The only time you should request the intercession of a dead relative is if they lived an incredibly pious life, so much so that you believe they are in Heaven. This is very rare however.
Oh, and those in Hell can not intercede for anyone. Therefore, anyone who dies in a state of mortal sin that is not repented, and ends up in Hell, can not pray for those on Earth.
Actually, I think its perfectly fine to ask for the intercession of dead friends/family member. Their was a saint, I believe, who said they saw priest falling into hell like snowflakes. So we can never know who is in heaven, purgatory and hell.
Sorry to have to disagree with you here. I pray to any and all of my deceased relatives. I have every confidence that Jesus meant what He said when He told St. Gertrude: “When I behold any soul in agony who has thought of Me with pleasure, or who has performed any works deserving of reward, I appear to that soul at the moment of death, with a countenance so full of Love and Mercy that the soul repents from its inmost depths for having offended Me, and that soul is saved by this repentence.” I can’t imagine any of my relatives denying Jesus at His appearance at their moment of death. There may be many in purgatory, but I seriously doubt that any is in hell.
Actually, yes you are correct
. I have read many times that God sometimes “passes” on prayers that was said for someone in Hell to those in Purgatory.
I haven’t really read any works by any saints. Yes, I think I’ve made an error
…see above post. Apologies for that.Priests are also capable of sinning. I once read that the sin a lot of priests commit is spiritual pride, and as you know, pride is generally the worst of all sins. This is why it’s really difficult to live a life like Jesus. On the one hand, you are battling against common sins such as sins of the flesh. But then when you’ve accomplished that, you have to fight the pride that entails such a victory. And because pride usually goes unnoticed, that is what makes it even more harder to fight.
I mean “Merciful King”.I haven’t really read any works by any saints. Yes, I think I’ve made an error
That said, I hope you do know that what St. Gertrude wrote down is private revelation, and can possibly be open to error (e.g. exaggeration, constructed memory, etc). I recall a saint who remarked something along the lines of God that He comes first as a Divine King, and then as a Just Judge (which could include sending a person to Hell).
Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk
because we dont know who is saved, who is in purgatory and who is in heaven, we should hope that our loved ones are saved, but pray for them as though they are in purgaoty…
We don’t have to accept private revelation. That’s true, but when the Church has investigated a person’s life and declared that person in heaven, I take very seriously the words of that saint, especially when she is quoting the words of Jesus to her. Do you really think that she quoted Jesus erroneously? Don’t you think that the Holy Spirit would have guided her to quote correctly the words that Jesus wanted us to hear? I believe St. Faustina is the saint you were referring to regarding the Just Judge statement. She quoted Jesus saying that if we pray the Divine Mercy chaplet in the presence of a dying person, that person, upon death, would meet the Merciful Savior and not the Just Judge.I haven’t really read any works by any saints. Yes, I think I’ve made an error
That said, I hope you do know that what St. Gertrude wrote down is private revelation, and can possibly be open to error (e.g. exaggeration, constructed memory, etc). I recall a saint who remarked something along the lines of God that He comes first as a Divine King, and then as a Just Judge (which could include sending a person to Hell).
Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk
i think that is a brilliant promise that jesus gave just for 1 recitation of the chaplet on behalf of a dying person…
You can’t be more generous than God.
i agree 100%
Good point!
You should always assume that they are in Purgatory.