It is truly sad to me that so many do not believe in Purgatory, I recently read a book on St. Padre Pio, one can only wonder why as he is a man of recent past,that what transpired in his life can not be believed. I believe in Purgatory and the Holy Souls and their ability to help us when in need. Even though I am middleaged and yet a young Catholic, I find it hard to understand ones considered "Cradle Catholic" and their lack of belief in their own religion and its concepts.

I think the problem lies in the lack of knowledge of Catholics. Once they finish their catechisms in their youth, they stop learning. Most Catholics know very little of their faith and doctrines aren't taught enough in homilies during Mass. If you compare Protestant sermons, they are full of doctrines.

I spoke to a priest about this and he said that Catholics aren't interested in being taught doctrines during Mass, which is why homilies are predominantly focused on how to live the Christian life. I don't agree with his view on Catholics. I believe that the average Catholic wants to learn doctrines just as much as Protestants do.

Jesus said that "you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). You need to understand your faith in order to love God with all of your mind.

If Catholics truly understood what Purgatory was about, they would have a greater devotion to helping the holy souls there.

Being Catholic is hard work and so many who were cradle Catholic are somewhat Prodestant in their belief that what ever they do will be forgiven because they are Catholic and only need to enter into confesion with their sins and just do it over again, hense Purgatory to them just seems a"Oh well it just means I got to stay there longer" so just be happy and go on as if it doesnt matter. As an ex-Prodestant turned Athiest then Confirmed as a Catholic, having met so many Catholics with that behavior it never dawned on me how wrong these folk were until I was in my middle aged years.

Priests being human make mistakes and also carry their own belief on how being Catholic is defined. I have found no two Priests are the same in how they define their religion but having been to both VAT 1 and VAT II masses, Vatican II as far as I am concerned destroyed the mass and the belief of Purgatory. VAT II may have been a good intention but you know what is said of good intentions.