Yes, my blog friends, it’s time for a new topic in my new blog series. Our discussions on Mary have been thought-provoking and I hope you’ve found them helpful in some way.

So, what about Purgatory? The subject of purgatory has been a much debated one. Perhaps, it would be appropriate to begin with a couple of sources.

In The Book of Common Prayer, in Article 22 of The 39 Articles, we find:

The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Relics, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.

Obviously, it would seem that Anglicans tend to have a different view of purgatory than Roman Catholics.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we find the following:

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.

So, I guess the question is this: do you believe that "after death they [Christians] undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven?"