Bittersweet Purgatory

Well, at least the featured AI pic is cool.

So Sayeth the Google: Purgatory is a Roman Catholic doctrine describing a post-death process of purification for souls that are not yet perfect enough to enter heaven. Souls in purgatory are in God’s friendship but must be cleansed of attachment to sin before they can reach God’s presence. This purification involves temporary punishment and suffering, but it is not eternal, and those in purgatory are guaranteed salvation.

What Purgatory Is

A State of Purification: Purgatory is a final purification, not a permanent place of punishment, that ensures souls are fully cleansed of sin’s temporal effects before entering heaven.
For Souls in God’s Grace: It is for those who die in God’s grace and friendship, but are still imperfectly purified from venial sins or attachments to sin.
Not an Alternative to Salvation: Purgatory is not a second chance at salvation but a necessary step for those who are already destined for heaven.
An Act of God’s Love: The concept of purgatory is seen as a sign of God’s continuing love, providing a way for imperfect souls to reach the perfection required for God’s presence.

What Happens in Purgatory

Purification: Souls undergo a painful but ultimately beneficial process of purification and cleansing.
Suffering of Remorse and Longing: The primary suffering in purgatory is the pain of remorse and longing for God, which brings souls closer to divine love.
Expiation: Souls make satisfaction for past sins and for the temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven.

Key Aspects

Biblical Basis: The concept of purification after death has ancient roots, with the idea of purification found in both the Old and New Testaments.
Not Eternal: Purgatory is a temporary state, and souls there are assured of eventual entry into heaven.
Suffrages of the Faithful: The prayers and sacrifices of the faithful on Earth can help the souls in purgatory.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m not religious. As I’ve said in past posts, I believe in the validity of all faiths and none (and again, I stole this from Granny Sidhé). What I relate to here is my own Bittersweet Purgatory is the current existence that is my relationship with The Boyfriend. Granny Sidhé did point out that “Bittersweet” is redundant, as Purgatory itself is such. But it just… sounds more effective in my head?

All the same, it is where we are. He needs to work on himself and, even with check-in last night (where we discussed what it would look like if he decided this relationship wasn’t serving him – because necessary…), I must wait in Purgatory for my fate.

And while I do, here’s some music about Purgatory, a little bit of a variety: a couple hard metal (that 2nd one though 😲), the 4th one – electronic – slaps (for me, lol 😍), a couple of rock classics (yay Pink Floyd! 💖) that I love and are… close enough (?), and a country one for you other weirdos 😜.