Do our prayers help the Souls in Purgatory?

[BONNIEkr]

I read somewhere that ours prayers do not help the souls in purgatory but they help us.

 

[Fr.Eric_Filmer]

Greetings.

The Souls in Purgatory are, indeed, benefited by the prayers we offer on their behalf. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

1032: This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: “Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

“Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them” (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 41, 5: PG 61, 361; cf. Job 1:5).

We are encouraged to pray for the Souls in Purgatory on a regular basis, and the Church is especially mindful of this on All Souls Day (November 1) as well as the month of November as a whole.

As for the kinds of intercessions the Souls of Purgatory are able to undertake, the Church teaches that they are unable to pray for themselves while in this state of purification, but are able to pray for us. For a brief elaboration on this, please view the following video of Tim Staples: Can the Souls in Purgatory Pray for Us?