Can souls in Purgatory really intercede for us?

[Alma]

If souls in Purgatory are suffering, is it not a little inconsiderate to ask them to pray for us?

And can they even do that?

What is the Church official teaching about this?



Alma

 

[DavidFilmer]

What is the Church official teaching about this?

The particular circumstances of those souls in purgatory is not known, so there is no official teaching. Indeed, contrary theological opinion about these circumstances is one of the things that differentiate Latin and Eastern Catholic thought.

But theologians of both East and West agree that purgatory is some form of separation from God. If this is true, the efficacy of their prayers would be questionable.

However, there is also thought that the Church Expectant (ie, those in purgatory) cannot pray on their own behalf, but can pray for others (and thus help atone for whatever sin caused them to be in purgatory).

If you believe everything you read on the internet, St. Alphonsus de Liguori said

They are unable to pray or merit anything for themselves yet, when they pray for others they are heard by God.

But that would only reflect his own opinion (Saints are not infallible), and besides, I cannot find an actual citation.

Executive Summary: we have no idea.

 

[Alma]

Executive Summary: we have no idea.

Ha ha ha ha!

 

[Mount_Carmel]

Ask yourselves this:
if those souls in Purgatory are in essence genuinely regretful of their past sins and are saved by Christ’s sacrifice and are ‘working their passage’ so-to-speak to spiritual perfection in order to be worthy of Heaven - would God deny them charity towards others - I personally think it unlikely. Possibly this charity may even extend to praying for other souls who are also in Purgatory?

Just because they cannot pray for or directly ‘appeal’ their own case doesn’t not of necessity mean they cannot engage in good works for others.

‘By their fruits ye shall know them’.

 

[Neofight]

Yes. Absolutely. The catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that the church consists of the faithful on earth, the saints in heaven, and the souls in purgatory, who after being purified will take there place in heaven.

 

[NHInsider]

Traditionally we pray for the saints* in purgatory, and ask the saints in heaven to pray for us. But as has been pointed out, there isn’t official doctrine on this and since we don’t generally know when a particular soul is released from purgatory, I don’t think there is any reason not to ask our beloved dead to intercede for us, at the same time that we continue to pray for them.

Sally

*yes, I know we don’t generally refer to them as “saints,” but since by definition anyone who is in purgatory has already been saved by grace, they are in fact saints, although not yet perfected. Like us!

 

[Alma]

I know the Catechism teaches that there are souls in Purgatory.
But I also know they depend entirely on God’s grace and our prayers to get out of Purgatory.

So the question is, if they cannot pray for themselves, can they pray for us?

Is there a Church document of a Pope declaration on this?

Alma

 

[Mount_Carmel]

I think the following site, with a video of explanation from Catholic Answers Director of Apologetics Tim Staples pretty much sums up the mainline stance on the debate:

Google: Can the souls in purgatory pray for us? | Catholic Answers

Since the Holy Souls can and do no longer sin and burn with a love of God far more intense than we can express, and as a consequence surely follow His command/wish that they should also express this love in loving others? Integral to spiritual love is spiritual prayer, if not for themselves since they are already saved, then for those of us still negotiating life’s sin and temptation strewn minefield.

 

[fisherman_carl]

In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, the rich man interceded for his brothers. Some say this implies purgatory since in hell the virtue of charity does not exist.