In the ninth articles of faith, the second clause states: “I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints.”
This Communion of Saints comprises of three groups of people:
The Triumphant Church: Those who have washed their cloths in the blood of the lamb, simply put, those in heaven ( cf. Revelation 7:14 ; 22:14) ;
The Militant Church: Those of us on earth striving as soldiers of Christ, to be found worthy when the Lord returns;
The Suffering Church: Those who have died before us and are waiting to be admitted into heaven. This includes those in purgatory.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines “Purgatory as a "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven," which is experienced by those "who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified" (CCC 1030). It notes that "this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned" (CCC 1031). The purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) and, while we may die with our mortal sins forgiven, there can still be many impurities in us, specifically venial sins and the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven.
As a Communion of Saints, the various categories of the church stated above intercede for each other.
The Triumphant Church intercedes for both the Militant Church and the Suffering Church.
The Militant Church intercedes only for the Suffering Church. The Suffering Church cannot but to rely on the intercessions of the other two. In other words, there is spiritual solidarity which binds together the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory and the saints in heaven in the organic unity of the same mystical body under Christ its head.
Bible References:
Intercession by the angels: Zech 1:12-16; Rom 8:38; 1 Cor 12:26; Josh 5:13-15; 1 Sam 28:3ff; Mt 22:30;
Purgatory: Mt. 5:24-25, I Cor 3:11-15, I Pt 3:19
Praying for the dead:
Old Testament
“On the next day, as by that time it had become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kinsmen in the sepulchres of their fathers. Then under the tunic of every one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jam′nia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was why these men had fallen. So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” (2 Maccabees 12:39-45).
“Rejecting the inspiration and canonicity of II Maccabees does not negate its historical value. Maccabees aids us in knowing, purely from an historical perspective at the very least, the Jews believed in praying and making atonement for the dead shortly before the advent of Christ. This is the faith in which Jesus and the apostles were raised…”says Apologist Tim Staples.
New Testament
St Paul said this prayer:
“The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered to me at Ephesus, you know very well.” (2 Tim 1:18)
One body but many parts (cf. 1 Cor 12:12-27) so, also each part is needed that some might be saved. Certainly, not all will be saved.
The Militant Church prays for the dead and those in purgatory. Even a day has been set aside to pray for all souls on the Liturgical Calendar (Nov 2). She also prays every time she celebrates Holy Mass and prays the Liturgy of the Hours, Likewise after Angelus and after meals. The prayers express hope that God will free the person who has died from any burden of sin and prepare a place for him or her in heaven.
In conclusion, those in purgatory are infallibly saved. When you pray for the dead, you serve as a catalyst to speed up there stay in purgatory and to enter heaven. It is also our duty in this year of mercy to pray for the living and the dead.
#I_love_my_faith.
#Proudly_Catholic.
This Communion of Saints comprises of three groups of people:
The Triumphant Church: Those who have washed their cloths in the blood of the lamb, simply put, those in heaven ( cf. Revelation 7:14 ; 22:14) ;
The Militant Church: Those of us on earth striving as soldiers of Christ, to be found worthy when the Lord returns;
The Suffering Church: Those who have died before us and are waiting to be admitted into heaven. This includes those in purgatory.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines “Purgatory as a "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven," which is experienced by those "who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified" (CCC 1030). It notes that "this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned" (CCC 1031). The purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) and, while we may die with our mortal sins forgiven, there can still be many impurities in us, specifically venial sins and the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven.
As a Communion of Saints, the various categories of the church stated above intercede for each other.
The Triumphant Church intercedes for both the Militant Church and the Suffering Church.
The Militant Church intercedes only for the Suffering Church. The Suffering Church cannot but to rely on the intercessions of the other two. In other words, there is spiritual solidarity which binds together the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory and the saints in heaven in the organic unity of the same mystical body under Christ its head.
Bible References:
Intercession by the angels: Zech 1:12-16; Rom 8:38; 1 Cor 12:26; Josh 5:13-15; 1 Sam 28:3ff; Mt 22:30;
Purgatory: Mt. 5:24-25, I Cor 3:11-15, I Pt 3:19
Praying for the dead:
Old Testament
“On the next day, as by that time it had become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kinsmen in the sepulchres of their fathers. Then under the tunic of every one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jam′nia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was why these men had fallen. So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” (2 Maccabees 12:39-45).
“Rejecting the inspiration and canonicity of II Maccabees does not negate its historical value. Maccabees aids us in knowing, purely from an historical perspective at the very least, the Jews believed in praying and making atonement for the dead shortly before the advent of Christ. This is the faith in which Jesus and the apostles were raised…”says Apologist Tim Staples.
New Testament
St Paul said this prayer:
“The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered to me at Ephesus, you know very well.” (2 Tim 1:18)
One body but many parts (cf. 1 Cor 12:12-27) so, also each part is needed that some might be saved. Certainly, not all will be saved.
The Militant Church prays for the dead and those in purgatory. Even a day has been set aside to pray for all souls on the Liturgical Calendar (Nov 2). She also prays every time she celebrates Holy Mass and prays the Liturgy of the Hours, Likewise after Angelus and after meals. The prayers express hope that God will free the person who has died from any burden of sin and prepare a place for him or her in heaven.
In conclusion, those in purgatory are infallibly saved. When you pray for the dead, you serve as a catalyst to speed up there stay in purgatory and to enter heaven. It is also our duty in this year of mercy to pray for the living and the dead.
#I_love_my_faith.
#Proudly_Catholic.
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