Praying to certain people in purgatory

[DLedoux]

Is it possible to pray to a certain soul in purgatory? Like my father who died two years ago? You know for them to pray for me during these hard times? Not talking about like a mediator like Jesus, but something similar like a saint to pray for us. I miss my dad and I know he would be keeping my family strong during these tough times because of Corona.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I have heard contradictory statements on this, but I am of the opinion that people in Purgatory can pray for you. I could be wrong.

 

[Inbonum]

We can pray for souls in purgatory and to them and ask them for intercession. Those souls cannot help and pray for themselves.
When soul enters Heaven she pray for you and since everyone who is in Heaven is saint you have saint that prays for you. Souls in Purgatory never forget who prayed for them and who helped them to be in Heaven.
Second thing is that God wishes so much for every soul to be with Him in Heaven that when somebody is mercyful to one soul in Purgatory God gives in abundance in return.
Praying for souls in Purgatory can help you for your Purgatory to be shorter.
Most of this I read by st. Alphonsus Liguori and from book Purgatory Illustrated by the Lives and Legends of the Saints by François Xavier Schouppe

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy Mt5, 7

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

We don’t know the state of a soul after death unless/until someone is canonized, but just remember that one of the requirements of canonization is miracles attributed to the intercession of that person. How else can this occur than if we pray and ask for such intercession - not knowing but on faith?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Is it possible to pray to a certain soul in purgatory? Like my father who died two years ago? You know for them to pray for me during these hard times?

First, you cannot be certain that your dad’s soul is in Purgatory right now. Absent a private revelation from God, you don’t know where your dad’s soul is exactly; we don’t get information on that.

Second, we don’t typically pray TO souls in Purgatory because theological opinion is divided on whether they can pray for us/ intercede for us while they are there, and the Church has not said anything definitive on that. So we generally pray FOR souls in Purgatory with the understanding that when they reach Heaven, they can and will pray for us, and that furthermore if they can somehow pray for us from Purgatory, they will do that too.

Third, you may privately pray to (as in, ask the intercession of, ask them to pray for you and your intention) any soul that you reasonably believe is in Heaven. If your dad lived a generally good life and you have also prayed sincerely for his soul, then you can reasonably believe he is in Heaven and pray to him. Also, remember that Purgatory and Heaven are outside earthly time, so even if your dad is not yet in Heaven but is still in Purgatory (which you have no way of knowing) you can still ask him for his prayers, and he will pray for you when he is able (which may be now or may be after he gets to Heaven), and God will then apply the prayers at the right time which could be right now for you even if your dad ends up making the prayers in 10 or 10000 earthly time years etc.

I pray to my deceased parents, husband and other family members all the time.
I hope this helps.

 

[PetraG]

Is it possible to pray to a certain soul in purgatory? Like my father who died two years ago? You know for them to pray for me during these hard times? Not talking about like a mediator like Jesus, but something similar like a saint to pray for us. I miss my dad and I know he would be keeping my family strong during these tough times because of Corona.

It is fine to ask anyone to pray for you, but especially any of the baptized, provided you are placing your request in submission to the Trinity. The limitation on asking for the intercession of canonized saints only applies to prayer offered in the context of public liturgries.
Don’t forget to always pray for the dead when you ask them to intercede for you, though. They can no longer intercede on their own behalf.