Good morning everyone! 
Hello! First, we must understand what Purgatory is.
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, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire.
The exact word 'Purgatory', just like the word 'Trinity' is not mentioned in the bible, but its existence is implied.
Purgatory is a term for 'place of cleansing fire', and the term 'cleansing fire' is mentioned in several bible verses.
Peter 1:7 But this is so that your faith. which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears.
Peter 3:19-20 It was in the spirit also that he went to preach to the spirits in prison. They had disobeyed as long ago as Noah's day, while God patiently waited until the ark was built. At that time, a few persons, eight in all, escaped in the ark through the water.
According to Peter 3:19-2, Christ went to preach to the souls in prison. This 'prison' can't be Heaven nor Hell. Heaven is certainly
not a prison, while preaching to the dammed would be fruitless. This hints of a third place in the afterlife which Christ went to, a place where the souls there are capable of receiving salvation.
sources:
Arguments Against Purgatory Considered by Kevin Tierney
http://www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/Articles/the_bible_teaches_purgatory.pdf
We don't worship the virgin Mary, we're honoring her status as the mother of God. You typed in your post with the assumption that the virgin Mary is still a human being, when in fact she is in the second and final stage of her existence. She is now the queen of Heaven and Earth.
We don't pray
to the virgin Mary, we ask her to pray for us. Lets examine the 'Hail Mary' prayer.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen.
Keep in mind that the above prayer is sent down from Heaven by
the Lord himself. The
angel Gabriel revealed the first part of this prayer while Elizabeth's contribution to the 2nd part of this prayer was inspired by the
Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:28 Upon arriving, the angel said to her: "Hail, full of grace, The Lord is with you!"
Luke 1:41-42 When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child in her womb leaped, and filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth exclaimed "Blessed are you among woman, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"
This prayer is merely a way to
honor the blessed mother. Saying that we worship the virgin Mary via this prayer is absurd, as that would mean God himself worshiped the virgin Mary!
Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.
This bible passage refers to 2 things:
- Jesus defeating Satan
- Mary becoming Satan's enemy.
God himself made the virgin Mary one of Satan's worse enemies, as shown by the bible verse quoted above. I don't think a lady tainted with sin would be able to remain as one of Satan's mortal adversaries.
Sources:
Why Catholics Believe in the Immaculate Conception
Check out these links. These are facebook pages which directly attack the mother of God.
https://www.facebook.com/VirginMaryShouldveAborted
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Virgin-Mary-STILL-Shouldve-Aborted/201911006639181
There are only two sides for us to join. We are either for God or against God;
which side are these fb pages on? Think about it,
Satan himself knows how powerful the virgin Mary is. Why else would he viciously attack her?
Understand that communicating with our family in Heaven is
not the same as summoning the dead or practicing sorcery! Advising people against contacting our own brothers and sisters in Heaven is just as absurd as saying that the Rosary is paganism!
@Angela and Pennd
Well, I'm sorry you both had that kind of experience with the Catholic church. I am surprised as I have yet to experience something like that.
Evidence.
May the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
