08/04/2026
The Church believes and teaches that few of those who are saved, and who die in the state of grace are immediately fit and ready to enter heaven and to see God. This belief arises not so much from the consideration of the badness of all Christians. Many of those who die in the Lord have not been bad, when judged by the standards of the world or of the Church. It arises from the consideration of the supreme holiness of God and the wondrous glory of heavenly bliss. The reward that is set before us is so great that ordinary good people, as they are at their death, would not be capable of appreciating it. There is need of preparation, and of further spiritual development, after death. It is true, indeed, that God has power to cause each of those who are saved to attain in a moment to perfect sanctification. But all we know of the working of God's grace in man leads us to expect that the growth in holiness will be gradual beyond death, as it is in the life here, and that the departed will pass in orderly progression from glory to glory.
Few, again, during this life have done adequate penance for their sins. They are forgiven for Christ's sake; but their share in the consequences of sin yet remains to be endured. The Church teaches that, between this world and heaven, there is a state of existence to be passed through by all those who are destined for perfected union with God; by all, that is, except those in whom all the effects of sin have been done away while still in this world.
This state is beyond our powers of direct comprehension. We can think and speak of it only in picture language, using terms of time and of place such as we know in this world. We can learn about it only in a parable. Strictly speaking, ideas of earthly place are not applicable to disembodied souls, nor ideas of earthly time to a state of existence that is outside time. This state of existence of the saved after death, this antechamber of heaven, is commonly called Purgatory. Other names given to it by English writers are the Intermediate State, and Paradise (Luke 23:43). We speak of those whom we think of as being in this state as the Faithful Departed, or the Holy Souls.
Little has been clearly revealed to us about Purgatory. But the common consent of the Catholic Church leads us to think of it as being, on the one hand, a state of safety, rest, and refreshment; and on the other hand, of penance, purgation, and painful progress.
It is a state of satety. The soul is at rest after the turmoils of this troublesome world. The perils of its probation are over. Temptation has ceased. Sin can no longer exercise dominion. The soul is sure of salvation and of sanctification. It cannot now go astray and be lost. And the grace of God still remains with it for its refreshment and re-creation after the ravages which sin has wrought [during earthly life].
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; for their works follow with them” (Rev. 14:13).
“I am persuaded that death shall not be able to separate us from the love of God” (Rom. 8:38, 39).
“The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. They are in peace. Their hope is full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded. God hath care for his elect” (Wisd. 3:1-9).
From The King’s Highway, by G. D. Carleton
