Purification

Ritual purification

Ritual purification is a religious practice through which a person, object, or place is considered to be freed of ritual impurity, especially prior to worship or contact with the sacred. Important distinctions exist between states of ritual impurity and ordinary physical impurity, such as dirt or lack of hygiene, although the ritualistic processes of purification may involve washing, ablution, or other prescribed rites. Within some traditional or religious contexts, ritual purification may also apply to objects and places. Some may consider purity with stronger association with worship, bodily states, moral order, or boundaries.

Purgatory

Purgatory is a belief in Catholic theology. It is a passing intermediate state after physical death for purifying or purging a soul before entering Heaven. A common analogy is dross being removed from gold in a furnace.

purification

Noun

1. The act or process of purifying; the removal of impurities.
2. A religious act or rite in which a defiled person is made clean or free from sin.