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Jackie1156
Guest
If I’m in Purgatory, will I be able to pray for my lost children still living on earth?
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sudy
Guest
My understanding is that yes you’ll still be able to pray for those living on earth… people in purgatory are part of the church, but we should do what we can while we’re here, too.
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Dan_Defender
Guest
In St Catherine of Genoa’s Treatise on Purgatory, the implication is no while in Purgatory. In Heaven, yes.
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sudy
Guest
Well, I don’t know for sure and I’ve read that different saints have differing opinions about it, though CCC 958 seems to suggest that they can intercede for us.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
We don’t know for sure if people in Purgatory can pray for people on earth. As said above, different saints have different opinions, and the Church has not ruled definitively on this, so Catholics are free to choose how they want to believe on this issue, as explained in the below article.
However, souls in Purgatory can definitely pray for us when they reach Heaven. Since souls after death whether in Purgatory or in Heaven are outside of earthly time, and since God can apply prayers at any earthly time he wishes, it may be that a prayer said by a holy soul that has reached Heaven could be applied now to help a person on earth, even if the holy soul doesn’t reach Heaven until some time in the future by earthly time standards.
However, souls in Purgatory can definitely pray for us when they reach Heaven. Since souls after death whether in Purgatory or in Heaven are outside of earthly time, and since God can apply prayers at any earthly time he wishes, it may be that a prayer said by a holy soul that has reached Heaven could be applied now to help a person on earth, even if the holy soul doesn’t reach Heaven until some time in the future by earthly time standards.
po18guy
Well-known member
We know that we, as sinners - even mortal sinners - can pray and be heard. We know that those in a state of grace, in heaven or on earth can pray and be heard. We know that those in hell “don’t have a prayer” as prayer is faith, hope and charity, and none of that exists in hell.
However, if all forms of sinners on earth may be heard, why should they - who have died in a state of grace - thus, are in God’s “good graces” - be deprived of prayer for us while on their journey to heaven?
IIRC, Fr. Mitch Pacwa teaches that our prayers benefit them and their prayers, somehow, benefit us. We know that no prayer is wasted.
However, if all forms of sinners on earth may be heard, why should they - who have died in a state of grace - thus, are in God’s “good graces” - be deprived of prayer for us while on their journey to heaven?
IIRC, Fr. Mitch Pacwa teaches that our prayers benefit them and their prayers, somehow, benefit us. We know that no prayer is wasted.
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Zaccheus
Guest
I believe the answer is yes. Those in Purgatory can’t gain merits for themselves but they can pray for those on Earth, and their prayers are effacious.
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Billy_Buescher
Guest
Yes, the verse below, to me that we can pray in Purgatory, for people on earth. Will they do any good, that is another question.
Luk 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.
Luk 16:27 And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house;
Luk 16:28 for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luk 16:29 But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.
Luk 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.
Luk 16:27 And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house;
Luk 16:28 for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luk 16:29 But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.
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