Biblical Foundations of Purgatory

The doctrine of the Church on purgatory is based on the Bible, when it is correctly interpreted:

The text of 2 Maccabees 12, 43-46, assumes that there is purification after death.

Judah Maccabee organized a collection among his soldiers… in order to offer a sacrifice for sin… They firmly believed in a valuable reward for those who died in the grace of God… He offered this sacrifice for the dead; so that they were forgiven for their sins.

Protestants do not recognize that this book is part of the Bible, because Luther removed it from his Bible precisely because he knew it referred to purgatory.

However, the New Testament makes a reference to 2 Maccabees. For example, in Hebrews 11, 35:

“Others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.”

The only ones in the Old Testament to whom this passage is applied are the martyrs of the Maccabees, who were tortured in order to attain resurrection (2 Maccabees 7:11, 14, 23, 29, 36).

Likewise the words of Our Lord:

“And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world, nor in the world to come.” (Mt. 12, 32).

“And when thou goest with thy adversary to the prince, whilst thou art in the way, endeavour to be delivered from him: lest perhaps he draw thee to he judge, and the judge deliver thee to the exacter, and the exacter cast thee into prison. I say to thee, thou shalt not go out thence until thou pay the very last mite.” (Lk. 12: 58-59).

In these passages, Jesus talks about a temporal punishment which cannot be Hell nor Heaven.

This conclusion follows from the letter of Saint Paul, 1 Corinthians 3, 12-13:

“For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. And they, whose works cannot abide the fire, shall suffer loss; yet they themselves, having built upon the right foundation, shall be saved yet so as by fire; being liable to this punishment, by reason of the wood, hay, and stubble, which was mixed with their building.

Hence, there is a fire after death which, unlike that from Hell, is temporal. The soul that passes through it will be saved. We call this state of purgation “purgatory”.

1 Cor. 15, 29: “Otherwise, what shall they do that are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not again at all? Why are they then baptized for them?”

The word “baptism” is used here as a metaphor to express suffering or penance (Mk. 10, 38-39; Lk. 3, 16; 12, 50). Saint Paul writes about a practice among Christians, which consisted in being “baptized” for the dead. He does not condemn it, on the contrary, he praises it as valid because it shows faith in resurrection.

Compare 1 Cor. 15, 29 with Maccabees 12, 44 and you will see the similarity.

Let Us Remember Our Dear Departed!

An indulgence consists in this: when we commit a sin and repent, God forgives us, but there is still something that needs to be paid. This obligation or debt that is pending can be totally or partially eliminated through the practice of indulgences.

On the day of the Faithful Departed, there is the possibility of gaining a PLENARY INDULGENCE, which can be applied to the blessed souls in purgatory. We can only gain one plenary indulgence per day.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO:

1. On November 2: Visit a Church or public oratory, and pray there an Our Father.

2. From November 1 to November 8: We can gain a plenary indulgence every day visiting a Cemetery and praying there for the faithful departed.

GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR GAINING PLENARY INDULGENCES:

1. Must be baptized and must not be excommunicated.

2. Having the intention, at least in general, of gaining the indulgence.

3. Confession: It can be made within eight days before or after the day in question.

4. Receiving Communion on the day in question.

5. Praying for the Pope’s intentions: an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be. These intentions are the following ones (they were predetermined by the Church, and they are not the Pope’s personal intentions):

a) The exaltation of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

b) The eradication of heresies.

c) The propagation of Catholic Faith.

d) The conversion of sinners.

e) Peace and concord among Christian princes.

f) All other goods of Christian community.

6. Having no attachment to sin, not even venial sins.

7. Observing that to which the Indulgence was granted.

NOTE: If the conditions are not entirely fulfilled, there is still the possibility of gaining a partial Indulgence.

What the souls in purgatory need are indulgences and Masses, many Masses! Order Masses for your relatives and for all the faithful departed in general, God will know who to apply them to.

See (Click here). WHAT ARE INDULGENCES AND HOW TO GAIN THEM

http://www.catholicityblog.com/2016/01/what-are-indulgences-and-how-to-acquire.html

WHAT ARE INDULGENCES AND HOW TO ACQUIRE THEM

An Indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to those sins in which the guilt related to that sin has been forgiven. The faithful Catholic who is duly disposed of this temporal remission gains it only under certain prescribed conditions defined by the Catholic Church. The Church, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies these Indulgences with full authority, having the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.

In the Sacrament of Baptism, not only is the guilt of sin remitted but also all penalties attached to those sins.

In the Sacrament of Penance (Confession), the guilt of sin is removed as well as the eternal punishment due to mortal sin. However, Divine Justice necessitates that the temporal punishment remains with the requisite that it must be fulfilled either in the present life or in the world to come (i.e. in Purgatory).

As previously stated, the Church has the power to carry out the remission of any temporal punishment. This power was bestowed on to the Church by Christ.

Whenever the Church grants an Indulgence, she applies her treasure (the overabundant merits of Christ and the saints), for the remission of guilt. The Church is the administrator (not owner) of this treasure. She determines the amount and conditions for granting an Indulgence. She takes into account both God’s mercy and the requirements of Divine Justice.

Indulgences are possible due the communal effect also witnessed in sin (all sins committed affect the Mystical Body of Christ). Salvation has a communal dimension, too, and this is why we can pray for each other. The merits of Christ and the saints benefit us all due to our souls being closely united to Him in His Mystical Body.

To acquire an Indulgence, the sinner must comply with the requirements of a good confession, including completing the penance that the confessor imposes. Indulgences are extra-sacramental (i.e. not a sacrament) and it is necessary to receive the sacrament of penance first.

As previously stated, Indulgences can only remove the punishment of sin, and not the guilt attached to it. In order to remove this guilt it is necessary to make a good confession. No Pope or Council has ever granted Indulgences the power to erase guilt, as only a sacramental Confession can do this. Pope Clement V (1305-1314) condemned the practice of providing Indulgences that intended to absolve the guilt and punishment of sin (a culpa et a poena). Indeed, in the Council of Constance (1418), Pope Clement I revoked all Indulgences containing the formula “a culpa et a poena” (session XLII, n.14).

Many canonized saints have confirmed the doctrine of Indulgences. Recent examples include Pope St. Pius X and St. Padre Pio.

-oOo-

Partial Indulgence:

- Having the intention of acquiring an Indulgence.

- Performing the deed or saying the prescribed prayer.

- Being in the state of grace.

Plenary Indulgence:

- Having the intention of acquiring an Indulgence.

- Sacramental Confession.

- Eucharistic Communion.

- Praying an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the Pope’s intentions.

- Having no attachment to sin (not even venial sins).

- Visiting the site/observing that to which the Indulgence was granted.

A plenary Indulgence can only be acquired once a day (except at the time of death due to this allowing for another plenary Indulgence). In addition, to gain a plenary Indulgence, it is required to not having any attachment to sin, even venial sin. (If, however, due to attachment of sin, a soul cannot gain a plenary Indulgence, a partial Indulgence will be given.)

Moreover, though receiving Communion and praying for the Holy Father must be made on the same day the prayer or action takes place, Confession may be made eight days prior or after this occasion.

HOW TO ACQUIRE A PLENARY INDULGENCE

A plenary Indulgence, whether during a Holy Year or not, can be acquired by complying with the requirements already mentioned:

1. Having the intention of acquiring an Indulgence.

2. Sacramental Confession

Make a thorough confession either on the day or, as stated earlier, eight days prior or eight days after the event.

3. Eucharistic Communion

Receive Communion on the same day in which one wishes to acquire the Indulgence.

4. Praying for the Pope’s Intentions

An Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be must be offered up for the Pope’s intentions; these are:

-The exaltation of The Holy Church.

-The eradication of heresies

-The propagation of Catholic faith

-The conversion of sinners

-Peace and concord amongst Christian princes

-All other goods of Christian community

5. Removal of affection towards EVERY kind of sin, even venial and having the intention of avoiding sin.

In addition to the above, to acquire a Plenary Indulgence in a NORMAL year, one may perform one of the following deeds in substitution of Eucharistic Communion, complying with all the requirements previously stated:

a. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that lasts at least half an hour.
b. Visiting a cemetery/praying for the faithful departed. This Indulgence can only be applied to the souls in Purgatory, from 1 November to 8 November.
c. Adoration of the Cross, on Good Friday during liturgical celebration.
d. In First Communions, to those who receive it and who attend them devotedly.
e. Participants of spiritual exercises that lasts three days at least.
f. Saying the Rosary in a Church or public oratory before the Blessed Sacrament, even if it is not exposed but reserved in the tabernacle, or to say it in family or in pious association.
g. Reading the Holy Bible for at least half an hour.
h. Praying the Way of the Cross in front of the stations, legitimately erected.

Or any other deed disposed by the Church and in force.

NOTE: The deed to be performed for obtaining a plenary Indulgence related to the visitation of a church or oratory consists in piously visiting these places and praying an Our Father and the Creed, unless otherwise stated. The reason for reciting the Our Father is to affirm the dignity, that we received in Baptism, of being God’s children, and the Creed (symbol of faith) is recited to affirm Catholic identity.

You can reproduce this article provided you quote this site.

Source of information: Blog CATOLICIDAD http://www.catolicidad.com/2009/09/como-ganar-indulgencias-y-en-que.html Translated from Spanish by: Fabiola Lozano.

HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY

LET US PRAY FOR THE CONSECRATION OF RUSSIA TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

What is the Holy Rosary?

Up until now it is considered that the best definition of the Rosary is the one provided by St. Pius V in his Bull of 1569 Consueverunt Romani Pontifices: “The Rosary or Psalter of the Holy Virgin Mary is a very pious way of prayer, available to all, which consists in the repetition of the salutation with which the angel greeted Mary; saying an Our Father between each decade of Hail Marys, while trying to meditate upon the life of Our Lord.” The traditional Rosary consists of 15 Our Fathers and 150 Hail Marys in memory of the 150 psalms.

The word rosary means “crown of roses”. Our Lady has revealed to numerous persons that every time one says a Hail Mary that person gives her a beautiful rose and that every time one prays the entire Rosary makes Her a crown of roses. The rose is the queen of flowers and therefore the most important of them all.

The Rosary is composed of two elements: mental prayer and vocal prayer.

The mental prayer of the Rosary is the recommended meditation on the main mysteries or facts of the life, death and glory of Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother. These 15 mysteries have been divided into three parts: the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries.

The vocal prayer of the Rosary consists of the recitation of 150 Hail Marys (in the entire Rosary) or 50 Hail Marys. Each decade (there are 5 decades in each Rosary, and 15 decades in each full Rosary) begins by reciting the Our Father out loud while meditating on one of the mysteries.  The estimated time of duration for reciting 5 decades of the Rosary is 18 minutes.

The Catholic Church received the Rosary in its current form in 1214 AD, in a miraculous way:  Our Lady appeared to Saint Dominic and gave it to him as a powerful weapon for the conversion of heretics and other sinners of the time. Since then, the devotion to the Rosary has spread quickly around the world and it has yielded both outstanding and miraculous results.

Among the various forms to honor the mother of God, the Holy Rosary has a prominent place. It is worth remembering that Our Lady has insisted upon the recitation of the Rosary in each of her numerous apparitions. Thus, on 13^th May of 1917, in a small town of Portugal called Cova da Iría, the Holy Virgin vehemently insisted that the three shepherd children say the Rosary every day.

The Rosary is a powerful sacramental.  It comprises the principal mysteries of our Catholic faith. It nourishes and sustains faith.  It raises the mind to the revealed truths. It is one of the most efficacious means to attain eternal salvation in our eternal homeland: Heaven. It increases the piety of the faithful. It promotes and strengthens the virtues. In addition, the Rosary is not only highly effective but one may say that it is also the easiest prayer for the simple and humble of heart. It is the most excellent prayer to Our Mother so that she may intercede for us before the Throne of God.

The Rosary perpetuates the liturgical life of the Church though it is not a substitute for it. On the contrary, it enriches and gives vigor to the liturgy. Consequently, the Rosary is not only renowned but popular amongst practicing Catholics because it contains a great treasure of values while answering the great questions of existence with traditional Christian wisdom.

Neither the modern way of life, the passing of time nor the innovation of prayer forms can ignore the recitation of the Holy Rosary. In fact, the Holy Fathers and saints have had a deep devotion to this sacramental. As Catholics, and as lovers of the Queen of Heaven, we must be fervent devotees of the Holy Rosary. It is worth recalling here that a family that prays together stays together. Let us pray that the pious and conscious recitation of the Rosary brings our souls peace and also unites us more closely to Mary so that we can live our lives as true followers of Christ. 

We remind you that the recitation of the Holy Rosary is currently being promoted with the intention of asking for the consecration of Russia by the Pope to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, fulfilling all the requirements requested by Our Lady of Fatima.

How to pray it:

1)      Make the Sign of the Cross and say the Apostle’s Creed or the Act of Contrition.

2)      Say the Our Father. (*)

3)      Say three Hail Marys, entrusting our Faith, our Hope and our Charity to the Holy Virgin, as we say each Hail Mary.

4)      Say the Glory Be.

5)      Announce the First Mystery (e.g “The Annunciation”); then say the Our Father.

6)      Say ten Hail Marys, while meditating on the mystery.

7)      Say the Glory Be and ejaculatory prayer (Oh My Jesus, forgive us our sins...)

8)      Announce the Second Mystery (e.g. “The Visitation”); then say the Our Father.

9)      Say ten Hail Marys, while meditating on the mystery.

10)   Say the Glory be and ejaculatory prayer.

11)    Repeat steps 5 - 7, and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.

12)   Say the Hail Holy Queen

13)   When finalizing it is customary to recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.

Footnote: (The order of steps 2, 3 and 4 may be moved to be said before step 12).

Prayers of the Rosary:

SIGN OF THE CROSS

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

APOSTLE’S CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, and in in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into Hell. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

ACT OF CONTRITION

“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.”

OUR FATHER

Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

HAIL MARY

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen. 

GLORY BE

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

EJACULATORY PRAYERS

You can say one of the following:

Mary, Mother of grace and Mother of Mercy – Defend us from our enemies and protect us in our life and in the hour of death.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls into Heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy mercy.

HAIL HOLY QUEEN

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy.  Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee to we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. O God, Whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal rest, grant we beseech Thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, 
but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.

Let us pray-  Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

Joyful Mysteries (Monday and Thursday)

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation
5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple

Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday and Friday)

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion

Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday)

1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation of Our Lady

Those who recite the Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament (even if not exposed), in a church or public oratory, or pray it in family or in pious association may obtain a Plenary Indulgence, in according to the usual conditions. 

Source of information:  Blog CATOLICIDAD ¿Qué es el Santo Rosario? Modo de rezarlo. Translated from Spanish by: Fabiola Lozano.