Purgatory

In Roman Catholic theology, Purgatory is a process of purification after the particular judgment and before entry into Heaven. One of the first documents to mention purgatorium was a letter from the Benedictine Nicholas of Saint Albans to the Cistercian Peter of Celle in 1176 (Haggh, 1997). Purgatory was an essential element in the three-part world-scheme expressed in Dante's Divine Comedy, written in the early 14th century.

History

The dogma of Purgatory was asseted against those who denied it by the Catholic Church in 1254 (see Denziger §456: "e, since they say a place of purgation of this kind has not been indicated to them with a certain and proper name by their teachers, we indeed, calling it purgatory according to the traditions and authority of the Holy Fathers, wish that in the future it be called by that name..."). Before that time the essential concept was referred to by Clement of Alexandria (202)¹, Tertullian (c. 210), Cyprian of Carthage (253), Lactantius (307), Cyril of Jerusalem (350), Gregory of Nyssa (382), St. John Chrysostom (392), and St. Augustine (411),² among others. Roman Catholic doctrine is normally clarified in this fashion, with concepts having historical roots being given explicit names by dogmatic decree at a later time (see papal infallibility for another example). Various additional Scripture verses cited in support of a period of purgation after death and/or efficacy of prayers for the dead include Dan 12:10; Zech 13:9; Mal 3:2-3; 2 Mac 12:42-45; ; Lk 12:47-48; Lk 12:58-59; 1 Cor 3:13-15; Apoc 21:27; and others.

Related Topics:
1254 - Holy Fathers - Clement of Alexandria - 202 - ¹ - Tertullian - 210 - Cyprian of Carthage - 253 - Lactantius - 307 - Cyril of Jerusalem - 350 - Gregory of Nyssa - 382 - St. John Chrysostom - 392 - St. Augustine - 411 - Dogma - Papal infallibility - Dan - Zech - Mal - 2 Mac - Lk - Apoc

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