In ORTHODOXY (Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox, etc., etc., etc.) there is a pov (NOT dogma, NOT doctrine, NOT even official teaching) that at the micosecond of death (well, less time than that), Christ somehow, mystically, changes us - so that we are pure (and thus may enter heaven - THAT'S the presumption, that's needed). This is ALTOGETHER Christ's doing, Christ's miracle, involving NOTHING from anyone or anything, HE does it - in less than a microsecond, as a part of His salvic work. Now since the EOC doesn't hold that people are fundamentally sinful (nothing like the western view of original sin or total depravity) this really isn't a major thing, but yes..... since only the pure can enter heaven, and since no one dies that way, Christ must do something for them as he takes them by the hand and walks them into Paradise..... All this is just belief, not dogma or doctrine, and certainly not developed. Always related as one of the MYSTERIES. There is no doctrine of Purgatory in the East (or any other denomination besides the singular, individual RCC), but there is this common "root". I might add, that while all this is NON-dogmatic in the East, it is also varied. And is often spoken of in the context of the Eastern veiw of Theosis, not our western view of justification- so it's not even really the same subject or issue.
In CATHOLICISM (western Christianity, very much on a different path since almost the beginning) this got "developed." (My Greek Orthodox friend, "The Roman Church is UNABLE to leave well enough alone but INSISTS on messing it up and dividing Christianity over it"). The Western, Roman Catholic "Scholastics" have had a "field day" for CENTURIES, theorizing endlessly, applying all kinds of secular philosophies, speculating this and speculating that, wondering further and further away from Scripture, Tradition and Orthodoxy.... more and more into an evolving denominational dogma. I think it was made dogma in 1870 (maybe my memory is failing me there). The very first concepts of this developed in the early 11th Century and this was one of the things the East condemned Catholicism for, one of the reasons for the huge "split" in 1054. But the RCC had only just BEGUN to spin this!!!! The Council of Florence in the 15th Century nailed the coffin on this, denouncing the Orthodox view and proclaimed a much more developed Roman Catholic view (although not yet dogma).
In modern CATHOLICISM (just that one, individual denomination) there is still that "Christ purifies" idea but extended FAR beyond anything else. It has no clear basis in Scripture, Tradition or any of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. And rather than being a part of the MIRACLE of justification, it has been twisted into part of the Roman Catholic concept of soteriology. Here's how our Catholic teachers explained it (again, without ANY references to ANY Scripture, any Tradition, any Council). God STARTS a long, long, long, long, hard PROCESS...... he GIVES grace at Baptism. "Grace" is divine "gas", divine enabling, the "gas" God puts in your tank so that YOU can get YOURSELF where YOU need to be." But you gotta DO good stuff with that grace! IF you do (well enough anyway.... and no one has ANY CLUE what "good enough" is), then God rewards you with more "grace" (another sqirt gas in your tank) and then you gotta DO good enough with that! And so on........ over the decades, you move forward (I recall an illustation about a sail boat at this point). Thing is: life isn't long enough to get the job finished (well, for many.... NO CLUE as for who or whether this includes YOU, not a clue). What then? Well, Hinduism gives you another lifetime here on Earth but the Roman Catholic Church gives you more time in Purgatory, a place to finish the job. Now, you gotta be GOOD ENOUGH by then to get in (and there's NO CLUE how good is good enough or if you are good enough) but Purgatory is only for those who will EVENTUALLY get into heaven. Now, the RCC has NO CLUE how long you get or how long you need or how long Purgatory typically is (you can pay money to the church and get it shortened but how much that actually accomplishes is irrelevant because the RCC has NO CLUE how long it is - you may still have zillions of years so taht the time you bought is worthless or you may get change on the other side, WHO KNOWS?). All this is BOTH dogma (something you MUST believe if you expect to get into heaven) BUT the emphasis seems to be that while you should be glad you get this new RC version of reincarnation, this "additional time to get it right", still it's all pretty vague..... And if you go to a Catholic funeral, the priest will ENTIRELY evade it, probably will even say the loved one IS in heaven (but if you want to give him money to shorten that person's time in Purgatory so that SOMEDAY - maybe twenty hundred zillion years in the future - that one WILL BE in heaven, well..... In practice, I don't think Catholics actually believe this (and I know they don't preach it) but it IS de fide dogma - a matter of HIGHEST certainty possible and greatest necessity possible.
Here's all the Catholic Catechism says....
1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 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
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come
The compendium of 2005 simply says,
210. What is purgatory?
Purgatory is the state of those who die in God’s friendship, assured of their eternal salvation, but who still have need of purification to enter into the happiness of heaven.
211. How can we help the souls being purified in purgatory?
Because of the communion of saints, the faithful who are still pilgrims on earth are able to help the souls in purgatory by offering prayers in suffrage for them, especially the Eucharistic sacrifice. They also help them by almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance.
IF you just read the Catechism, it almost seems like the RCC is apologizing for a thousand years of disagreeing with the Eastern Orthodox Church and actually now is renouncing all those RCC dogmatic statements and declarations so different from the Eastern Orthodox Church! But it's only seeming.....
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