Praying for a Deceased Person who died in Sin

[jrabs]

Hi Truthy! Nice to see ya.

Pray for your friend who has passed. In God’s economy no prayer is wasted - so no sense wondering where he is at present - but pray as if you know he needs the prayers.

 

[epower]

Catholic masses can be offered for anyone. My Lutheran friend died (baptized Catholic). My Catholic Parish has said several masses for him.

 

[jennyr]

I have prayed for people that the church would say died in sin for guessh, over 15 years now.

It might be harsh but I figure the worst case is that its a waste of time, but at least I am showing concern and giving of my time. I personally think its a good idea though! I would absolutely continue to do it!!!

 

[Liberian]

Truthstalker,

There is a story about St. John Vianney walking towards his confessional one day past the line of penitents. A woman in line had recently lost her husband, who had committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. Fr. John (as he was then) stopped and said to the woman, “Don’t worry, he repented between the time he jumped and the time he hit the water.”

No matter how convinced you are that somebody died in mortal sin, it is never certain. I would definitely pray for the person.

• Liberian

 

[puzzleannie]

can you think of anyone who needs prayer more?
a wise Dominican explained during a parish mission, using Aquinas of course, the theory that the graces all prayers (including Masses) offered for the dead person are available to him at the moment of death, because he is now out of time and in eternity. These graces are present at the moment when God judges the person who is given all the knowledge he needs to make the choice for or against God for all eternity, who is shown his whole life and where he stands with God, and who is given the final chance to repent and choose God. So yes, prayers offered even years later avail the sinner at the moment of death and judgement.

 

[mommyof4]

Ok, now I know that if one dies with an unrepented mortal sin on ones soul, the Church teaches that they go to hell. But what if the person does not realize what they did was a mortal sin? Or what if they just thought it was a veniel sin? Sure, they were sorry for it, but did not think that it was something they needed to go to confession for. I wonder if God gives a chance to repent of our sins (mortal and venial) after death, when we are able to talk to him and have a better understanding of our actions/thoughts/motives. I can understand to some degree that if a person who sees God, is given full knowlege of His grace and love, and STILL rejects him, would deserve hell. I really don’t understand why they would, but maybe some do. But what about those of us who do our best to love and serve God, but just don’t always live up to what we’re supposed to be doing? I mean, despite our best efforts, we just don’t always “get it.” Any thoughts?

 

[YinYangMom]

Ok, now I know that if one dies with an unrepented mortal sin on ones soul, the Church teaches that they go to hell. But what if the person does not realize what they did was a mortal sin?

For someone to have committed mortal sin they would have to have known the act was grave, why it was grave, and then choose to do it anyway.

So, what you’re saying here is that the person did not know what they did was grave therefore when they decided to do the action it was not mortal.

This is why the prayers of the living for the deceased is so vital. We can help those souls who died with sin on their souls even though they didn’t intend to offend God as they did.

 

[Zooey]

I think that we should always remember to pray for those who have died!
I had an interesting experience just yesterday. I have just finished reading a biography of Benjamin Franklin. I put the book down when I was done, & I felt the most iresistable urge to pray for him! I tried to reason my way out of it-- (God & I have some awful rows on occasion)–but nothing else would give me any peace, so I sat there in my living room & prayed for a man who died in 1790…
I don’t know why I felt that. I just knew I should…Franklin was a lapsed Quaker, who professed no particular faith except a belief in God. I still have no idea whether that prayer was of any use to him or not, but it surely helped me!! I felt so much closer to our Lord afterward.
And this is me, your “Friendly Neighborhood Methodist”!!

 

[LilyM]

Well, my dear friendly neighbourhood Methodist, I think I mentioned on another thread that there is a story of good old Catholic St Padre Pio praying for a happy death for his father 20-odd years after his father’s death.

When asked why, he said ‘God exists outside of time, he can take my prayers and apply them to my father during his life’. At any event, I firmly believe that no sincere prayer would ever be wasted, even if we don’t always know to what purpose they’re applied

 

[Neo_Canaan]

It’s we pray for the souls of all famous people, celebs, porn makers, gays, politicians and despots when they die, an petition the EWTN’s priest to do just that at their masses.