41. THE QUESTION WAS: The
great theologian Thomas Aquinas tells us that the greatest pain we will
experience on Earth will be less painful than what?
a. purgatory
b. surgery
c. dying
THE ANSWER
IS
.A
.Purgatory
St. Thomas Aquinas
wrote:
. The least pain of Purgatory surpasses the greatest pain of this
life
St. Thomas Aquinas also wrote: Augustine says in a sermon (xli De Sanctis): "This
fire of Purgatory will be more severe than any pain that can be felt, seen or
conceived in this world."
Claire, the un-theologian,
also has lots to say about purgatory. See: www.stillcatholic.com/CATHPurg.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/summa/600201.htm (Thomas
Aquinas replies to objections to purgatory)
Purgatory is not considered such a big
deal as doctrines go.
Of the thousands of chapters in my
Catechism, only a few are devoted to this final purification of the elect between
death and heaven. If our sanctification isnt completed during our Earthly
life, it is completed before we enter heaven. Thats all there is to it.
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THE CATECHISM ON PURGATORY
THE FINAL PURIFICATION
1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still
imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after
death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to
enter the joy of heaven.
1031 The Church gives the
name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is
entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church
formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of
Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts
of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607
As for certain lesser faults, we must
believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is
truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be
pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we
understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain
others in the age to come.608
1032 This teaching is also
based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture:
"Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might
be delivered from their sin."609 From the beginning the Church
has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them,
above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain
the beatific vision of God.610 The Church also commends almsgiving,
indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
Let us help and commemorate them. If
Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that
our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to
help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.611
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