Why do we pray for the deceased?

[mathematoons]

Every week at Mass, we pray for specific parishioners who died in the last week. I hear about individuals doing the same thing for those they know who have died. I’m not sure why this is done–isn’t it up to God to judge people after death?

I mean, sometimes these prayers are done in the hope that people will be allowed into Heaven–like with the “Let’s Empty Purgatory” group here on CAF. But doesn’t that turn salvation into a popularity contest? Would God really let Mrs. Smith into Heaven (or let her out of purgatory a few years early) because she had a hundred people praying for her, but send Mrs. Jones to Hell (or keep her in purgatory another few years) because no one prayed for her?

 

[adrift]

Every week at Mass, we pray for specific parishioners who died in the last week. I hear about individuals doing the same thing for those they know who have died. I’m not sure why this is done–isn’t it up to God to judge people after death?

I mean, sometimes these prayers are done in the hope that people will be allowed into Heaven–like with the “Let’s Empty Purgatory” group here on CAF. But doesn’t that turn salvation into a popularity contest? Would God really let Mrs. Smith into Heaven (or let her out of purgatory a few years early) because she had a hundred people praying for her, but send Mrs. Jones to Hell (or keep her in purgatory another few years) because no one prayed for her?

People pray for the souls in Purgatory. I pray for those who have no one to pray for them. As a child, I use to pray for the closest and the farthest away. I guess the answer to your question is yes. It is a result of your life on earth. The friends you cultivate, the home you come from impacts on your time in purgatory.

 

[CountrySteve]

People pray for the souls in Purgatory. I pray for those who have no one to pray for them. As a child, I use to pray for the closest and the farthest away. I guess the answer to your question is yes. It is a result of your life on earth. The friends you cultivate, the home you come from impacts on your time in purgatory.

whats your signature mean?

 

[marlap2]

Getting out of purgatory: There’s a good reason to raise your kids in the church http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon7.gif

Apart from that, every single person I know who prays for the poor souls in purgatory, (including myself) always includes in their prayers those who have no one to pray for them, or those who are farthest from God.

According to the CCC, they can pray for us as well:

CCC 1032
Can the Holy Souls help us?

The Church’s most respected authorities have explained that, although the Souls in Purgatory cannot pray for themselves, they can intercede for others both living and deceased. Saint Alphonsus stated:
They are unable to pray or merit anything for themselves, yet, when they pray for others, they are heard by God.
Saint John Vianney, the Cure d’Ars, wrote:
If one knew what we may obtain from God by the intercession of the Poor Souls, they would not be so much abandoned. Let us pray a great deal for them; they will pray for us.
I have prayed for friends/relatives recently deceased, and I have asked them for specific prayers as well. Especially if they suffered with a particular temptation, and I am asking for prayers to combat such a thing.

blessings

 

[adrift]

whats your signature mean?

It means that sometimes what we say is not always understood the way we mean it.

 

[CountrySteve]

It means that sometimes what we say is not always understood the way we mean it.

Cool:thumbsup:

 

[mariafransisca3]

Because they are in purgatory (the fire of purgatory is temporal, while the fire of hell is eternal) and our prayers release them.

Read this group
Let’s Empty Purgatory
forums.catholic-questions.org/group.php?groupid=259

Just we can offer up our rosaries, divine mercy chaplet, masses, communions, for the holy souls in purgatory, and it will give them refreshment, remmision, and hopefully release.

I’ve heart that people can stay there for 5000 years:shrug:

 

[TuAutem]

Every week at Mass, we pray for specific parishioners who died in the last week. I hear about individuals doing the same thing for those they know who have died. I’m not sure why this is done–isn’t it up to God to judge people after death?

Death does not separate us from those we love. Because Christ has conquered death, and we are all bound together in the communion of saints. This is the same reason why we can ask Mary, Joseph, and the rest of the saints in heaven for their prayers (just as you can ask others in your parish for their prayers–death does not pose a barrier to us, because Christ has defeated death).

In the case of souls in purgatory, then, it is again just as it would be if death were not present. As we do pray for the sick in our parish, for loved ones who have lost their way, etc. Also, souls in purgatory are heaven-bound–they have not been condemned to hell. But they are undergoing purification. Our prayers for them are our encouragement for them, to hasten their perfect alignment with God. Think of it as being like cheering someone on who is running a marathon–it makes their race easier to know they are encouraged, and it motivates them to try harder.

Above and beyond that, God makes use of all the members of Christ’s body the Church to distribute his graces, so it is both our role and our privilege to be able to pass on some small measure of God’s favour by our own prayers. But this is grace that comes from God, that we are merely blessed to be able to transmit, when and how it pleases him. So there is no ‘popularity contest’–any graces we transfer to a loved one through our prayers come from God, who in his omniscience planned for them to go that way.

(We cannot ‘trick’ God into giving twice as much grace to someone because we pray two times for them, for example! Rather, the prayers that we do give were all part of God’s plan!)