Purgatory question

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Pythagoras

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I heard that the souls in purgatory cannot pray for themselves so as to advance to heaven. Can the saints in heaven and men on their earthly life pray for them?

Another question is can the poor souls in purgatory pray for the people on Earth?
 
Yes the saints can, and the wayfarers here below can pray for them.

While they cannot intercede for themselves, as a general rule, they can intercede for us, and see:

‘St. Catherine of Bologna, when she wished to obtain any grace, had recourse to the souls in Purgatory, and her prayers were heard immediately. She declared that, by praying to those holy souls she obtained many favors which she had sought through the intercession of the saints without obtaining them. The graces which devout persons are said to have received through the holy souls are innumerable.’

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
 
I would propose that the souls entire existence in purgatory is one continuous prayer for their own purification and the perfecting of those on earth.

The soul who is in purgatory is there because it has chosen to be there. The soul loves God and wishes to be with Him in heaven. It has come before Christ in judgement imperfect, but relying on God’s great mercy.
Therefore it is willing to undergo whatever purification is necessary. It’s prayer for itself is a simple one. “Lord purify me that I may see you face to face”. It’s prayer for those on earth would likewise be simple and to the point, probably something like the Fatima prayer, “Oh my Jesus forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy”.

Those are my thoughts on the matter - based to some some extent on the writings of St Catherine of Sienna.

Peace
James
 
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