Is it possible Adam and Eve have been through Purgatory and are now in heaven? I know it's probaly speculation.

-- Jason (Enchanted fire5@aol.com), March 10, 2004

Answers

Hi, Jason

Its not speculation to say that St. Adam and St. Eve are in Heaven. The Catholic Church venerates Adam and Eve as saints, and observes their feastday as December 24th.

They are holy saints in Heaven.

May St. Adam and Eve pray for the holy souls in Purgatory.

-- - (David@excite.com), March 10, 2004.

I don't believe Adam and Eve are canonized saints. We know nothing about them that would merit sainthood. In fact, the only known deed of theirs that merits any recognition is their disobedience to God. In any case, the Church only canonizes members of the Church, not non-Catholics; and that means that Old Testament persons are not canonized. Thus, we do not speak of St. Abraham, St. Moses, etc. Obviously this does not mean that they are not in heaven, and the same with Adam and Eve.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 11, 2004.

Jason and Paul,

I topped the December 24th "saint[s] of the day thread for you fellows.

-- - (David@excite.com), March 11, 2004.

Caution: artistic nudity at the next two linked pages.

As shown on pages at a site about Catholic saints, the traditional date of memorial of St. Adam and St. Eve is December 24. The date is symbolic, coming one day before the birthday of the Second Adam.

There are also traditional Catholic dates of memorial for Old Testament prophets and other (p/m)atriarchs besides Adam and Eve. Canonized? No. The early Christian leaders did not have a formal canonization rite for such people, but considered them to be among the souls of the justified dead who were liberated by Jesus from the "limbo of the Fathers" before his Resurrection.

-- (Not@Saint.Myself), March 12, 2004.

with love Catholic brothers and sisters I truly tell you that all followers of Jesus Christ are saints as written by the apostle Paul, please read and study the scriptures and not the catholic religion. in HIS love, troy

-- troy (lionsun7@hotmail.com), March 15, 2004.

I often wondered about Adam and Eve. How does anyone know if they are in heaven? They disobeyed God. If they are in heaven, that means that God forgave them for their sins, and I hope they are.

When did purgatory come into the picture? Did they have to go to purgatory first? Did they repent of their sins. How does anyone really know this information?

This is the first time I have ever heard Adam and Eve referred to as Saint Adam and Saint Eve.

MaryLu

I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like to be the first human beings on this earth, to have direct contact with God Himself, and then to have disobeyed Him. We still disobey, at least I do...

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), March 15, 2004.

Troy, Catholic's do study the scriptures. At least their supposed to and are encouraged to by the church. I study the scriptures all the time. But every christian church studies the scriptures and all come up with different conclusions and all claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Well, where is the truth? Huh? Where is it in the Bible.

Catholics are very well Bible based. It's IGNORANCE of Catholicism that leads people to come up with ideas that Catholics are "un christian". Even pastors of protestent churches have made such ignorant claims against the Catholic Church. I was Protestant once as well. Very strict I might add and VERY IGNORANT I was MOSTLY about Catholicism. But now I've realized after intense study (and God knows I still need ALOT more) that the Catholic Church has the FULLNESS of the gospel of Christ. Amen!

Study church history and Catholicism.

-- Jason (Enchanted fire5@aol.com), March 15, 2004.

Mary Lu, Adam and Eve (and other Old Testament personages) are not usually referred to with the title "Saint" by Catholics. Nevertheless, the belief has always existed in the Church that many of them were not damned, but accepted the Gospel preached to them by Jesus when he "descended to the dead/Sheol" after being buried. Among those believed to have then gone to heaven (and therefore worthy of the title "Saint") were Adam and Eve. It could be that Jesus, after the Resurrection, told the Apostles which of their great Jewish ancestors (e.g., Adam, Eve, Joshua, Rebecca, Samuel, etc.) accepted the Gospel when he visited them -- and that could be why they have been honored as now being with God in heaven.

-- (Not@Saint.Myself), March 16, 2004.