purgatorium
Purgatory
The final purification of those who die in God's friendship but still imperfectly purified, so that they may enter heaven; not a second chance and not a lesser hell.
a place of cleansing
Nothing unclean enters heaven, and most of us die still attached to sin in small ways. Purgatory is the purification that removes those attachments so that the soul can see God face to face. Everyone in purgatory is saved and certain of heaven; what remains is cleansing, which the Catechism says is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church has always prayed for the dead, as Judas Maccabeus did, and our prayers, almsgiving, indulgences and above all the Mass can help them.
Councils
Where the Church settled or debated this. Follow a council to read our article on it, or the decrees themselves.
- 1274Second Council of Lyonthe decrees
- 1431–1445Council of Basel–Ferrara–Florencethe decrees
- 1545–1563Council of Trentthe decrees
Sources checked 29 September 2026