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Question

Dear Father Angelo,

at the end of a catechetical meeting that I recently attended, while discussing the after-death expiation of the effects of sins, even those that had been forgiven in confession, the speaker suggested that the journey of faith that we undertake on earth is in itself a purification that requires no further penance, thereby de facto denying the existence of purgatory. In your opinion, when Christ himself uses very strong images, such as the Geenna, is it due to the Semitic-Hebrew language that uses these kinds of images, without necessarily meaning, in and of itself, that purgatory or hell exist? He also said that the Church holds two different theological positions in regard to the Novissimi. These assertions got me quite confused, especially since the speaker holds a particularly important position in the Church. Could you give me your opinion? Thank you.

Letizia

Priest’s answer

Dear Letizia,
1. Let me go over the various assertions made by the speaker who, you say, “holds a particularly important position in the Church”.

His first assertion was that: “the journey of faith that we undertake on earth is in and of itself a purification that requires no further penance, thereby denying the existence of purgatory”.

Our journey of faith can well follow a path of purification. But we see many people of faith that achieve no purification at all. Without pointing the finger at other people, I point it directly at myself.

And it is precisely for this reason that, at the beginning of each Mass, we say: “ I have sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do”.

For the same reason, Saint Paul says: “According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work that someone built upon the foundation stands, that person will receive a wage. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Cor 3,10-15).

2. His second assertion: “when Christ himself uses very strong images, such as the Geenna, it is due to the Semitic-Hebrew language that uses these kinds of images, without necessarily meaning, in and of itself, that purgatory or hell exist”.

This view has no basis. It is not sufficient to make something up, to express a personal fantasy, to make it true.

Above all, why would our Lord need to use strong expressions to indicate something that does not exist?

Would this be the great Master that we follow?

3. In addition, to address what that Churchman you talk about said it is necessary to refer to the faith of the Apostles and of the first Christian communities.

Indeed, our faith is the same as that of the Apostles’.

So how did the Apostles understand those strong expressions used by our Lord? They understood that the reality is exactly as it has always been believed to be, and as we believe it to be still today.

4.What should guide us in understanding the Scriptures is not our own imagination, but what has been believed always, everywhere and by everyone (quod semper, quod ubique et quod ab omnibus creditum est).

This is the principle that has been used by our Holy Fathers to validate the true doctrine. And this is the rule used by the Church of all ages, that is enlivened and enlightened by the same Holy Spirit.

5. The speaker also said that “the Church holds two different theological positions in regard to the Novissimi”.
He forgot to say that there is only one doctrine.
There are no two doctrines, but one doctrine.
And it is the doctrine taught by the Magisterium.
Then there are also theological schools of thought.
Now, there is not just one or two theological schools of thought, but many.
However, no theological school of thought has the ranking as the doctrine.
In fact, the doctrine is confirmed by the Holy Spirit, while the theological schools of thought did not receive such confirmation.

6. When the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “the Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. 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”, it indicates the true thinking, it does not refer to two theological schools of thought, but to the correct thinking (CCC 1031).

7. The same is true regarding Hell.

It is enough to quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “we cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor and against ourselves: «He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him» (1 Jn 3,15). Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren. To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called «hell»” (CCC 1033).

Jesus often speaks of «Geenna», of the «unquenchable fire» reserved for those who to the end of their life refuse to believe and to be converted, and where both soul and body can be lost. Jesus solemnly proclaims that he will «send his angels, and they will gather … all evil-doers and throw them into the furnace of fire» (Mt 13, 41-42), and that he will pronounce the condemnation: «Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire» (Mt 25,41)” (CCC 1034).

8. In particular: “The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity.
Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishment of hell, “eternal fire”. The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs” (CCC 1035).

9. The Catechism adds: “The affirmations of Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church on the subject of hell are a call to the responsibility incumbent upon man to make use of his freedom in view of his eternal destiny. They are at the same time an urgent call to conversion: «Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few!» (Mt 7,13-14)” (CCC 1036).
In short, it is the exact opposite of what the Churchman who came to speak to you said.
I feel sorry for him, and I feel sorry for the people who had to listen to him and who must have felt just as confused and disappointed as you did.

I thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent the doctrine of the Church, I recommend you to the Lord and I bless you.

Father Angelo