The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a “purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven,” which is experienced by those “who die in …

Purgatory (Latin: purgatorium, borrowed into English via Anglo-Norman and Old French) [1] is a belief in Catholic theology. It is a passing intermediate state after physical death for purifying …

Dec 4, 2015 · Purgatory is the place where the soul is cleansed of all impurities, as Dante described in his great poem The Divine Comedy. Today purgatory can refer to any place or …

Purgatory is conceived as a condition of suffering and purification that leads to union with God in heaven.

Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences (Definition of purgatory from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Dec 18, 2025 · Purgatory, in Roman Catholicism, process or place of purification or temporary punishment in which souls in a state of grace are prepared for heaven.

Purgatory (in Roman Catholic teaching) a place or state in which the souls of dead people suffer for the bad things they did when they were living, so that they can become pure enough to go …

purgatory /ˈpɜːɡətərɪ -trɪ / n chiefly a state or place in which the souls of those who have died in a state of grace are believed to undergo a limited amount of suffering to expiate their venial sins …

Nov 3, 2025 · Purgatory, then, is the belief that when we die, we are not yet prepared to see God. A time of purification is needed in order to make us ready for the beatific vision (a direct self …

Nov 3, 2025 · In Catholic teaching, purgatory is taught as a refining place between heaven and hell. Explore its origin, Bible verses for and against it, and what different churches believe.