Souls suffering in Purgatory

[McCartney]

I read somewhere that the suffering of souls in Purgatory cannot be applied for their own release and that they can only offer up those sufferings for the living. Hence, praying TO the souls in Purgatory is very powerful.

Any comments?

 

[Petaro]

I must admit that I have never heard that the prayers of those in Purgatory can assist us. Sounds a bit selfish gaining from their suffering when we should be praying for them to alleviate their suffering. When they get to heaven may be the time for them to put in a good word for us. I must admit to praying to Jesus mainly as the One I have failed and to Our Lady for disappointing her and for her intercession. I don’t pray for things anymore, just forgiveness. He must get very bored with my poor continual grovelling, but it is all I am worth, and just want Him to recognise me on the Last Day. "Oh yes,that Peter, I recognise him from his irritating sniveling. I told him seven times seventy that I had forgiven him, but he wouldn’t let it go. " A few others who could vouch for me will not go astray.

 

[GaryTaylor]

I must admit that I have never heard that the prayers of those in Purgatory can assist us.

They can’t pray for themselves or “merit”. Same as the Saints in this regard, they do-not merit either. They were all “already” judged at least in the particular judgment thus purgatory or the communion of Saints.

 

[Robertanthony]

I read somewhere that the suffering of souls in Purgatory cannot be applied for their own release and that they can only offer up those sufferings for the living. Hence, praying TO the souls in Purgatory is very powerful.

Any comments?

In the Our Father, we pray “your will be done”. It seems people are trying to twist God’s arm from every conceivable angle to get him to do their will. They’ll try this novena, then this novena, “which is known to never fail”, last resort, they’ll suddenly remember Purgatory, think they can enter into a win-win deal with souls there (who are probably happier and more at peace that most of us will ever be in this confounded life): “I’ll pray for you, you ask God to grant me my wish.” Such selflessness. What happened to helping someone out not expecting a return of favours? Pure selfishness hid under a smart coat of piety and charity.

 

[crystal_waters]

I must admit that I have never heard that the prayers of those in Purgatory can assist us. Sounds a bit selfish gaining from their suffering when we should be praying for them to alleviate their suffering. When they get to heaven may be the time for them to put in a good word for us.

www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a9p5.htm

958 Communion with the dead. "In full consciousness of this communion of the whole Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, the Church in its pilgrim members, from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, has honored with great respect the memory of the dead; and ‘because it is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins’ she offers her suffrages for them. **"500 Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective. **

 

[Robertanthony]

www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a9p5.htm

958 Communion with the dead. "In full consciousness of this communion of the whole Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, the Church in its pilgrim members, from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, has honored with great respect the memory of the dead; and ‘because it is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins’ she offers her suffrages for them. **"500 Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective. **

These days, nobody goes to God empty-handed and tell him, meaning every word: “God I come to you, I ask nothing of you but to be your faithful servant, do with me as you will, let not my will be done but yours.” God must be so weary of people coming to him with their grocery lists. UNLESS, what you’re asking is to grow in virtue with no ulterior thought, then it’s really trying to get the vending machine to drop the bag of chips. The “what’s in it for me” syndrome.

 

[Mike_Dye]

While we are on this topic I would like to make a suggestion…It seems to me that praying for the souls in Purgatory has fallen by the wayside in recent times. As a youth we were constantly reminded to pray for the “Poor Souls”…when was the last time you heard that? In our parish we announce the “Mass intention” at each Mass. I would suggest that an occasional mass said for the souls in Purgatory not only would greatly benefit those in Purgatory but would also raise awareness in a congregation that possibly has not thought about Purgatory for a while…Just a thought.

 

[svid2]

I read somewhere that the suffering of souls in Purgatory cannot be applied for their own release and that they can only offer up those sufferings for the living. Hence, praying TO the souls in Purgatory is very powerful.

Any comments?

Pax Christi!

That’s how I understand God has set things up. We can help them and they can help us.

We are social creatures, members of a team, if you like.

God bless.

P.S. St. Bernadette, pray for us!

 

[tommydude2112]

I thought the main idea was to pray for those in Purgatory as Jesus taught St. Gertrude to say a certain prayer which would release 1000 souls from Purgatory every time it was said (apparently it also extends to living souls)

*Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen
*

catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=424