Prayers for the dead?

[thistle]

Does the Church teach if nobody were to pray for the souls in purgatory they would still end up in Heaven?

All souls in Purgatory will end up in Heaven, regardless of prayers.

 

[jesusmademe]

And then why do they need our prayers?

 

[po18guy]

You’re missing the point that praying for souls in purgatory greatly benefits us living here on earth too. First, we are praying.
Second, we are doing a spiritual work of mercy.
Third, assuming we’re in a state of grace we are accumulating merit for our act of praying for the holy souls.
Fourth, if the soul we are praying for is a loved one, or the group of souls includes loved ones, we are renewing our connection to them and helping our own peace of mind.

So true! I have the firm hope that, once day I will suddenly appear before God, scratching my head. “Lord, this is all very strange - just a moment ago I was praying…”