What else can I do?

[dje101]

Hi all,

My uncle very recently died. When he was in the ER, I asked my mother if he was a believer.

She said that he wasn’t, but believed in the power of prayer (kind of odd.)

Apparently, when the chaplain came in to see him and his wife, she asked what religious preference they were. My aunt said Christian, but my uncle didn’t answer.

Now, my mother told me about an hour later that my aunt said that he IS a believer. He was in a motorcycle club and had some Christian buddies that were talking to him. They gave him a Bible with his name engraved on it. This is supposedly a big deal because if he wasn’t making any progress, then they’d let him be and not give him the bible.

From what I was told, my aunt thinks that he had a conversion because he no longer put my aunt down for mentioning anything about God.

My brother who is reluctant to become Catholic, randomly said ‘Hey, I got my rosary. You can use it to pray a mercy chaplet’

I remember that St. Faustina’s diary said “At the hour of their death, I defend every soul that will say this chaplet as I do My own glory (…). When this chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person, God’s anger is placated and his unfathomable mercy envelops the soul” (Diary, 811)

I prayed the DMC quite a few times that day. I had been praying it for him in the days leading up to his death too…I prayed a Rosary as well.

Now that he has died, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know whether he was a believer or not. Should I still pray for him on the chance that he might be in Purgatory?

God Bless

 

[Bigcat71]

Hi all,

My uncle very recently died. When he was in the ER, I asked my mother if he was a believer.

She said that he wasn’t, but believed in the power of prayer (kind of odd.)

Apparently, when the chaplain came in to see him and his wife, she asked what religious preference they were. My aunt said Christian, but my uncle didn’t answer.

Now, my mother told me about an hour later that my aunt said that he IS a believer. He was in a motorcycle club and had some Christian buddies that were talking to him. They gave him a Bible with his name engraved on it. This is supposedly a big deal because if he wasn’t making any progress, then they’d let him be and not give him the bible.

From what I was told, my aunt thinks that he had a conversion because he no longer put my aunt down for mentioning anything about God.

My brother who is reluctant to become Catholic, randomly said ‘Hey, I got my rosary. You can use it to pray a mercy chaplet’

I remember that St. Faustina’s diary said “At the hour of their death, I defend every soul that will say this chaplet as I do My own glory (…). When this chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person, God’s anger is placated and his unfathomable mercy envelops the soul” (Diary, 811)

I prayed the DMC quite a few times that day. I had been praying it for him in the days leading up to his death too…I prayed a Rosary as well.

Now that he has died, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know whether he was a believer or not. Should I still pray for him on the chance that he might be in Purgatory?

God Bless

I think you should. You really have no idea what thoughts he had in those last few minutes or throughout his life for that matter.

 

[Little_One0307]

Hi,

I know this may sound kinda crazy, but I was faced with a similar situation, only my friend committed suicide. You never know what may happen in the last few seconds of a person’s life. When I asked my priest if I should pray for them, he said yes.

I don’t know if my friend made it to purgatory, heaven, or hell, but it does me good to continue to pray for them. If I could offer my advice, I would offer my advice to pray for him, because well we never know and if he is in purgatory well your prayers would be most beneficial to him.

It will be most interesting to see what the rest of the forum posts. I am sure there will be more knowledgable answers than mine and some good theological answers.

In conclusion I am sure this paragrapah of the Catechism of the Catholic Church would apply to this situation as no one really knows what his status is.

Paragraph 2283 - We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives [or if we are not sure if they believe in God or not - yes this is my addition in brackets.] By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their lives [as well as those who are departed that they may come into the Light of His Presence.]

God bless.

 

[Edmundus1581]

The 1983 code of canon law says:

Canon 901 – A priest may apply the Mass for anyone, living or dead

So, if Mass can be offered for anyone, then I’m 99.999% sure that prayers can be too!

 

[laszlo]

With humble mind and heart trust that God is the judge, and he is a merciful one.

Do not trust form, not even ones like the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Trust God. Pray for him, offer Mass for him, and trust God.

 

[Alexander_Roman]

The Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan of Kyiv, Peter Mohyla, wrote in his Catechism that even if we saw someone commit a mortal sin prior to their death, we, as Christians, are to pray assiduously to God to ask Him not to punish that person for the sake of Christ, but to forgive him and receive him to Himself.

Always a good thing!

It is interesting how Latin Catholics prayed so very much for the dead in the Middle Ages. When a person died, his/her family and friends would get together to pray the book of Psalms over them and then they would take turns throughout the night to pray the Psalms another FOUR times. Then on the morning of the funeral, the Psalter was prayed in its entirety once more.

When a bishop died, he was to have the Psalms recited for his soul 600 times! Monks would divide up this number and the like.

We don’t pray for the reposed enough - it is always a blessed spiritual experience. God, for His part, will ensure that there will be those who will pray hard for us when we need them to.

Alex

 

[oratorymatt]

The Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan of Kyiv, Peter Mohyla, wrote in his Catechism that even if we saw someone commit a mortal sin prior to their death, we, as Christians, are to pray assiduously to God to ask Him not to punish that person for the sake of Christ, but to forgive him and receive him to Himself.

Always a good thing!

It is interesting how Latin Catholics prayed so very much for the dead in the Middle Ages. When a person died, his/her family and friends would get together to pray the book of Psalms over them and then they would take turns throughout the night to pray the Psalms another FOUR times. Then on the morning of the funeral, the Psalter was prayed in its entirety once more.

When a bishop died, he was to have the Psalms recited for his soul 600 times! Monks would divide up this number and the like.

We don’t pray for the reposed enough - it is always a blessed spiritual experience. God, for His part, will ensure that there will be those who will pray hard for us when we need them to.

Alex

I couldn’t agree more - people seem to be very assured about their friends/relations nowadays and their doesn’t seem to be much prayer for souls past their funeral. I really hope people will be kind enough to pray my sould when I go, I have a lot of hope in The Lord’s mercy, but I’m pretty sure his justice will have to be satisfied.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi
I prayed the DMC quite a few times that day. I had been praying it for him in the days leading up to his death too…I prayed a Rosary as well.

Now that he has died, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know whether he was a believer or not. Should I still pray for him on the chance that he might be in Purgatory?

God Bless

good for you.
yes of course we pray for all who have died because we can have no knowledge of the state of anyone’s soul, even those who profess to believe. Unbelievers need prayer more than anyone, so keep praying.

 

[redrosetea]

Trust in the Divine Mercy of God…It isn’t up to us to decide who converted and who didn’t…we don’t know

 

[dje101]

Ok then, I will keep praying.

As this is my first time praying for anyone that has died, I’m kind of at a loss of what to say. Can anyone guide me a bit? What do you say? “Heavenly Father, please lessen my uncle’s experience in Purgatory”?

 

[pablope]

Ok then, I will keep praying.

As this is my first time praying for anyone that has died, I’m kind of at a loss of what to say. Can anyone guide me a bit? What do you say? “Heavenly Father, please lessen my uncle’s experience in Purgatory”?

Also, call the parish office and see if you can have a mass offered in his behalf.

 

[dje101]

Also, call the parish office and see if you can have a mass offered in his behalf.

I can do that even though I’m not Catholic?

 

[Poor_Soul]

:

Hi all,

My uncle very recently died. When he was in the ER, I asked my mother if he was a believer.

She said that he wasn’t, but believed in the power of prayer (kind of odd.)

Apparently, when the chaplain came in to see him and his wife, she asked what religious preference they were. My aunt said Christian, but my uncle didn’t answer.

Now, my mother told me about an hour later that my aunt said that he IS a believer. He was in a motorcycle club and had some Christian buddies that were talking to him. They gave him a Bible with his name engraved on it. This is supposedly a big deal because if he wasn’t making any progress, then they’d let him be and not give him the bible.

From what I was told, my aunt thinks that he had a conversion because he no longer put my aunt down for mentioning anything about God.

My brother who is reluctant to become Catholic, randomly said ‘Hey, I got my rosary. You can use it to pray a mercy chaplet’

I remember that St. Faustina’s diary said “At the hour of their death, I defend every soul that will say this chaplet as I do My own glory (…). When this chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person, God’s anger is placated and his unfathomable mercy envelops the soul” (Diary, 811)

I prayed the DMC quite a few times that day. I had been praying it for him in the days leading up to his death too…I prayed a Rosary as well.

Now that he has died, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know whether he was a believer or not. Should I still pray for him on the chance that he might be in Purgatory?

God Bless

Yes you should still pray for him and for anyone that has passed away believer or not.

 

[pablope]

I can do that even though I’m not Catholic?

Yes, I think so, but ask the parish office. Also, during All souls day every Nov 2, you should be able to include your uncle’s name for all masses offered for that day.

 

[dje101]

Yes, I think so, but ask the parish office. Also, during All souls day every Nov 2, you should be able to include your uncle’s name for all masses offered for that day.

Cool. I’ll look into it. Thanks for the info.

 

[Little_One0307]

I can do that even though I’m not Catholic?

Yes you can. I know some of my friends who ask priests to say a Mass for them.

 

[puzzleannie]

Ok then, I will keep praying.

As this is my first time praying for anyone that has died, I’m kind of at a loss of what to say. Can anyone guide me a bit? What do you say? “Heavenly Father, please lessen my uncle’s experience in Purgatory”?

the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary are still excellent prayers for the poor souls in purgatory