Prayers for the Dead

[KnightIHSV]

A friend’s sister has died, very sadly by suicide. Two questions that have been going through my head:

(1) if someone has died, do they immediately go to their judgment, in which case what is the value to a dead person already judged of our prayers etc?

(2) if someone has died but has no one to pray for them, is that fair if these prayers do have positive effects on their journey after death? Some people never acquire the skills needed to make friends.

Thanks to any one who can answer these questions.

 

[SMHW]

A friend’s sister has died, very sadly by suicide. Two questions that have been going through my head:

(1) if someone has died, do they immediately go to their judgment, in which case what is the value to a dead person already judged of our prayers etc?

(2) if someone has died but has no one to pray for them, is that fair if these prayers do have positive effects on their journey after death? Some people never acquire the skills needed to make friends.

Thanks to any one who can answer these questions.

My sympathies to your friend on the death of the sister.

I will try to tackle the first question. God is not bound by time the way we are. He hears our prayers for the dead “outside” of our linear time. As such, it makes sense to always pray for others, whether they are still alive (to us) or whether they have died (to us) fifty years ago.

As for your second question, I can’t really speak to the “fairness” of it because I can’t see things the way God does. But I can say that it is always a good thing to pray for the souls of those who have no friends or family to pray for them.

 

[dee_burk]

From my understanding at death you will be judged immediately to determine if you go to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell.
And prayers for those in purgatory can speed their cleansing and suffering so they can move towards Heaven. It is sad that there are souls in purgatory with no one to pray for them. Sometimes i say prayers for the souls in purgatory that have no family to pray for them or that are deceased and their families arent aware of it. From what i am understand, praying for the dead is becoming a lost christian concept. Sad.

 

[OraLabora]

As for the second question, it’s never true that deceased persons, no matter how friendless, never has anyone praying for them.

In the great Catholic tradition of liturgical prayer, in the Liturgy of the Hours the entire community of those praying this liturgy are praying for all souls, living or dead. In the LOTH, the last intention of the intercessions of Vespers (Evening Prayer) are always for the dead. In a more general way, the entire liturgy is a prayer by the Church, for every member of the Church, alive or dead, sick or well, sinner or saint. And even for non-believers.

In particular, monks praying the Divine Office (LOTH) daily do so with all of the Church and in particular the deceased, sick, and poor, all the time. Moreover on a regular basis monks specifically celebrate a requiem Mass for the dead.

Do not underestimate the power of liturgical prayer! Even though monks and others celebrating the LOTH may not know a deceased person by name or know all deceased persons, we firmly have a petition for God’s mercy in mind for all the dead.

 

[DoGodsBidding]

As for the second question, it’s never true that deceased persons, no matter how friendless, never has anyone praying for them.

In the great Catholic tradition of liturgical prayer, in the Liturgy of the Hours the entire community of those praying this liturgy are praying for all souls, living or dead. In the LOTH, the last intention of the intercessions of Vespers (Evening Prayer) are always for the dead. In a more general way, the entire liturgy is a prayer by the Church, for every member of the Church, alive or dead, sick or well, sinner or saint. And even for non-believers.

In particular, monks praying the Divine Office (LOTH) daily do so with all of the Church and in particular the deceased, sick, and poor, all the time. Moreover on a regular basis monks specifically celebrate a requiem Mass for the dead.

Do not underestimate the power of liturgical prayer! Even though monks and others celebrating the LOTH may not know a deceased person by name or know all deceased persons, we firmly have a petition for God’s mercy in mind for all the dead.

 

[McCartney]

A friend’s sister has died, very sadly by suicide. Two questions that have been going through my head:

(1) if someone has died, do they immediately go to their judgment, in which case what is the value to a dead person already judged of our prayers etc?

(2) if someone has died but has no one to pray for them, is that fair if these prayers do have positive effects on their journey after death? Some people never acquire the skills needed to make friends.

Thanks to any one who can answer these questions.

A person may be immediately judged but we need to pray for them because if they are in Purgatory they will need our prayers.

I often pray for the abandoned souls in purgatory. They could be so grateful for your prayers that they could pray for you when it is your turn.

Just having friends does not guarantee prayers when dead. I have a lot of protestant and non-Christian friends who would not utter on word of prayer for me when I am dead.

 

[tawny]

A friend’s sister has died, very sadly by suicide. Two questions that have been going through my head:

(1) if someone has died, do they immediately go to their judgment, in which case what is the value to a dead person already judged of our prayers etc?

(2) if someone has died but has no one to pray for them, is that fair if these prayers do have positive effects on their journey after death? Some people never acquire the skills needed to make friends.

Thanks to any one who can answer these questions.

Praying for the repose of your friend’s sister’s soul.

 

[svid2]

Pax Christi!

Lots of people pray for all the poor souls in Purgatory. Lots. I’m one, and I do this several times a day. There are many, many like me, and we’re not in the religious life.

Pray very often for the poor souls, and offer up sacrifices. Especially effective are Holy Masses offered for individuals or all the suffering souls.

God is not bound by time.

God bless.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

My sympathies to your friend on the death of the sister.

I will try to tackle the first question. God is not bound by time the way we are. He hears our prayers for the dead “outside” of our linear time. As such, it makes sense to always pray for others, whether they are still alive (to us) or whether they have died (to us) fifty years ago.
…

Agreed. In cases such as this, I think there is always at least a brief moment when one can repent before tones soul leaves ones body. It seems especially important to pray that God give them the grace to use that moment to repent. Even more important than praying people out of Purgatory is to pray them into Purgatory.

 

[SMHW]

Even more important than praying people out of Purgatory is to pray them into Purgatory.

 

[bardegaulois]

For the repose of your friend’s sister’s soul:

The Psalm “de Profundis.”

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.
Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If thou, О Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall abide it?
For with thee there is merciful forgiveness; and by reason of thy law I have waited for thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on his word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night: let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy : and with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Let us pray.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through pious supplications of the Church they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired: who livest and reignest for ever and ever, Amen.

May they rest in peace! Amen.

 

[KnightIHSV]

Thank you to everyone for their enormous help.

Much appreciated.

 

[Bklynguy]

A friend’s sister has died, very sadly by suicide. Two questions that have been going through my head:

(1) if someone has died, do they immediately go to their judgment, in which case what is the value to a dead person already judged of our prayers etc?

(2) if someone has died but has no one to pray for them, is that fair if these prayers do have positive effects on their journey after death? Some people never acquire the skills needed to make friends.

Thanks to any one who can answer these questions.

A prayer is never wasted and the Lord is not bound by the constraints of time and space as we are. As to your second question, there are vast numbers of faithful–some who even belong to special societies for this particular purpose–who pray for all the dead.