Jesus taught us about it, and for centuries the Church has faithfully defined and defended it. Protestants deny it even exists, while many Catholics fundamentally misunderstand it. It is Purgatory.

Purgatory, according to Catholic doctrine, is a temporary state where souls undergo purification before entering heaven. It is for those who have died in God’s grace but still need to be cleansed of venial sins or temporal punishment due to past sins. Purgatory is not a place of eternal damnation. It is instead a merciful process of purification, allowing souls to be fully sanctified. Prayers, Masses, and acts of penance offered by the living can assist the souls in purgatory. It reflects the belief in God’s justice and mercy, providing a final chance for spiritual refinement before eternal life.

In The Biblical Basis For Purgatory, author and apologist John Salza (Why Catholics Cannot Be Masons) offers the definitive scriptural explanation of this distinctively Catholic doctrine. Building on the teachings of Christ and St. Paul, he shows how the existence of a place of temporal punishment after death is not only a logical extension of what we know about the reality of sin and God’s justice, but also a supreme expression of God’s love and mercy.

Although Purgatory is a place of mercy, its pains are real, and they are severe. This book does more than defend and explain Purgatory. It provides a solid plan, drawn from the Church’s perennial wisdom, for conquering our sins by God’s grace while still on earth.