What is Purgatory according to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church?
Q: What is Purgatory according to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church?
A: Purgatory is the final purification of the elect, where souls who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, undergo purification after death to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven.
Q: Are those who die in God's grace and friendship assured of their eternal salvation?
A: Yes, they are assured of their eternal salvation but must undergo purification in Purgatory.
Q: Are there different levels of Purgatory?
A: Yes, there are different levels of Purgatory, with the lowest being close to hell and the highest gradually drawing near to Heaven.
Q: On what occasion do the greatest number of souls leave Purgatory according to the teaching?
A: The greatest number of souls leave Purgatory on Christmas.
Q: Are there souls in Purgatory who pray ardently to God?
A: Yes, there are souls in Purgatory who pray ardently to God.
Q: Do these souls have relatives or friends who pray for them on earth?
A: No, some of these souls in Purgatory do not have anyone praying for them on earth.
Q: How do these souls benefit from the prayers of other people?
A: God makes them benefit from the prayers of other people, and sometimes permits them to manifest themselves in different ways close to their relatives on earth to remind them of the existence of Purgatory and solicit their prayers to come close to God.
