Comments on: Purgatory http://www.chris-tocentric.com/2010/02/04/no-purgatory/ The summing up of all things... Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:26:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: brian http://www.chris-tocentric.com/2010/02/04/no-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-23455 brian Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:03:16 +0000 http://www.chris-tocentric.com/2010/02/04/no-purgatory/#comment-23455 Purgatory is much maligned and misunderstood. Indeed, many in Protestantism believe in it, but don't realize it. I hear many Protestants speak of a final purification, and I'll say, "Congratulations, that's purgatory." Pretty simple stuff, and not the shadowy, mystical, smoke and mirrors some would have you believe. Purgatory is much maligned and misunderstood. Indeed, many in Protestantism believe in it, but don’t realize it. I hear many Protestants speak of a final purification, and I’ll say, “Congratulations, that’s purgatory.” Pretty simple stuff, and not the shadowy, mystical, smoke and mirrors some would have you believe.

]]> By: Claude LeBlanc http://www.chris-tocentric.com/2010/02/04/no-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-23069 Claude LeBlanc Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:33:06 +0000 http://www.chris-tocentric.com/2010/02/04/no-purgatory/#comment-23069 I learned a valuable lesson about purgatory when I was a young boy. One day, in a lot on our block, I was playing baseball with my friends. I hit a foul ball into a window in the apartment next to the lot. I must confess, we ran as quickly as we could to get away from the apartment and get home. About 10 minutes later, the doorball rang, and a man had my baseball in his hand. My fahter called me to the door, and even before he or the man could ask if I broke the window, I said "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. It was an accident." The man said "I forgive you, but that doesn't fix my window." Even though I was forgiven I still had to be repair the window! Yes, Christ forgives our sins, but how do we repair the damage we do to others through sin? What if we die without repairing this damage? That is what purgatory is about. In Catholic thinking, we are forgiven, we are saved, we have Heaven as our reward, but not just yet. We must be perfected. Besides, what is the relationship between Padre Pio's dedication to confession, and his bearing of the marks of Christ, the stigmata? Unless we are prepared to explain away the phenomena as psychologically induced, or self-inflicted, we have to ask "Why would Christ allow this resemblance to him on a man who's theology is in such error? Maybe its because it is correct. I learned a valuable lesson about purgatory when I was a young boy. One day, in a lot on our block, I was playing baseball with my friends. I hit a foul ball into a window in the apartment next to the lot. I must confess, we ran as quickly as we could to get away from the apartment and get home. About 10 minutes later, the doorball rang, and a man had my baseball in his hand. My fahter called me to the door, and even before he or the man could ask if I broke the window, I said “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. It was an accident.” The man said “I forgive you, but that doesn’t fix my window.”

Even though I was forgiven I still had to be repair the window! Yes, Christ forgives our sins, but how do we repair the damage we do to others through sin? What if we die without repairing this damage? That is what purgatory is about. In Catholic thinking, we are forgiven, we are saved, we have Heaven as our reward, but not just yet. We must be perfected.

Besides, what is the relationship between Padre Pio’s dedication to confession, and his bearing of the marks of Christ, the stigmata? Unless we are prepared to explain away the phenomena as psychologically induced, or self-inflicted, we have to ask “Why would Christ allow this resemblance to him on a man who’s theology is in such error? Maybe its because it is correct.

]]> By: Chris Castaldo http://www.chris-tocentric.com/2010/02/04/no-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-22004 Chris Castaldo Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:11:38 +0000 http://www.chris-tocentric.com/2010/02/04/no-purgatory/#comment-22004 Indeed. Not to mention that the contours of Pio's Southern Italian face reminds me of my family and therefore warms might heart. I probably should find a quote from the Italian Protestant reformer Peter Martyr Vimigli for the best of both worlds. Indeed. Not to mention that the contours of Pio’s Southern Italian face reminds me of my family and therefore warms might heart. I probably should find a quote from the Italian Protestant reformer Peter Martyr Vimigli for the best of both worlds.

]]> By: Harry Hoffner http://www.chris-tocentric.com/2010/02/04/no-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-22003 Harry Hoffner Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:01:11 +0000 http://www.chris-tocentric.com/2010/02/04/no-purgatory/#comment-22003 Chris, Hooper's understanding of the biblical teaching is quite clear. But wouldn't it be nicer, if his picture didn't make him look like such a proud peacock in contrast to the humble monk?? Chris,
Hooper’s understanding of the biblical teaching is quite clear. But wouldn’t it be nicer, if his picture didn’t make him look like such a proud peacock in contrast to the humble monk??

]]>