Course Overview

Karlo Broussard helps you understand and explain to others that purgatory isn’t contrary to Scripture, nor is it some fantastical dogma that Rome invented. Rather, it is rooted in biblical truth and the faith and practice of the earliest Christians.
Course Overview

You can do this!

This course on Purgatory contains 48 short, easy-to-watch video segments, so you can study at your own pace.

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Skills covered in this course:

Karlo Broussard shows you how the Catholic teaching on purgatory is rooted in Scripture and Tradition, and how to defend this essential doctrine. You’ll learn that:

  • The Old Testament reveals Jewish belief in post-mortem remission of sins.

  • In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus affirms post-mortem temporary punishment and post-mortem remission of sins.

  • St. Paul teaches a post-mortem purification that involves suffering on account of venial sins.

  • Extra-biblical sources reveal that the first Christians prayed for the dead and believed in post-mortem purgation and punishments.

Watch a Free Sample Lesson

Did Jesus teach the concept of Purgatory? Karlo Broussard explains.


Course curriculum

  • 1
    Introduction
  • 2
    Purgatory and Other Religious Traditions
    • Lesson 02: Purgatory in Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and Tengrism
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and Tengrism
    • Lesson 03: Purgatory in Greco-Roman Belief  

    • Quiz: Purgatory in Greco–Roman Belief
    • Lesson 04: Purgatory in Judaism
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Judaism
    • Lesson 05: Purgatory in Orthodox Christianity  

    • Quiz: Purgatory in Orthodox Christianity
    • Lesson 06: Purgatory in Protestantism—Part I 

    • Quiz: Purgatory in Protestantism (Part I)
    • Lesson 07: Purgatory in Protestantism—Part II 

    • Quiz: Purgatory in Protestantism (Part II)
  • 3
    Purgatory and the Bible
    • Lesson 08: Purgatory Implied By Revealed Principles—Part I
    • Quiz: Purgatory Implied by Revealed Principles (Part I)
    • Lesson 09: Purgatory Implied By Revealed Principles—Part II
    • Quiz: Purgatory Implied by Revealed Principles (Part II)
    • Lesson 10: Purgatory Implied By Revealed Principles—Part III
    • Quiz: Purgatory Implied by Revealed Principles (Part III)
    • Lesson 11: Purgatory Implied By Revealed Principles—Part IV
    • Quiz: Purgatory Implied by Revealed Principles (Part IV)
    • Lesson 12: Purgatory in the Old Testament: 2 Maccabees. 12:38-45—Part I
    • Quiz: Purgatory in the Old Testament: 2 Maccabees 12:38–45 (Part I)
    • Lesson 13: Purgatory in the Old Testament: 2 Maccabees. 12:38-45—Part II
    • Quiz: Purgatory in the Old Testament: 2 Maccabees 12:38–45 (Part II)
    • Lesson 14: Purgatory in the Old Testament: 2 Maccabees. 12:38-45—Part III
    • Quiz: Purgatory in the Old Testament: 2 Maccabees 12:38–45 (Part III)
    • Lesson 15: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 5:25-26—Part I
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 5:25–26 (Part I)
    • Lesson 16: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 5:25-26—Part II
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 5:25–26 (Part II)
    • Lesson 17: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 12:32—Part I
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 12:32 (Part I)
    • Lesson 18: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 12:32—Part II
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 12:32 (Part II)
    • Lesson 19: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 12:32—Part III
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Jesus’ Teaching: Matthew 12:32 (Part III)
    • Lesson 20: Purgatory in Paul’s Teaching: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15—Part I
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Paul’s Teaching: 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (Part I)
    • Lesson 21: Purgatory in Paul’s Teaching: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15—Part II
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Paul’s Teaching: 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (Part II)
    • Lesson 22: Purgatory in Paul’s Teaching: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15—Part III
    • Quiz: Purgatory in Paul’s Teaching: 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (Part III)
  • 4
    Purgatory and Early Christian Testimony
    • Lesson 23: The Importance of Early Christian Testimony
    • Quiz: The Importance of Early Christian Testimony
    • Lesson 24: Prayers For the Dead in the Early Church
    • Quiz: Prayers for the Dead in the Early Church
    • Lesson 25: Postmortem Purgation and Temporal Punishment in the Early Church—Part I
    • Quiz: Postmortem Purgation and Temporal Punishment in the Early Church (Part I)
    • Lesson 26: Postmortem Purgation and Temporal Punishment in the Early Church—Part II
    • Quiz: Postmortem Purgation and Temporal Punishment in the Early Church (Part II)
  • 5
    Purgatory and the Magisterium
    • Lesson 27: Gregory the Great, Innocent IV, the Council of Lyons II, Benedict XII
    • Quiz: Gregory the Great, Innocent IV, Council of Lyons II, Benedict XII
    • Lesson 28: The Council of Florence and Leo X
    • Quiz: The Council of Florence and Leo X
    • Lesson 29: The Council of Trent, Paul VI, and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
    • Quiz: The Council of Trent, Paul VI, and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
    • Lesson 30: The Catechism of the Catholic Church, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI
    • Quiz: The Catechism of the Catholic Church, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI
  • 6
    Purgatory and the Testimony of the Saints
    • Lesson 31: Saints and Their Direct Experiences of Purgatory
    • Quiz: Saints and Their Direct Experiences of Purgatory
    • Lesson 32: Saints and Their Indirect Experiences of Purgatory
    • Quiz: Saints and Their Indirect Experiences of Purgatory
  • 7
    Thinking Through the Theology of Purgatory
    • Lesson 33: The State of the Souls in Purgatory
    • Quiz: The State of the Souls in Purgatory
    • Lesson 34: The Objects of Purification in Purgatory—Part I
    • Quiz: The Objects of Purification in Purgatory (Part I)
    • Lesson 35: The Objects of Purification in Purgatory—Part II
    • Quiz: The Objects of Purification in Purgatory (Part II)
    • Lesson 36: The Nature of Suffering in Purgatory— Part I
    • Quiz: The Nature of Suffering in Purgatory (Part I)
    • Lesson 37: The Nature of Suffering in Purgatory— Part II
    • Quiz: The Nature of Suffering in Purgatory (Part II)
    • Lesson 38: The Duration and Place of Purgatory
    • Quiz: The Duration and Place of Purgatory
    • Lesson 39: The Relation the Souls Have With Us and We With Them—Part I
    • Quiz: The Relation the Souls Have with Us and We with Them (Part I)
    • Lesson 40: The Relation the Souls Have With Us and We With Them—Part II
    • Quiz: The Relation the Souls Have with Us and We with Them (Part II)
  • 8
    Purgatory and Common Protestant Objections
    • Lesson 41: The Bible Teaches That the Saved Enter Heaven Immediately After Death—Part I  

    • Quiz: The Bible Teaches That the Saved Enter Heaven Immediately after Death (Part I)
    • Lesson 42: The Bible Teaches That the Saved Enter Heaven Immediately After Death—Part II
    • Quiz: The Bible Teaches That the Saved Enter Heaven Immediately after Death (Part II)
    • Lesson 43: The Doctrine of Purgatory Has to Be Inferred From Scripture
    • Quiz: The Doctrine of Purgatory Has to Be Inferred from Scripture
    • Lesson 44: Purgatory is Superfluous Because of the Imputed Righteousness of Christ
    • Quiz: Purgatory Is Superfluous Because of the Imputed Righteousness of Christ
  • 9
    The Good News About Purgatory
    • Lesson 45: A Joyful Truth: The Doctrine of Purgatory Consoles Believers
    • Quiz: A Joyful Truth: The Doctrine of Purgatory Consoles Believers
    • Lesson 46: A Joyful Truth: The Sufferings of Purgatory Are Bound up with Joys Beyond This World
    • Quiz: A Joyful Truth: The Sufferings of Purgatory Are Bound up with Joys Beyond This World
    • Lesson 47: A Joyful Truth: The Doctrine of Purgatory Inspires the Pursuit of Holiness
    • Quiz: A Joyful Truth: Purgatory Inspires the Pursuit of Holiness
    • Lesson 48: Conclusion
    • Quiz: Conclusion

Meet Your Instructor

  • Karlo Broussard

    Instructor

    Karlo Broussard

    Karlo Broussard gave up a promising musical career to devote himself to the work of winning souls for Christ. Karlo is one of the most dynamic and enthusiastic Catholic speakers today, and his talks are able to move listeners from the shaky ground of doubt to the rock-solid foundation of Catholic truth.