The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

84-8 OF PURGATORY.and is the scene of the same torments, as the region immediatelybeneath it, but with this important difference, thatthose consigned to it remain here only for a while.* It isthe doctrine of the Church of Rome, that no one entersheaven immediately on his departure. A short purgationamid the fires of purgatory is indispensable in the case ofall, unless perhaps of those who are protected by a mryspecial and most plenary indulgence. Even the pontiffs themselves,infallible though they be, must take purgatory in theirway, and pass a certain period amid its fires, before beingworthy to appear at those gates at which St Peter keepswatch. All who die in mortal sin,—and of all mortal sins,heresy and the want of money to buy an indulgence arethe most mortal,—are at once consigned to hell. Thosewho die in a state of grace, with the remission of the guiltof all their mortal sins, go to purgatory, where they arepurified from the stain of venialsins, and endure the temporarypunishment which remainswhich may be borne either in this life or in the next.due for their mortal offences.For it is a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church,that even after God has remitted the guilt and the eternalpunishment of sin, a temporary punishment remains due,Withoutthis doctrine it would scarce be possible to maintainpurgatory; and without purgatory, who would buy indulgencesand masses ? and without indulgences and masses,how could the coffers of the Pope be replenished ? The sojournis longer or shorter in purgatory, according to circumstances,beingdependent mainly upon the amount of satisfactionto be given. But the period may be much shortenedby the efforts made in behalf of the deceased by his friendson earth ; for the Church teaches that souls detained in thatstate are helped by the suffrages of the faithful, that is, bythe prayers and alms offered for them, and principally bythe indulgences and masses purchased for their benefit.-f** For a succinct and graphic account of the various torments with whichPapists have filled purgatory, see Edgar's Variations of Popery, pp. 452-460.t Sec the common catechisms of the Church of Home.