 For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.

[DanaOira]

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of all the faithful departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

[elle]

I always understood that verse so differently. What we do for the Lord will stand and we will have crowns given to us in heaven, basically the only things that mattered in our lives is what we did for the Lord, and everything else will be burnt up(not in a literal sense) but it won't matter at all.

[michaelsix]

very good and helpful, I've never understood how my prayers can help for those in purgatory, but I pray for them daily

[laurenthompson]

Purgatory still makes me a bit scared. Some say they believe and some say they don't, and in the end it does not matter if you believe or not if it actually exist. Of course I want to be cleansed of sin and of course I'm nervous about purgatory, I am human, Hoping by the grace of Christ I can be close to Him, do His will, and be with Him in heaven. Thank you for teaching us Father.

[charlesanddean]

2 Corinthians 5:8 "To be absent in the body, is to be present with the lord."

[marieg.]

I want to go straight to heaven, no stopping on the way 🙏🙏🙏

[louangesaves]

My 92 yr old aunt passed away 2 months ago. She was Catholic all her life and loved especially the Sacred Heart. She wasn’t perfect, far from it .
A couple weeks after she passed I was awoken by her spirit in limbo and in agony . I was horrified for 2 reasons : that she was going through this and That I was feeling it ! It took a while to calm myself and go to sleep but I knew the next morning I’d be going to mass and praying for her . I’ve been praying for souls in purgatory ever since.