Multiple days of Prayer after a death

[Dimmers]

Is this a normal thing.

Someone of Catholic faith dies here in Puerto Rico. They bury them and for a few days after the burial, I believe it is 5 or 7 days, the people meet at someone’s house and pray the Rosary for that person who passed away. I’ve never seen this in New York or in many other places in the States. Is this normal? Does anyone else here do this or seen this? Is it allowed by the CC?

 

[puzzleannie]

here with our predominantly Mexican culture we pray the novena for nine days after the death, with the rosary in the home. This is what the Church calls popular piety of the culture which should always be respected. The Church has an actual rite for the wake service which can be in church, at the funeral home, or at the home.

The wake service does not include the rosary, and some priests have mistakenly forbidden or refused to have or lead the rosary. But the wake is not mandatory, although it is a very beautiful rite and those who are facing funeral decisions should have the option of choosing it.

 

[Dr.Colossus]

Dimmers:

Is this normal? Does anyone else here do this or seen this? Is it allowed by the CC?

It’s absolutely allowed, and in fact encouraged by the Catholic Church to pray for the deceased. As we do not know the state of a person’s soul after death (unless they are formally proclaimed a saint by the Church), we entrust them to the mercy of God but also recognize that they may be in Purgatory due to remaining temporal effects of sin. Therefore any prayers offered for the deceased would be beneficial to ease their suffering and speed their entry into Heaven.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

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."609 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.610 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.611