"For if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death."
2 Mc 12:44

How do the words "death" and "purgatory" make you feel? Most people become frightened when these two words are spoken. Death means the end of your physical life on earth, which in turn leads to your entering into purgatory. Most are confused as to what purgatory truly is, and to be honest, God is the only one who really knows what happens after death. However, purgatory can be thought of as a place of cleansing.

Imagine heaven as the perfect place. Everything is very clean and no sin is allowed inside. Now think of all the sins you've committed on Earth as being little pieces of dirt. Purgatory is simply God's way of cleaning you off. In our lives, we should try to commit very little sin so we do not have to spend a lot of time in purgatory.

Think of it like this: If you get filthy dirty while playing outside, your parents won't let you inside until you wash off. In the same way God won't let you into heaven until you "wash off" the sins you've committed on earth. Do not think of purgatory as a place of evil and cruelty, because in all reality purgatory is simply one step closer to entering into God's kingdom. It's simply a five step process: First you're born, Second you die, Third you enter purgatory, Fourth you take "God's shower" and wash off, and Fifth you enter heaven. We've already completed step one now there's only three more to finish until we reach heaven. No longer fear the thought of death, for it only puts you a step closer to God.

God Bless,
Jesus Freak