After an Act of Perfect Contrition, can one effectly Pray for the Suffering Souls?

[PMV]

After one says an Act of Perfect Contrition, is that person worthy of praying for the souls in Purgatory? Will he or she’s prayers and works be helpful towards helping the suffering souls?

 

[flamingsword]

I am not sure where you are coming from. You are always free and encouraged to offer prayers for the souls in purgatory just as you are always encouraged to offer up sufferings for those in purgatory. I don’t think offering a perfect act of contrition fits into the equation at all. Please add more to your thoughts so we can see where this question is coming from and then we can be of more help.

 

[PMV]

In order for one to have a positive effect on the suffering souls through prayer, sufferings, etc, that person must be in a state of grace. Although a person is in a state of grace after an Act of Perfect Contrition, is it necessary for them to have sacramental confession taken care of in order to help the souls?

 

[Pug]

If you are talking about plenary indulgences here, you must go to confession for it to happen, but one confession is good for several indulgences. Confession is part of the rules to get one, even if you didn’t have to go (because you have not done a mortal sin since your last confession). Go either on the Saturday before or after you do the stuff for the indulgence. You must be in a state of grace (at least) at the completion of the whole plenary indulgence process.

Note, however, that to gain a plenary indulgence, typically a condition listed is freedom from attachment to venial sins. I’m not sure if theoretically this could be waived if it is for the poor souls and not yourself. Another must answer this.

For partial indulgences, I don’t know of a condition that says you have to go to confession. However, if you were in a state of mortal sin, and then you make an act of perfect contrition, you must go to confession promptly anyway. So for other reasons you will have to go soon to confession.

Regardless, I would not postpone prayers for the poor souls. Just pray for them. I wouldn’t tell myself, “What’s the use, God doesn’t hear anything I ask right now.” This is not right thinking. Rather, just ask Him for what you want. It is never pointless to address God. Tell him you are concerned for the poor souls. Share it with Him regardless!

 

[Nan_S]

PMV:

After one says an Act of Perfect Contrition, is that person worthy of praying for the souls in Purgatory? Will he or she’s prayers and works be helpful towards helping the suffering souls?

Did you ever ask a saint to pray for you? Would you speculate that your saint’s prayers would be LESS effective because he/she was not also suffering? Or would you instead say that a saint’s prayers are MORE effective because of his/her state of grace?

 

[m134e5]

The soul is dead when you are in a state of mortal sin- that means it no longer has and cannot gain sanctifying grace. That doesn’t mean no prayer is effective. Prayers of repentence are always heard- if not, then why do we say the act of contrition in confession before the priest says the prayer of absolution? Prayers out of selfless love for another surely are heard. Cries for help are surely heard as well.

 

[PMV]

Nan S:

Did you ever ask a saint to pray for you? Would you speculate that your saint’s prayers would be LESS effective because he/she was not also suffering? Or would you instead say that a saint’s prayers are MORE effective because of his/her state of grace?

I was assumming in general that prayer is more effective when someone’s in a state of grace. I recall reading that prayer doesn’t matter to God when you’re in a state of mortal sin (except for an Act of Perfect Contrition, of course), but what I read could have been wrong.

 

[PMV]

I believe I made an Act of Perfect Contrition yesterday, but unfortunately fell into mortal sin. Between this state I’m in and Confession may I make another Act of Perfect Contrition and once again be in the state of grace?

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

PMV:

I believe I made an Act of Perfect Contrition yesterday, but unfortunately fell into mortal sin. Between this state I’m in and Confession may I make another Act of Perfect Contrition and once again be in the state of grace?

An act of perfect contrition is fine, but if it’s really a mortal sin, you still need to head to the confessional as soon as possible.

 

[Nan_S]

PMV:

I was assumming in general that prayer is more effective when someone’s in a state of grace. I recall reading that prayer doesn’t matter to God when you’re in a state of mortal sin (except for an Act of Perfect Contrition, of course), but what I read could have been wrong.

OK, I think I misunderstood your question a bit. I was thinking that your act of perfect contrition was made while receiving the sacrament of reconciliation, instead of prayers made in lieu of or anticipation of the sacrament.

If the latter, I think m134e5 already answered better than me.

Prayers of repentence are always heard- if not, then why do we say the act of contrition in confession before the priest says the prayer of absolution? Prayers out of selfless love for another surely are heard. Cries for help are surely heard as well.