Have you ever wondered this? I have. And no one’s ever come back to tell us, or have they? Turns out the Catholic Church has ample evidence that some have come back for a visit. Once you believe that your soul enters an eternity absent of a physical presence, it’s quite natural to wonder where you might travel to. The correct answer may depend on what you got yourself involved in when you had a physical presence right? I mean that statement makes a ton of sense to me anyway. I’m certainly more curious than expert on this subject so I read a book about it. The book includes several pieces of evidence for lack of a better term, evidence that has been kept secure by the Catholic church in some cases for centuries. Their official position seems to be that there is such a thing as “purgatory”? Purgatory being the purification process that a soul must enter and complete prior to being in the everlasting presence of God. This purgatory state can be different for many and Catholics are told to pray for those souls who must go through a purgatory. This begs the question, “Is purgatory the same as the “Hell” that we have heard of all our lives should we fail to live life in a manner considered holy enough on Earth?” Thus far it is difficult to determine the exact difference between the two with one exception – purgatory itself is considered somewhat temporary whereas “hell” can be made permanent [for some].

Suffice to say that from what I read, very few of us can ascend from this life on Earth and go directly to the promised life eternal in the presence of God, in other words having achieved full access to and benefits of everything Heaven has to offer. If I go to purgatory do they have YouTube TV and internet access yet? And maybe dark chocolate along with a good Malbec or two? One needs to know I think. But back to a more realist view – apparently from the material in this book great human suffering along with great joy, described as “blissful joy” is awaiting those of us who must enter the purgatory portal. We will be given a taste of the overwhelming greatness and glory, that of being in the presence of God, but again we are unable to access it prior to earning some purification of the soul to atone for all our sins committed on this Earth… it’s enough to make those warnings from parents about not eating everything on our plates and/or staying up past our bedtime pale in comparison! 😊

I will end with this, I do believe the subject is interesting enough for curious minds like mine to spend some time contemplating its existence (by divine design). That said, and I myself falling well short of what could be described as a “devout” Catholic, given all that, still I do believe some good arguments can be had for the existence of a purgatory, especially after having recently read commentary on the entirety of the Holy Bible. In my most humble opinions, purgatory could certainly play a part in filling that knowledge void we all share regarding what exactly happens to us when we die…