As a long-time Christian, many look up to me for answers to various questions. The other day, a member of my online Bible discussion forum sent me an interesting video on Purgatory to watch. It mainly addressed the sins that take souls to Purgatory. Purgatory is a subject I studied intensely in theology school, and I frequented the local Catholic Church to gain more insight. Luckily, the Catechist was always willing to help me in my research, and I became well-versed in this doctrine. So, I uploaded the video on the forum for the rest of the members to watch. It sparked an interesting debate, and the members asked me to attest if mortal sins take people to Purgatory. Since I was conversant with the concept of Purgatory, I decided to discuss this topic in-depth. I began by answering the question, ‘Can you go to purgatory with mortal sin?”
According to the Catholic Church, you cannot go to purgatory with mortal sin. A sin of this nature is considered grave and is committed via freedom of choice and complete acquiescence of the sinner. Thus, the repercussion is not purgatory but an eternity in hell as the ultimate punishment.
In this article, I will take you on a voyage that will discuss the sins that take souls to purgatory and so much more. Without further ado, join me as we delve into this fascinating subject matter pertaining to the afterlife.
Do you go to purgatory before Heaven?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, people go to purgatory before Heaven. They hold the view that people who die in God’s grace and relationship but are still insufficiently cleansed undergo a purification process in purgatory to achieve the holiness required to enter Heaven. The state is for souls that are guaranteed eternal salvation but still need purification to enter the paradise of Heaven. They believe this is the final purification of the elect souls before gaining eternal life.
Catholics also base their claim that souls go to purgatory before Heaven on Revelation 21:27, which states that no unclean thing shall have access to the presence of God. Additionally, they argue that according to Hebrews 12:14, souls must strive to gain holiness to see the Lord in Heaven. They contend that souls that have not been completely freed of sin are unclean and must first experience purification in purgatory. In addition, they argue that although repentance may provide one with grace worthy of being forgiven, it is still not satisfactory for attaining admission into Heaven. Therefore, the sanctification of souls is required in purgatory to be purged of imperfections and made fit for Heaven.
Can someone go to purgatory for venial sins?
According to the Catholic Church, someone can go to purgatory for venial sins. They believe that venial sins undermine compassion, manifest a disordered love for materialism, and impede the soul’s advancement in practicing virtues and moral good. Therefore, these sins merit temporal punishment in purgatory for purification when one dies.
Additionally, Catholics believe that venial sins must be cleansed in purgatory because the place works like a rehabilitation hub for the purification of all impurities and iniquities. It is equally a gradual and painful process needed to enter the divine presence. Thus, a person’s soul is purified in purgatory through a cleansing fire to purge away venial sins before the Day of Judgment.
What happens if you die in mortal sin?
According to Catholic theology, if you die in mortal sin, your soul will be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven and is damned to hell for all eternity. A mortal sin is an iniquity of grave matter and is committed with complete knowledge and deliberate consent of the sinner. Therefore, mortal sins cannot be committed by mistake as the person fully knows of their wrongdoing but still intentionally commits it. They are premeditated by the sinner and illustrate a purposeful breaking of God’s law that is punishable by eternal suffering and torment in hell. Examples of mortal sins include blasphemy, idolatry, witchcraft, heresy, murder, profanity, and drunkenness.
What types of sins take you to purgatory?
According to the Catholic faith, seven sins take you to purgatory, namely lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. These sins are considered exploitations or extreme versions of a person’s natural functions or passions.
Lust
Lust refers to an intense longing for unbridled desires. These desires can be for money, power, or sexual passions such as fornication and adultery.
Gluttony
Gluttony refers to an overindulgence of something to the point of waste. It is condemned because the prosperous may gorge and overconsume to the point of leaving the needy hungry.
Greed
Greed refers to a superficial and rapacious pursuit of material possessions. It is an exorbitant desire to obtain or possess more than a person needs. It is condemned because the person relinquishes eternal matters for the sake of hoarding temporal material wealth.
Sloth
Sloth refers to the lack of interest or persistent disinclination of matters of great importance. It is a sin of omitting responsibilities and involves failing to utilize the Holy Spirit’s gifts of grace. This disregard results in the subversion of spiritual progress.
Wrath
Wrath refers to unrestrained feelings of anger, fury, or hatred. It often manifests itself in the desire to pursue vengeance.
Envy
Envy refers to resentful covetousness towards another person. It is similar to jealousy in that a person feels discontent towards someone else’s abilities, traits, status, or rewards.
Pride
Pride refers to hubris or vainness and is the opposite of humility. It is the state in which a person’s ego makes him directly opposed to God.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
