Emails from John Salza and David McDonald

I sent the following email to John Salza (ScriptureCatholic.com) and David McDonald (CatholicBridge.com), who are THE two largest sources of information that I've used in my research and they actually replied!

I'm looking into Catholicism and coming from a protestant background. I'm having a hard time understanding the doctrine of purification (maybe purification and sanctification?). I was under the impression that Christ completely purified us, but in reading the Catechism it talks about purgatory for those who have been "imperfectly purified," and I think that we are purified through good works and penance as well…. But I'm not sure how to put it all together.

Coming from a protestant perspective, I was taught that we are purified by Christ's sacrifice…. But if we are to be purified by our works, penance, and purgatory, then I guess I'm at a loss regarding what Christ's sacrifice was for.

I'm having a hard time finding information on this. I keep trying to look up "purification" and finding information about water treatment (seriously). Do you have any resources you could suggest?

From John Salza:

Christiane, I would recommend Robert Sungenis’ book Not By Faith Alone for a thorough treatment of this issue. I also have chapters on both Justification and Salvation in my book The Biblical Basis for the Catholic Faith which addresses the issue, as well as a book on purgatory coming out toward the end of this year.

In short, Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient to atone for all the sins of the world, but God has willed that we participate in the purification process through our own free will response to His grace. If that weren’t true, then everyone would go to heaven. God has given us access to the grace of Christ through the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Our purification commences at baptism when we are cleansed of original sin and the virtues of faith, hope and charity are infused into our souls. However, when we reach the age of reason and begin to live a life of sin, we are in constant need of purification.

Through the sacraments of the Catholic Church (particularly Confession and the Eucharist), our souls are cleansed of sin and we are restored to justice by the grace that Christ has won for us on Calvary. If we die in a state of grace but are not completely purified, our purification is completed in purgatory. This is why St. Paul says that he makes up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His body, the Church (Col 1:24). Obviously, there is nothing lacking in Christ’s sufferings. Christ offered a superabundant satisfaction for sin. But while Christ atoned for the eternal penalty of sin, God wills us to atone for the temporal penalties of sin, through penance and the sacraments. In so doing, we are restored to the equality of justice, that is, we “make up” for what is still lacking in Christ’s sufferings for the sake of the Mystical Body, the Catholic Church.

Of course, our works and penances are products of God’s grace. God moves us by His grace to participate in Christ’s redemptive work. That is why salvation is the work of God, not man.

Note also that the terms purification, sanctification, and justification describe the same thing: being cleansed of sin and the consequences of sin. We are first justified (sanctified, purified) at baptism, and thereafter through the other sacraments.

I hope this helps. God bless.

John Salza, Esq.

www.ScriptureCatholic.com

From David McDonald:

I'm out of commsission because of surgery on my elbows that flared up... can't type much..
I have several articles that put's it together.

http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/purgatory.htm

And on the right hand side of that, there are "Related topics". I thinnk that if you read those, you'll understand it ...

1. Indulgences
2. The Role of Suffering
3. Punishment
4. Justification by faith alone?
5. Flow Chart of Catholic Doctrine
6. Sheol, Hell and Hades
7. Early Church leaders speak about Purgatory.
   
   THis is hard stuff, go easy on yourself, it took me years

cheers
David MacDonald
www.CatholicBridge.com