Does Purgatory exist?
First of all, there is a lot of talk and urban legend going on about Pope John Paul II declaring purgatory to be incorrect. That in itself is incorrect and indeed nothing more than an urban legend. His words got twisted out of context. In reality, Pope John Paul II said in 1999, that the term Purgatory does not indicate a place, rather, Purgatory is “a condition of existence”. He is trying to say Purgatory exists for the dead to be in, but not exactly particular location.
Now we cleared that up, let us take a look at why we should believe Purgatory exists, as Catholics.
Purgatory is the condition or process of purification in which the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for Heaven. This is an idea that has ancient roots and is well-attested in early Christian literature. The Catholic Church gives the name Purgatory to the final purification of all who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified.
Though purgatory is often pictured as a place rather than a process of purification, this idea is not part of the Church's doctrine. As I mentioned in my very first paragraph, Pope John Paul II himself said it is a “condition” or process.
Secondly, the Catholic Church believe that prayers should still be made for the dead. If a person’s soul has already been decided to be entered into heaven, or hell, then prayers for the dead will not be necessary. So, to pray for the dead, there must be the existence of Purgatory.
In Hebrew, purgatory is referred to as Sheol. This has appeared a number of times in Deuteronomy, a book that was taken out by the “solar scriptura” Protestants to conveniently say Purgatory does not exist.
Now, let us look at some prominent quotes from the bible to support the above.
2 Timothy 1:16-18
“May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day - and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.”
Onesiphorus was dead at the time St. Paul writes this letter to Timothy. St Paul was praying for the dead.
1 Corinthians 5:5
“with the power of the Lord Jesus he is to be handed over to Satan, so that his sensual body may be destroyed, but his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”
His sensual body was destroyed where? In Purgatory, not hell, as if one enters hell he cannot be saved.
Matthew 5:22
"But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, "You fool!" shall be liable to the fire of Hell. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will NEVER GET OUT TILL YOU HAVE PAID THE LAST PENNY"
Meaning upon cleansing in Purgatory and “paying the last penny”, one can then “get out” and be saved and accepted into heaven.
And now, perhaps the most convincing of all the quotes I’m providing here: our Lord Jesus the Christ Himself:-
John 20:17
"Do not hold on to me for I have not yet returned to the father"
John 24:25
"Did not Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory"
Jesus tells us that he will be in the underworld (sheol) for three days when he declares to the Pharisees.
Matt 12: 40
"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”
I can go on and on but this will then take more than a day to write.
However, the above is a summary by which the Catholic Church stands its ground on Purgatory and we Catholics (I’m soon to be) should believe as well in our defence of our faith.
Hope the above helps. God Bless!

