Purgatory

In many Christian Churches today, even Catholic, there is often a kind of canonisation of the dead. Someone will stand up and give a eulogy on the life of the deceased but the opinion that perhaps they are not yet in heaven must not be voiced. This is sad not only for the liturgy but for the deceased themselves who may need our prayers. The trouble is that the very clear evidence and belief in Purgatory was overthrown by the Reformers. The books of Machabees were thrown out of Protestant scripture because they contained passages referring to the Jewish practice of praying for the Dead. Judas Machabees after a victory sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem so that sacrifices could be offered for th sins of the dead "It is therefore a holy and wholdsome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins" But this passage in itself, though it shows that praying for the dead was a Judean-Christian practice, is not the only proof scripture holds. "He that speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either in this world NOR THE WORLD TO COME" Matthew 12:45-46 So sins can be forgiven in the world to come: that is very clear. ST Paul speaking of the last day says "The fire shall try every mans`s work, of what sort it is. If any man`s work abide (be Holy) he shall receive a reward, if any man`s work burn (be faulty) he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire" 1Corinthians 3:13-15. Having quoted scripture we can turn to the early Fathers and hear them. Let us turn to the 4th Century and St Cyril of Jerusalem. "We comment the Holy Fathers, and Bishops, and all who have fallen asleep from amongst us believing that the supplications which we present will be of great assistance to their souls while the Holy and tremendous Sacrifice is offered up" So Masses for the dead were a very early practice. Space is at a premium on a blog so I cannot quote Eusebiu, Turtullian, and many others. But is it not wonderful that when we die though we may deserve hell there is still a place for atonement. Surely this is a doctrine of justice we would gladly believe.