Purgatory is defined as a state of being, the
continuing
process of purgation or purification of the soul
after human
death.
It is a state of perfection--begun in baptism and
faith-
consummated after death, entered into only by those
who are saved. In other words, our transformation in Christ
(Romans 13:14, "Put on the Lord Jesus
Christ"), our perfection
in the holiness of the Father (1 Peter 1:16,
"Be holy, because I
(am) holy") is not ended at our physical death.
Purgatory is a sign of God's mercy on those who have
honestly
sought to know God and to do His will in this life
and yet die
in some degree of bondage to sin or the effects of
sin.
The Church has only two official teachings
concerning purgatory:
it
exists, and
our
prayers help the souls in purgatory.
