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Purgatory Is for Real: Good News About the Afterlife for Those Who Aren't Perfect Yet
To many people, even many Christians, purgatory is a fantasy or worse, a wicked lie invented by the Church to make salvation complicated and keep people in fear. But apologist Karlo Broussard says that purgatory is fact, not fiction. The Bible supports it, Christians have historically believed in it, and it makes theological sense. In Purgatory Is for Real, he provides the evidence and reasoning to help you understand this controversial doctrine, and demonstrates how it is actually a joyful, hopeful reality not something shadowy and mysterious, but a sign of God s love and mercy.
208 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 29, 2021
I picked this up on a whim, thinking it'd be a good Sunday read (which it was). I've heard Karlo Broussard as a guest on Catholic radio quite a bit, but I hadn't read any of his books before.
It was good! It's split into three sections: one on Purgatory in non-Catholic traditions, one on Biblical support for Purgatory, and one exploring the Magisterium's teachings on Purgatory from the early Church on. My favorite part was probably Section 3. I found the chapter "Thinking Through the Theology of Purgatory" especially helpful.
I feel like the concept of Purgatory is way simpler than a lot of Protestants (or Catholics, for that matter) realize, and that it's only the imaginative portrayal of Purgatory, which may be traditional but is not actually Catholic doctrine (i.e. Dante), which gets in the way of our being able to just universally agree as Christians that it makes sense. Y'know? I especially love Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's explanation of the fires of Purgatory as the gaze of Christ. In His presence, our sinfulness just burns away. It makes sense, y'know?
The book seems to be targeted at Catholics who want to be able to argue effectively for Purgatory if it ever comes up in conversation with non-Catholics. (I suppose a non-Catholic could find it very informative, too, but I can easily imagine a non-Catholic getting annoyed by all the times it says this or that issue is outside the scope of this book. When it comes to things like the Books of Maccabees being Scripture, it's very much a jumping-off point for further study rather than an extensive exploration of Catholic doctrine.)
It was good! It's split into three sections: one on Purgatory in non-Catholic traditions, one on Biblical support for Purgatory, and one exploring the Magisterium's teachings on Purgatory from the early Church on. My favorite part was probably Section 3. I found the chapter "Thinking Through the Theology of Purgatory" especially helpful.
I feel like the concept of Purgatory is way simpler than a lot of Protestants (or Catholics, for that matter) realize, and that it's only the imaginative portrayal of Purgatory, which may be traditional but is not actually Catholic doctrine (i.e. Dante), which gets in the way of our being able to just universally agree as Christians that it makes sense. Y'know? I especially love Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's explanation of the fires of Purgatory as the gaze of Christ. In His presence, our sinfulness just burns away. It makes sense, y'know?
The book seems to be targeted at Catholics who want to be able to argue effectively for Purgatory if it ever comes up in conversation with non-Catholics. (I suppose a non-Catholic could find it very informative, too, but I can easily imagine a non-Catholic getting annoyed by all the times it says this or that issue is outside the scope of this book. When it comes to things like the Books of Maccabees being Scripture, it's very much a jumping-off point for further study rather than an extensive exploration of Catholic doctrine.)
November 13, 2020
Ever since I first heard Karlo Brousard was writing a book on purgatory, I have looked forward to reading it.
Certainly in the last four years, the idea of purgatory has become more than a doctrine for me, but a daily lived experience of praying for the souls of the dead. Not that I had not done this before, it just became more immediate for me.
I wanted to see what further insights I might glean from this book.
Not surprisingly for a book published by Catholic Answers it leans towards apologetics and answering Protestant objections. Of course, purgatory is a doctrine denied by the large majority of Protestants. Still, I found it to be a beneficial read since answering objections always clarifies what the Church teaches on purgatory.
Interestingly, the book starts with an examining the concept of postmortem final purification in other non-Christian religions. One of the thrusts of this book is to open up readers to the idea that this is not just a Catholic idiosyncratic theological view. While the fact that other religions had some aspect of this idea does not prove the doctrine, this and viewpoints by some Protestants, shows the reasonable grounds to consider the idea.
While Karlo does not take up this line of argumentation, it seems to me many non-Catholics have a view of a sort of quasi-purgatory. That many would agree with Revelation 21:27 that nothing unclean shall enter heaven and stipulate that if they were to die now that they would need God to clean them up. We can naturally grasp out sinfulness and the disparity in entering the beatific vision and the immediate knowledge of God.
He then lays the groundwork with several premises regarding the state of our soul upon death and what conclusions these lead to in regard to this doctrine.
The chapters ahead discuss the support of the concept of purgatory in the Old Testament, Jesus, and then Paul's teachings. Addressing some common objections and then looking at what the Church Fathers and what other early ecclesiastical writers had to say. Capping this off with a deeper look into the theology. What the Church has infallibly defined about purgatory is actually rather limited in that it exists, that there are purifying punishments to remove the debt of remaining sins, and once purified the person will enter heaven. There is also some development of doctrine occurring in this area as recently as Pope Benedict XVI encylical [Spe Salvi][spe].
This book was as good as I expected it would be and it delivered more. I liked the appendix with a small sample of stories of the saints in regard to purgatory.
I found much to deepen my own knowledge and to reflect on. Another theme in this book regards joy and this doctrine. The pains of purgatory can be overemphasized with us not reflecting on how this is another aspect of God's love for us.
I find much comfort in praying for the souls of my family and for others. That this is a spiritual act of mercy. That while it is certainly true that their prayers for us are beneficial for us, I just do not feel mercenary in asking their prayers since it is not my primary motive.
I also like that there is a sense where we are entering God's "time" in that the prayers of the dead are never late. We have no idea if our loved ones are now in Heaven and can thus stop praying for them. Yet even if they are indeed in Heaven our prayers enter into God's "time" and can be applied to them or for others as God sees fit. Sure I wish for a mechanistic way to know they are no longer in purgatory like a bell announcing and Angel getting its wings. Plus it is difficult to keep praying for my wife almost like it would be an insult to think she is still in purgatory. Yeah, that is stupid - but still.
I will stop here since this review is too long as it is. It is just I so enjoyed this book that I want to keep talking about it and what the Church teaches on it.
Certainly in the last four years, the idea of purgatory has become more than a doctrine for me, but a daily lived experience of praying for the souls of the dead. Not that I had not done this before, it just became more immediate for me.
I wanted to see what further insights I might glean from this book.
Not surprisingly for a book published by Catholic Answers it leans towards apologetics and answering Protestant objections. Of course, purgatory is a doctrine denied by the large majority of Protestants. Still, I found it to be a beneficial read since answering objections always clarifies what the Church teaches on purgatory.
Interestingly, the book starts with an examining the concept of postmortem final purification in other non-Christian religions. One of the thrusts of this book is to open up readers to the idea that this is not just a Catholic idiosyncratic theological view. While the fact that other religions had some aspect of this idea does not prove the doctrine, this and viewpoints by some Protestants, shows the reasonable grounds to consider the idea.
While Karlo does not take up this line of argumentation, it seems to me many non-Catholics have a view of a sort of quasi-purgatory. That many would agree with Revelation 21:27 that nothing unclean shall enter heaven and stipulate that if they were to die now that they would need God to clean them up. We can naturally grasp out sinfulness and the disparity in entering the beatific vision and the immediate knowledge of God.
He then lays the groundwork with several premises regarding the state of our soul upon death and what conclusions these lead to in regard to this doctrine.
The chapters ahead discuss the support of the concept of purgatory in the Old Testament, Jesus, and then Paul's teachings. Addressing some common objections and then looking at what the Church Fathers and what other early ecclesiastical writers had to say. Capping this off with a deeper look into the theology. What the Church has infallibly defined about purgatory is actually rather limited in that it exists, that there are purifying punishments to remove the debt of remaining sins, and once purified the person will enter heaven. There is also some development of doctrine occurring in this area as recently as Pope Benedict XVI encylical [Spe Salvi][spe].
This book was as good as I expected it would be and it delivered more. I liked the appendix with a small sample of stories of the saints in regard to purgatory.
I found much to deepen my own knowledge and to reflect on. Another theme in this book regards joy and this doctrine. The pains of purgatory can be overemphasized with us not reflecting on how this is another aspect of God's love for us.
I find much comfort in praying for the souls of my family and for others. That this is a spiritual act of mercy. That while it is certainly true that their prayers for us are beneficial for us, I just do not feel mercenary in asking their prayers since it is not my primary motive.
I also like that there is a sense where we are entering God's "time" in that the prayers of the dead are never late. We have no idea if our loved ones are now in Heaven and can thus stop praying for them. Yet even if they are indeed in Heaven our prayers enter into God's "time" and can be applied to them or for others as God sees fit. Sure I wish for a mechanistic way to know they are no longer in purgatory like a bell announcing and Angel getting its wings. Plus it is difficult to keep praying for my wife almost like it would be an insult to think she is still in purgatory. Yeah, that is stupid - but still.
I will stop here since this review is too long as it is. It is just I so enjoyed this book that I want to keep talking about it and what the Church teaches on it.
December 4, 2021
The author gives logical evidence for purgatory from the Bible, the early church, and sources outside the church. Then he shows how the church's teaching on purgatory should lead us to more holy living now.
January 26, 2023
Pretty good book for developing a better understanding of purgatory, though it seems aimed more at apologetic pursuits than that of personal edification, although the two do go hand in hand.
February 2, 2025
The book is well-written, but it was not what I expected. It mainly focused on how to convince Protestants that Purgatory is real. I was hoping for something that would help me convince my fellow Catholics that it's not something to be afraid of. I would also have liked to learn more about how to be ready for it while still striving for Heaven. More about what the saints have said about it would also have been good.
November 12, 2020
Great book! Karlo Broussard does great research and proves without a doubt the Church is correct on Purgatory. Do not read this book if you unless you are willing to admit the Church is correct on Purgatory! God bless!
April 27, 2021
Very in-depth book about Purgatory. Very annoying, though, that on the Kindle version the footnotes are not linked.
November 17, 2023
A fabulous book on purgatory and why it exists using Sacred Scripture, early Church history, and theology.
March 21, 2024
this is a very detailed and tedious book. I did like learning how our Church proves purgatory is real; the verses they use and their discussions/arguments for vs against.
November 4, 2025
Very worth reading because Purgatory is a reality so relevant to us… and excellent apologetics and spiritual takeaways!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews