Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Medieval and Modern (Dis)Connection: Today

The doctrine of the modern Catholic Church has remained true to the medieval definition and doctrine of purgatory as well as the sacrament of penance. First, in the canon of purgatory, modern doctrine continues the perception of Heaven as perfect and the complete elimination and absence of sin, therefore rejecting the admittance of those still imperfect and blemished by sin. Purgatory, thus, in the modern mind, continues to be necessary for the purging of souls still not completely unrepentant. Today’s church defines this idea of a blemished soul as the concept of peccati reliquiae. It explains the plight of all Christians as sinful creatures and the necessity of purification before God’s glories can be enjoyed in eternal paradise.
The modern doctrine has gone on to redefine the journey of one’s soul into three “churches,” with church being defined as a fellowship or group of believers in Christ Jesus. The first church is called the Church Militant. This stage defines man’s struggle against sin here on Earth. The second stage is referred to as the Church Suffering. This church consists of those souls being purged of their remaining sins in purgatory. The final church and stage for the soul is the Church Glorious and consists of those souls in Heaven.
On the practical level of modern Catholics, the doctrine and concept of purgatory is still accepted and regarded as Biblical truth. It is safe to say, however, that the modern mind has lost some of its fanciful ideas in the business of the technological world. Literature about the Wild Horde is no longer prominent and monasteries are no longer founded for the purpose of intercessory prayer. However, intercession still finds its place in modern Catholicism and is much apart of the Catholic Church today as in the Middle Ages.

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