Prayers or works for the dead

[admonsta]

Hi,

I’m a little conflicted right now. Last night we settled down to watch the MotoGP (motorbike race) on TV, and a serious crash happened, and after an hour of no news, it was announced that one of the riders, Marco Simoncelli, had succumbed to his injuries. I can’t shake my feelings of sadness about this man, even though I didn’t know him except for on TV. He was 24.

I prayed about half a rosary, and have said little prayers for him today, but I sort of feel like I should do more, in case he doesn’t have anyone else to pray for him. Is this right, to pray for someone because I am aware of his death, because he’s a public figure? What about all the anonymous deaths in the world?

Also, what is the best thing for me to do? Offer my Eucharist? Add his name to my regular list of prayer recipients?

 

[MS_SURVEYOR]

I’ve been thinking on the very same subject lately. Yes the Lord wants us to pray for the dead. The conversion of sinners. For the intentions of others. For the suffering of people we don’t even know. You’re doing the right thing.

 

[jtodisco]

Praying for the dead is one of the best acts of charity we can do. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you praying for this man. His being famous or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that he is a child of God. Pray as much as you’d like for him or anyone else.

The best thing you could do for anyone who has died is to have a Mass said for them. The Mass is the highest form of prayer and is centered around Christ in the Holy Eucharist. But after that any other prayers you want to offer for him would be, in my mind, equally helpful. I would imagine it is more the sacrifice and love that goes into the prayers you are saying for the deceased person that matters than the actual form of prayer you choose (i.e. Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, etc.).

I hope I was able to help clarify things for you.

 

[Belle10]

The chaplet of Divine Mercy is wonderful. Jesus gave it to St. Faustina for everyone, but especially the sick and dying. Since God is outside of time, you can pray the chaplet for the man you mentioned.

Also, here is the prayer Jesus gave to St. Gertrude the Great. It’s beautiful.

 

[fin]

Praying for the dead is a spiritual work of mercy. One of the best ways to help them is by offering Masses for them, and by attending Mass as often as possible and praying for them at Mass.

In my spirituality I try to pray for the holy souls in purgatory as often as I can. Throughout the day you can say short prayers for the, such as the St. Gertrude prayer:

“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious Blood of Jesus in union with all the Masses being said in the world today for all the holy souls in purgatory. Amen”