Purgatory_SCHOUPPE - the Catholic Kingdom!

viAUTHORS PREFACE.life beyond the tomb, this intermediate state of the justsouls, not yet worthy to enter the Heavenly Jerusalem.This is the object of the present work : we propose notto prove the existence of Purgatory to sceptical minds, butto make it better known to the pious faithful who believewith a divine faith this dogma revealed of God. It is tothem, properly speaking, that this book is addressed, to givethem a less confused idea of Purgatory. I say purposelya dearer idea than people generally have, by placing thisgreat truth in the strongest possible light.To produce this effect we possess three very distinctsources of light:first, the dogmatic doctrine of the Church ;then the doctrine as explained by the doctors of the Church;in the third place, the revelations and apparitions ofthe saints, which serve to confirm the teachings of thedoctors.1. The dogmatic doctrine of the Church on the subjectof Purgatory comprises two articles, of which we shallspeak later on. 1 These two articles are of faith, and mustbe believed by every Catholic.2. The teaching of the doctors and theologians, or rathertheir opinions on several questions relative to Purgatory,and theirexplanations of them, are not imposed as articlesof faith ;2we are free to reject them without ceasingto be Catholic. Nevertheless, it would be imprudent,and even rash, to reject them, and it is the spirit of theChurch to follow the opinions commonly held by thedoctors.3.The revelations of the saints, called also particularrevelations, do not belong to the deposit of faith confided by Jesus Church to His Church ; theyfacts, based upon human testimony.them, and piety finds wholesome food in them.are historicalIt ispermitted to believeWe may,1Sec Chap. iii. ~See also lower down, Chap. iii.Private Use Only