Explaining prayers FOR the dead to my mom

[smp501]

I was born and raised as an Evangelical, and I’m currently in the process of coming into full communion with the Church. Yesterday I was talking to my mom about my ongoing conversion to Catholicism, answering different questions she had, and she posed one that I had no answer for. She wanted to know why we pray for the dead. She said that she could at least understand the doctrine of purgatory and prayers to the Saints (which I thought was amazing!), but her point was that if they were in purgatory, then God is already purifying them that it is going to take as long as it takes, and that they are fully in God’s hands. Likewise if they are in heaven or hell, then they don’t need our prayers because they’ve reached their eternal destination. I’ve had these questions too, so I really didn’t know what to say. What should I tell my mom? Thanks!

 

[dailey]

Praying for the souls in purgatory can shorten their time and relieve their suffering. When they get to heaven, they will surely remember our kindness and keep us in their prayers.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

2 Maccabees 12:38-46

 

[YoungTradCath]

Because praying for the dead helps them in their purification process in purgatory. If Johnny Y. dies, we don’t know where he’s at. He could be in heaven, purgatory, or hell. Our prayers for the dead are aimed at those in purgatory, and Johnny Y. could be there.

 

[FAB]

Pope Benedict put it this way in “Christian Hope” about death and our continuing connection with those who have gone before us “

The belief that love can reach into the afterlife, that reciprocal giving and receiving is possible, in which our affection for one another continues beyond the limits of death – this has been a fundamental conviction of Christianity through out the ages and remains a comfort today.

 

[pablope]

I was born and raised as an Evangelical, and I’m currently in the process of coming into full communion with the Church. Yesterday I was talking to my mom about my ongoing conversion to Catholicism, answering different questions she had, and she posed one that I had no answer for. She wanted to know why we pray for the dead. She said that she could at least understand the doctrine of purgatory and prayers to the Saints (which I thought was amazing!), but her point was that if they were in purgatory, then God is already purifying them that it is going to take as long as it takes, and that they are fully in God’s hands. Likewise if they are in heaven or hell, then they don’t need our prayers because they’ve reached their eternal destination. I’ve had these questions too, so I really didn’t know what to say. What should I tell my mom? Thanks!

God does not waste our prayers and efforts. Even if we do not know if someone has gone on to heaven after being purified in purgatory, our prayers are applied by God to those still in need of prayers.

 

[martininthefiel]

The Body of Christ consists of every Baptised Christian who ever lived. We continue to pray for those who sleep in Christ, because their lives in Christ do not end with their earthly deaths. When we receive the Holy Sacrament, we do so with all of our brothers and sisters, living and dead, and trust that they are in God’s care.

Before Jesus was resurrected for us, he descended into hell, and spread the Gospel to all.

 

[LittleHannah]

Praying for the Souls in Purgatory can shorten there time there such as offering Mass for them which is a powerful means to lessen there sufferings.

 

[martininthefiel]

Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me:
thou hast know my sitting down, and my rising up.

Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line thou hast searched out.

And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my tongue.

Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me.

Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face?

If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present.

If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea:

Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me.

And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my light in my pleasures.

But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light as day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from my mother’s womb.

I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well.

My bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth.

Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in thy book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them.

But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.

I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand: I rose up and am still with thee.

If thou wilt kill the wicked, O God: ye men of blood, depart from me:

Because you say in thought: They shall receive thy cities in vain.

Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated thee: and pine away because of thy enemies?

I have hated them with a perfect hatred: and they are become enemies to me.

Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths.

And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way.

 

[couponfit]

I was born and raised as an Evangelical, and I’m currently in the process of coming into full communion with the Church. Yesterday I was talking to my mom about my ongoing conversion to Catholicism, answering different questions she had, and she posed one that I had no answer for. She wanted to know why we pray for the dead. She said that she could at least understand the doctrine of purgatory and prayers to the Saints (which I thought was amazing!), but her point was that if they were in purgatory, then God is already purifying them that it is going to take as long as it takes, and that they are fully in God’s hands. Likewise if they are in heaven or hell, then they don’t need our prayers because they’ve reached their eternal destination. I’ve had these questions too, so I really didn’t know what to say. What should I tell my mom? Thanks!

Our prayers represent a longing. We (those who are alive) long for those who are dead to join Christ in heaven. Those in heaven long for those in purgatory and who are alive to join Christ.

We think of church as a brick and mortar building. But church is the body of the people.

1. Mysical Body (Church Militant): On earth this church is called the mystical body; some call this the Church militant because it is like we struggle in the world.
2. The Suffering Church (or some variation): Refers to the souls in purgatory. Some non-catholics call this the spirit world.
3. The Triumphant Church: refers the souls in heaven and all in heaven are saints, but not all saints have been recognized by the church. Meaning your Mom may have been a saint and went to heaven. The church recognizes over 10,000 saints because they clearly went to heaven.

A person on earth living in the mystical church, is likely to pray for the dead regardless of where they are because they cannot know but pray out of a longing. If we love some one so much, if we truly believe in heaven and God Triumphant, then we would naturally want those we love to join us. And if those who love us are in heaven they would naturally want us to joint them–a longing.

If you attend church you do not have to think about many of your prayers because there are the collective prayers of the church. Our church is unified and specific in what we are reading and praying each week. Amongst these are prayers for those in purgatory including masses dedicated to those in purgatory. We have intentions that are personal, local, regional, national, and world oriented. During prayers as long as the priest or pope directs the prayer, the joining in of the congregations by over 1 billion each weekend allows for prayers to be answered. We believe that the combined voice of the faithful is collectively holy. You’ll see these prayers during responsorial hymns and prayers. You’ll know when you are praying for something larger than yourself when you either say “Amen” or “Lord Here our Prayer”, or “Lord have Mercy”, etc.

 

[fred_conty]

When we see a friend who has an ingrained bad habit such as lieing, stealing, or using
bad language, we pray for them so that God’s grace will help them to give it up.
Those too in purgatory are temporarily unable to have their peace until they give up
their connection with sin or sins which they are still connected to. They are in
a state of imperfection which keeps them from a full union and peace with God.

Just for a moment, think how affections to certain sins are keeping us from perfect
union with God in this world. This is the very thing that each struggles with on
a daily basis, to detach ourselves from those desires and enjoyments of sin. It is
a life long process beginning with the most difficult down to the least imperfection.
The great saints are our models and show us how to do accomplish this. But they
also show us at what cost this is done. It is difficult to be a St. Francis. But
this is what everyone is struggles to do, to be perfect as Christ is perfect so that He
may live in us. This is a lifelong pursuit only accomplished with the greatest of
effort and christian dedication. And at the end of that life, more is still to be done.
This is where purgatory life begins, to take up where our life’s efforts ended.
And so those in purgatory benefit from our prayers in the after life just as those in
this life benefit from our prayers that interceed with God for helping them.

Just a thought about aiding our friends and others.

 

[nHisLightnLove]

Prayers are not bound by time as we know it.

 

[JimmytheButcher]

The most commonsense answer to why we pray for the dead is this…

1. It comes naturally to man to continue to think of his passed away loved ones.
2. It comes naturally to man to continue to have concern as to where they are and to things beyond the grave.
3. It comes naturally to man to take recourse for their well-being by way of prayer and petition knowing that good and evil are very real.

These three things inform us that we right well have a continued responsiblity to exercise charity for our brethren. True, we cannot bring a dead man a drink of water, like the woman brought to Christ at the well, but we can exercise a service at least by way of intention. For the intention to be fufilled it is best to vocalise it. And it we offer our breath in a little s… sacramental nature. The breath is the material part of the action. The form is the prayer, especially so if it is the prayer of the Church, “Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace.” (I am no Theologian but I got that much down anyway) Regardless, when man is baptised he enters into the priesthood of Christ (not in the fullest way of course as in the case of a bishop). And, interceding for the dead is part of the priestly-office of the baptised man (and woman… do get into tiffy over proper gender in English).

There is the old book of Maccabees answer. That is a very, very good answer. But, we musn’t fail to observe human nature, fallen as it is, with our intellect by way of prayer and philosophy.

As a bonus… one can think of the Mercy of God in terms of Mary, since She is the Mother of All-Graces, and also Mother of Mercy, Sweetness, and Hope.

I am sure someone else has something to add.

EDIT: I just noticed that someone else had put a very good answer using 1, 2, and 3. Cool… That and prayers are not bound by earthly time is correct.