Catholic Answers School of Apologetics: Purgatory Online Course

To some, the Catholic doctrine of purgatory is mysterious—even scary. What is this shadowy state between earth and heaven? How can saved souls suffer if Jesus has already redeemed them? No wonder non-Christians imagine purgatory in sensationalistic ways and Protestants condemn it as an “unbiblical tradition of men.”

Apologist Karlo Broussard helps you understand and explain to others that purgatory isn’t contrary to Scripture, nor is it some fantastical dogma that Rome invented. Rather, it is rooted in biblical truth and the faith and practice of the earliest Christians. You’ll learn that:

• The Old Testament reveals Jewish belief in post-mortem remission of sins.
• In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus affirms post-mortem temporary punishment and post-mortem remission of sins.
• Paul teaches a post-mortem purification that involves suffering on account of venial sins.
• Extra-biblical sources reveal that the first Christians prayed for the dead and believed in post-mortem purgation and punishments.

Karlo shows that purgatory is not a cause for dread but a hopeful, even joyful sign of God’s love for us. It is a great consolation, a call for all Christians to pursue deeper holiness, and an opportunity to build loving solidarity with those who have gone before us.

Whether you’re a Catholic wanting to know more about purgatory or you’re looking for ways to explain the doctrine to others, Purgatory will provide you with a deeper appreciation of God’s mercy and love manifest in his will to remove those things that impede our entrance into heaven.

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