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III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory
1030All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeedassured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification,so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, whichis entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Churchformulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils ofFlorence and Trent. the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain textsof Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:
As for certain lesser faults,we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. Hewho is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will bepardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence weunderstand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certainothers in the age to come.
1032This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentionedin Sacred Scripture: "Therefore Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for thedead, that they might be delivered from their sin." From thebeginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers insuffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified,they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commendsalmsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
Let us help and commemoratethem. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would wedoubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us nothesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers forthem.