purgatory

thumb|upright=0.9|right|Image of a fiery purgatory by Ludovico Carracci. Top: Christ directing, with Mary and interceding saints. Middle: Angel showing a soul the intercessors. Bottom: souls being purged with various attitudes.

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Purgatory is a place or state of purification believed in Catholic and some other Christian traditions where souls are cleansed of sin after death before entering heaven. It matters to believers because it represents an opportunity for spiritual purification and the possibility of divine mercy for those who die imperfectly prepared, and the image shows how souls are supported by Christ, Mary, and saints during this process.

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Image: Heidelberg cpg 144 Elsässische Legenda Aurea 338r St. Patricks Fegefeuer.jpg

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Commons category: Purgatory
native label: pūrgātōrium

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Article

31 sections

Contents

History of the belief
Christianity
Catholicism
The Purgatory of Catholic doctrine
Role in relation to the church
Role in relation to sin
St Catherine of Genoa
Duration
Eastern Catholics
Popular notions of Purgatory
As a place
Fire
Depictions
Eastern Orthodoxy
Protestantism
Lutheranism
Anglicanism
Methodism
Reformed
Walls' argument
Latter-day Saint Movement
Analogous concepts in other religions
Judaism
Mandaeism
Islam
Hinduism
Zoroastrianism
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Purgatory (, borrowed into English via Anglo-Norman and Old French) is a belief in Catholic theology. It is a passing intermediate state after physical death for purifying or purging a soul before entering Heaven. A common analogy is dross being removed from gold in a furnace.