Thanks for your explanation and the link. This is by the same author as the pamphlet that I linked to, Fr. O'Sullivan. This one is a good general explanation of Purgatory. The one I gave earlier in the thread was specifically on avoiding Purgatory. It talks about how to avoid sin in the first place and, when one does sin, to do penance. I found both helpful and I hope they clear up the subject for 800 Cruiser. I wish that I had been given information like this when I was a new Catholic, but this is not the sort of thing that people talk about much in the Novus Ordo.
I have been enjoying these threads that 800 Cruiser has been starting. It's a great way to review to truths of the Faith. His posts have reminded me of when I was new to traditional Catholicism and trad forums. You may remember what I was like then, Stubborn. I wish that I had had the humility to ask questions like 800 Cruiser does, instead of thinking that I knew it all and arguing with everyone.
Yes, as children, we read and were read many books by Fr. O'Sullivan - he has a ton of excellent little books, I think most are for children, which are often just what new converts to the faith need. And yes, I too enjoy these threads from 800 Cruiser, I have always liked trying to discuss fundamental truths of our faith in the simplest terms possible, heck, doing so helps my faith.
And yes, I remember those days, but you've done well in that department since those days - Deo Gratias!
All the religious education in the world means nothing, if we do not know our faith, and if we know our faith, all the religious education in the world has it's place, yet comparatively still means very little - and whatever knowledge is attained can be a very dangerous thing - without the faith. Without faith, it is impossible to avoid purgatory because it is impossible to love God, yet the greater our faith, the more, as if in tandem, our love of God grows. The more our love of God grows, the more we strive to please and be with Him, hopefully the less we sin and the better our chances are to shorten our time in purgatory.