'Eternal Rest' for criminals?

[sugarmouse]

I’ve gotten into the habit of saying an ‘Eternal Rest’ prayer whenever I hear about someone having died e.g. in the news, on Facebook etc. Whether it’s someone killed in an accident, or by crime, or illness, or whatever, it’s just a way to offer something up for their souls, and remember them in some way.

I don’t generally worry about the circumstances of death - for example, if they’ve committed suicide, I’ll still say an Eternal Rest because we can’t know the state of mind they were in when they died. However, as is the case today where we have the suspects in the Paris shootings apparently shot dead, an “Eternal Rest” does seem a little inappropriate, since the acts committed are so heinous. In cases like that, I used to say a simple “May God have mercy on his/her soul”. But, that still seems inappropriate, since there’s always the chance even in horrific crimes that the person didn’t know what they were doing, perhaps from sever mental illness, and therefore would not be morally culpable.

Does anyone know of any prayers specifically for a situation like this, which might be a little more fitting? (If not, I guess I’ll stick to the ‘Eternal Rest’)

xxx

 

[porthos11]

I’ve gotten into the habit of saying an ‘Eternal Rest’ prayer whenever I hear about someone having died e.g. in the news, on Facebook etc. Whether it’s someone killed in an accident, or by crime, or illness, or whatever, it’s just a way to offer something up for their souls, and remember them in some way.

I don’t generally worry about the circumstances of death - for example, if they’ve committed suicide, I’ll still say an Eternal Rest because we can’t know the state of mind they were in when they died. However, as is the case today where we have the suspects in the Paris shootings apparently shot dead, an “Eternal Rest” does seem a little inappropriate, since the acts committed are so heinous. In cases like that, I used to say a simple “May God have mercy on his/her soul”. But, that still seems inappropriate, since there’s always the chance even in horrific crimes that the person didn’t know what they were doing, perhaps from sever mental illness, and therefore would not be morally culpable.

Does anyone know of any prayers specifically for a situation like this, which might be a little more fitting? (If not, I guess I’ll stick to the ‘Eternal Rest’)

xxx

For notorious and visibly unrepentant or notorious sinners, and for the unbaptized, I pray that the Lord have mercy on their souls. I do not recite the Eternal Rest prayer for them, which I normally do for those who are baptized and died visibly “good” deaths. I feel the prayer for mercy is more appropriate for such people, who are those who really need it.

 

[Hodegetria]

I don’t see why not say the Eternal Rest prayer, in light of Divine Mercy which is for everyone, I thought especially for unrepentant sinners who need the most mercy. Hopefully they are forgiven and saved from hell.

Or you could say the Fatima prayer for them. “Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, bring all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.”

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

I never ask the Lord to have mercy on another human being’s soul, living or dead.

That makes good show business, and right now I’m thinking of the evil guard in the extremely disturbing scene in The Green Mile.

If I ask the Lord to have mercy on another person’s soul, that presumes that I have the knowledge that other person’s soul is in need of something I can ask God to do, that He didn’t already have “in the works.”

MS

 

[ProdglArchitect]

I never ask the Lord to have mercy on another human being’s soul, living or dead.

That makes good show business, and right now I’m thinking of the evil guard in The Green Mile.

If I ask the Lord to have mercy on another person’s soul, that presumes that I have the knowledge that other person’s soul is in need of something I can ask God to do, that He didn’t already have “in the works.”

MS

This is wrong thinking. We should always ask mercy for the other soul. If they need it, then we have asked on their behalf; if they don’t, then we have lost nothing, but gained the grace that comes with seeking the good of another.

 

[jinglebelle]

in paris they will raise prayers,i leave that to your imagination,je suis charlie

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

This is wrong thinking. We should always ask mercy for the other soul. If they need it, then we have asked on their behalf; if they don’t, then we have lost nothing, but gained the grace that comes with seeking the good of another.

You are right, I am wrong.

But I do not presume to know another person “needs” mercy, in that I know their sin and they should be afraid.

But in the more charitable sense, God has so much mercy on us all, why not wish someone else some?

That’s like snarking at someone who says “Happy Holidays.”

I am corrected, and thank you for calling me on this.

MS

 

[ProdglArchitect]

You are right, I am wrong.

But I do not presume to know another person “needs” mercy, in that I know their sin and they should be afraid.

But in the more charitable sense, God has so much mercy on us all, why not wish someone else some?

That’s like snarking at someone who says “Happy Holidays.”

I am corrected, and thank you for calling me on this.

MS

Yeah, that charitable issue is the only thing I was getting at. ^^ I don’t care how good a life I live, when I die, I want everyone who hears about it to pray that God has mercy on me. XD

 

[christofirst]

I’ve gotten into the habit of saying an ‘Eternal Rest’ prayer whenever I hear about someone having died e.g. in the news, on Facebook etc. Whether it’s someone killed in an accident, or by crime, or illness, or whatever, it’s just a way to offer something up for their souls, and remember them in some way.

I don’t generally worry about the circumstances of death - for example, if they’ve committed suicide, I’ll still say an Eternal Rest because we can’t know the state of mind they were in when they died. However, as is the case today where we have the suspects in the Paris shootings apparently shot dead, an “Eternal Rest” does seem a little inappropriate, since the acts committed are so heinous. In cases like that, I used to say a simple “May God have mercy on his/her soul”. But, that still seems inappropriate, since there’s always the chance even in horrific crimes that the person didn’t know what they were doing, perhaps from sever mental illness, and therefore would not be morally culpable.

Does anyone know of any prayers specifically for a situation like this, which might be a little more fitting? (If not, I guess I’ll stick to the ‘Eternal Rest’)

xxx

I say your heart is certainly in the right place, even if you cannot find the right words. To say, “Lord, have mercy on those who died,” is not usurping God’s judgment to my way of thinking, because we are ALL in need of God’s mercy to one degree or another. I even say, “Eternal rest grant unto them,” for if I only pray for the “good guys” wouldn’t I also be assuming to know what God only knows? (the state of anyone’s soul at death)

 

[St_Francis]

If we pray for a soul in Purgatory who is not in Purgatory, God uses that prayer to help another poor soul.

So istm that if we pray for someone who died under bad-looking circumstances, that if the prayers don’t apply to them, God will use them for someone else’s soul

 

[Beryllos]

Jesus told us to love our enemies. What greater good could we desire for them, than their salvation and eternal rest? Leave it up to God to figure out how.

 

[ready]

For notorious and visibly unrepentant or notorious sinners, and for the unbaptized, I pray that the Lord have mercy on their souls. I do not recite the Eternal Rest prayer for them, which I normally do for those who are baptized and died visibly “good” deaths. I feel the prayer for mercy is more appropriate for such people, who are those who really need it.