Purgatorial Fire: Biblical and Historical

Interestingly enough, only two paragraphs out of the 900-page Catechism of the Catholic Church are dedicated to the doctrine of Purgatory. The word “purgatory” is not found in the Bible, but neither is the word “trinity” or “incarnation” or even the word “bible” itself. Like the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation, the doctrine of Purgatory is implicit, not explicit. The teaching that there is a purification process after death is both biblical and apostolic. Below is the Church's formal definition of Purgatory, one key passage from the Bible regarding it, and commentaries by Church Fathers.

From the Catechism

All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1030-1031).

From the Bible

Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble—each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire (1 Cor 3:12-15).

From the Fathers

Would you enter into heaven with your wood and hay and stubble and thus defile the kingdom of God; or on account of these hindrances would you remain without and receive no reward for your gold and silver and precious stones; neither is this just. It remains then that you be committed to the fire which will burn the light materials; for our God to those who can comprehend heavenly things is called a cleansing fire. But this fire consumes not the creature, but what the creature has himself built, wood, and hay and stubble. It is manifest that the fire destroys the wood of our transgressions and then returns to us the reward of our great works (Origen of Alexandria, Homilies on Jeremias, c. AD 244).

For although these words may be understood of the fire of tribulation, which men suffer in this world: yet if any will interpret them of the fire of Purgatory, which shall be in the next life: then must he carefully consider, that the Apostle said not that he may be saved by fire, that builds upon this foundation iron, brass, or lead, that is, the greater sort of sins, and therefore more hard, and consequently not remissible in that place: but wood, hay, stubble, that is, little and very light sins, which the fire does easily consume. Yet we have here further to consider, that none can be there purged, no, not for the least sins that be, unless in his lifetime he deserved by virtuous works to find such favor in that place (St. Gregory the Great, Dialogues 4:39, c. AD 590).

But also, when God will judge the just, it is likewise in fire that he will try them. At that time, they whose sins are uppermost, either because of their gravity or their number, will be drawn together by the fire and will be burned. Those, however, who have been imbued with full justice and maturity of virtue, will not feel that fire; for they have something of God in them which will repel and turn back the strength of the flame (St. Lactantius, Divine Institutes 7:21:6, c. AD 307).

The early Church never accepted the belief that, in each and every instance, a righteous one would immediately enjoy the beatific vision after death. This is evident by the common practices of offering good works and praying for the dead, as well as the witness of many early Church Fathers. Also, the Church does not teach that Purgatory is a literal fire. Fire is a symbolic image for purification. Pope Benedict once commented on Purgatory, stating that the purgatorial fire is simply an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Here is a cool video: Is the Fire of Purgatory Jesus Himself?