Theology notes - Purgatory

Catholicism defines purgatory in the following way: after death - different from punishment of the damn. Does God really do the punishment, or something I chose? Punishment is coming from the realm of others. Violence/alienation of people chosen to be there. Dante - seven mountains of purgatory - one for each deadly sin. Corinthians 11-15, at death will be revealed by fire. Person will be saved through fire (maybe died and unfinished business). Theological belief - purgatory - preparation for heavenly realm. Notion of prayer for those in purgatory because they can’t get out on their own. Notion of penance - If someone died without the sacrament of penance. This started to become law of belief. Individual judgement at death; general judgment - we look together at human history. Structures don’t commit sin, people do. It is better to understand rather than be understood. Consequences - Buddhism/Hinduism, rebirth. Counsel of Trent re-affirmed existence of purgatory. Seven deadly sins are seven desires. There is suffering eg. giving up smoking, coffee. Purgation of detaching from strong attachments towards will of God. Limbo - is not mentioned by Ratzing. Tradition was concern for unbaptized babies. Theology of grace has development. Of course unbaptized go to heaven. Baptism is about - if baby dies, he/she is presumed dead in faith. Saint Augustine - that’s not. If you were a good person, ok for salvation. Prevenient Grace. Communion of Saints - Creed. Smate says: pray for those who have died. Pray for intersession of the Saints. Saints are like friends - some people feel a reverence with a Saint that they feel like a friend and sometimes the Saint may come to them at a special time in life. Council of Trent - Statue is an image that becomes a vocal point. Symbolic of the relationship but it also means - I am going to treat her with care. Next for theology is Hell.