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How is purgatory different from heaven and hell in Roman Catholic belief?
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purgatory
Anastasis (Christ ascending from hell), apse fresco, c. 1320; in the Church of the Holy Saviour at the Monastery of the Chora (now the Kariye Museum), Istanbul.
In Roman Catholic belief, the distinction between purgatory, heaven, and hell is defined by the state of the soul and the finality of its condition:
- Purgatory: This is a state or process of purification for those who die in a state of grace but are not yet prepared for the presence of God. It is a temporary condition of suffering that serves to make souls ready for heaven.1
- Heaven: This represents the fulfillment of the life of grace, where the destiny of humankind is to share in the divine life of the Trinity.2
- Hell: This is characterized by the state of eternal separation from God, which the church identifies as the primary punishment of the "eternal fire".2
While earlier traditions often depicted these as physical places, modern theology largely views these concepts as states of being, recognizing the allegorical nature of traditional imagery. Unlike the temporary nature of purgatory, hell is viewed as a state of everlasting damnation.21