Praying for Dead People

[Edward_H]

This is absolutely not true. We most certainly can and should pray for the salvation of those who have died. Our prayers are MOST helpful to them.

Padre Pio was known to pray for his great, great grandfather to have a happy death…even though he had died many years earlier. I have read of other saints who have done the same. God knows no time…

Here is the exact quote

quote…One day Padre told his doctor: “I’m praying for the good death of my great-great grandfather”. But he died more than one hundred years ago!"

“Remember that for God there is no past and no future, and everything is present. So God made use at that time of the prayers I’m saying now.”

 

[crystal_waters]

Yes. If he is in Purgatory he can make use of your prayers. If in Heaven or Hell God can make use of your prayers for another soul who needs them, so by all means pray for him and trust in the mercy of God.

Yes. We can pray for anyone in Heaven to intercede with God for us.

Dont forget that if we pray for the souls in purgatory we can ask them to pray and intercede for us and our needs, countless saints have received favours through the prayers and intercession of the souls in purgatory and they all say that they intercede and pray for us while still in purgatory

 

[Stylites]

There are no dead people; we all live forever. With that in mind, it makes sense to pray for them.

The dead are more alive than we are.

 

[DavidFilmer]

This is absolutely not true. We most certainly can and should pray for the salvation of those who have died. Our prayers are MOST helpful to them.

That’s true for those in purgatory. Prayers will not help those in hell. If a person dies with unconfessed mortal sin on his soul, he will go to hell, and no prayers can change that.

This is the doctrine of the Church.

 

[dailey]

That’s true for those in purgatory. Prayers will not help those in hell. If a person dies with unconfessed mortal sin on his soul, he will go to hell, and no prayers can change that.

This is the doctrine of the Church.

Of course, those who are in hell will remain there. However, remember Mother Marys words at Fatima… “Pray, pray a great deal, and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to Hell because they have no-one to make sacrifices and pray for them.”

Our prayers can make a difference…

 

[DavidFilmer]

Of course, those who are in hell will remain there. However, remember Mother Marys words at Fatima… “Pray, pray a great deal, and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to Hell because they have no-one to make sacrifices and pray for them.”

Our prayers can make a difference…

I believe that Our Lady was referring to praying for sinners while they yet live (such as St. Monica did for her son, St. Augustine, while he was yet a heathen).

The Church teaches that a person who dies in a state of Grace will go to heaven, and those who die outside a state of Grace will go to hell. There are NO exceptions, and once we are dead, nothing can change our ultimate fate.

The Church teaches that there may be extraordinary ways to be placed in a state of Grace other than Christian Baptism (ie, invincible ignorance), and the Church has “hope” that unbaptized babies might somehow be placed in a state of Grace. These are not exceptions to the Church’s doctrine. Being in a state of Grace is 100% required for salvation.

If I am not in a state of Grace, you could pray for me, and your prayers could help lead me out of sin (like St. Augustine). But if I die that way, all the prayers in the whole world could not liberate me from hell. This is the doctrine of the Church.

 

[dailey]

I believe that Our Lady was referring to praying for sinners while they yet live (such as St. Monica did for her son, St. Augustine, while he was yet a heathen).

The Church teaches that a person who dies in a state of Grace will go to heaven, and those who die outside a state of Grace will go to hell. There are NO exceptions, and once we are dead, nothing can change our ultimate fate.

The Church teaches that there may be extraordinary ways to be placed in a state of Grace other than Christian Baptism (ie, invincible ignorance), and the Church has “hope” that unbaptized babies might somehow be placed in a state of Grace. These are not exceptions to the Church’s doctrine. Being in a state of Grace is 100% required for salvation.

If I am not in a state of Grace, you could pray for me, and your prayers could help lead me out of sin (like St. Augustine). But if I die that way, all the prayers in the whole world could not liberate me from hell. This is the doctrine of the Church.

I know what the Church teaches. I was merely pointing out how incredibly important it is to pray for the salvation of those who have died…that’s all.