1215 The Roman Catholic Church Officially Backs the Doctrine of Purgatory

1215 The Roman Catholic Church Officially Backs the Doctrine of Purgatory

In 1215 the Fourth Lateran Council officially declared the Roman Catholic Church’s belief in the doctrine of purgatory. This was the idea that most people did not proceed directly to heaven when they died, but spent time in an unpleasant waiting area where they suffered and were purged of their sins. To lessen the time a soul spent in purgatory it was important to lead a good life, sincerely confess sins, and have prayers and masses said after death. In the late Middle Ages a number of churches in Fife were adapted to make space for more altars where chaplains could perform masses and prayers for the dead. Most ranks of Scottish society from kings down to craftsmen invested in prayers for the souls of the dead.

timelineoffifesreli

1215

egsr@st-andrews.ac.uk

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07/15/2021 10:46:23 am

Sacred Landscapes of Fife

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