What is Purgatory?

What is Purgatory?

Purgatory, coming from the Latin word purgare, is a place where a person is temporarily punished. In this place, people who are destined for Heaven, experience a burning that burns away one's sin so they can enter Heaven. Some believe this time is dependent on how many sins one commits.

What Are Indulgences?

An indulgence is something that reduces the time of one in Purgatory. To obtain one the person must be living, given by the Pope, and have good reason to buy one. They were normally given out to raise money for the church. Indulgences were also one of the reasons for the Protestant Reformation. Many Catholics in the modern day agree this practice was wrong; however, some others have no issue with the practice.  

Works Cited:

Hanna, Edward. "Purgatory." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12575a.htm>. 

“Purgatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purgatory. Accessed 16 Sep. 2023.

Zaleski, Carol. "purgatory". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/purgatory-Roman-Catholicism. Accessed 16 September 2023.