Day 140: Purgatory and Hell

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. CCC 1030

In today's reading, the Catechism speaks of the final purgation some of the saved will undergo in Purgatory, and more ominously, the eternal damnation others will face in Hell. For the former, such purification is available only for the saved and not the damned. It was this doctrine that Martin Luther objected to, among other things, 'uncanonizing' 2 Maccabees because of what was found therein about obvious purification after death (2 Macc 12:38-45). We see such belief in purification after death for the saved in the Church's earliest days, even though the language took a while to work out. Hence why the Catechism quotes from St. John Chrysostom referring to Job 1:5:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them. CCC 1032

As for the "why" of Purgatory, the Catechism Companion, Vol II notes:

The Catholic view emphasizes justification that transforms our hearts. We are called to cooperate with God's grace. Purgatory is a process of purification to remove attachments and enable a deep love for God, leading to the beatific vision. (p. 44)

We don't know for certain whether Purgatory is a place or state of being, or maybe occurs within a short period after death, etc. What we do know is that some kind of purification does occur.  It is that process, for lack of a better word, that is doctrinally held to be Purgatory.

The remaining option is for the damned: Hell. It is the worst of fates freely chosen by those who love their sin more than God. Perhaps the most chilling of verses from the New Testament is found in Matthew 25:41: "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." To hear that from Christ after death and "men will weep and gnash their teeth" (Matt 22:13). This is no joke, for there will be no appeal, no "do-overs", no anything at such point. This is why "the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want 'any to perish, but all to come to repentance'". In stark contrast to the cruel teachings of some, the Church emphasizes that Hell is freely chosen because "God predestines no one to go to hell" (CCC 1037).

The Catholic Compendium summarizes how we can understand the existence of Hell with the infinite good of God:

God, while desiring “all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), nevertheless has created the human person to be free and responsible; and he respects our decisions. Therefore, it is the human person who freely excludes himself from communion with God if at the moment of death he persists in mortal sin and refuses the merciful love of God. (#213)

Purgatory, by Peter Paul Rubens. Top: Trinity, with Mary; Middle: Angels; Lower: purified souls being pulled up towards heaven; Bottom: souls in non-fiery purgation