Praying For The Dead

[Anna]

Is the practice of praying for the dead (as someone has claimed on this phorum) a doctrine invented by the Catholic Church to bring millions of dollars into her coffers?

Or did the Apostles believe in praying for the dead, and pass this practice on as a tradition of their Jewish roots?

One simple way to find the Truth, then, seems to ask of the Jewish Religion, "Do you pray for the dead?"

Not surprisingly, the answer is yes. Jewish people do pray for their dearly departed. http://www.jewishmag.co.il/12MAG/KADISH/kadish.htm

Jewish people believe that by praying to God on behalf of the deceased, his punishments due him by his sins on earth may be lessened.

Since the Apostles always held this belief, it stands to reason that the Church did also.

Pax Christi. <><

[foundsheep]

bump

[cappie]

Since time immemorial, men have believed in the immortality of the soul, and have prayed for the dead. It is a custom found in all ancient religions, including Judaism. The Jews, for example, believed that there is a place of temporary bondage from which the souls of the dead receive their final release. Since Jesus in no way contradicted this ancient belief, the infant Church incorporated it into its teachings. Evidence suggests that the belief dates back to the first century of the church. “Remember us who have gone before you, in your prayers” is a petition, often found inscribed on the walls of the Roman catacombs (Lumen Gentium-50). The inclusion of “prayers for the dead” is found in many of the ancient liturgies of the Mass, originating in the early centuries of the Church. Praying for the deceased members of the family, as part of their family night prayers, was also an ancient practice of oriental Christians. The early Fathers of the Church encouraged this practice, which they believed to have been inherited from the apostles. Tertullian (A.D.160-240) wrote about anniversary Masses for the dead, advising widows to pray for their husbands. St. Augustine remarked that he used to pray for the sins of his mother, remembering her request: "When I die, bury me anywhere you like, but remember to pray for me at the altar.”

[Monica]

interesting.

[Ellenita]

Is the practice of praying for the dead (as someone has claimed on this phorum) a doctrine invented by the Catholic church to bring millions into her coffers?

Actually I find that suggestion really insulting! Both my maternal grandmother and my dad died in the same year. I was very close to them and find praying and lighting a candle for them a real source of comfort for me, let alone anything else. My family are not catholic, but some work colleagues of my dad came to his funeral who were. A year later my mum received a letter from them to say that their priest had said a mass for my dad. My family and especially my mum were very moved by this, to think that people were still holding my dad in their prayers a year after he had gone.

[Uncle Gus]

If praying for the dead is not a good and holy thing to do, then why do we have funerals? Why not simply dispose of the corpse in a sanitary way, wash your hands and get back to work? Why inscribe the prayer "Rest In Peace" on headstones?

It is a good and natural thing to pray for your dead, that's why humans in all cultures and all religions have been doing it since the beginning.

[cmotherofpirl]

When someone dies that I know, I put their name in my office book on that particular date. So every year on that date the rosary and office prayers I say are offered for their souls. So next year on October 30th I will pray for Nathans grandma and every year thereafter.

Here is a site I belong to:

http://www.holysouls.info/index.php

[BLAZEr]

When someone dies that I know, I put their name in my office book on that particular date. So every year on that date the rosary and office prayers I say are offered for their souls. So next year on October 30th I will pray for Nathans grandma and every year thereafter.

Here is a site I belong to:

http://www.holysouls.info/index.php

OhMyGoodness!!! You rock my socks!

I'm gonna try to do this. St. Francis used to say that the greatest act of mercy was to pray for the dead.

You're going to heaven C-Mom!

[cmotherofpirl]

I would be overwhelmed to make it to purgatory.

I think it is the least we can do for our family and friends.

[littleflower+JMJ]

tonite (earlymorning) im goign to do the prayer for the suffering of poor souls from bl. ted and the other prayer from st. gertrude the great.

they greatly need our prayer.

[ICTHUS]

Just to clarify - the purification of the Elect in purgatory is made possible only by the super-abundant merits of the Blood of Jesus Christ, right?

I'm still having trouble getting my head around this whole doctrine of purgatory. I'm not saying I dont beleive in it, its just that that belief isin't as well formed as my belief in Heaven and Hell. Call it the "leftovers" from Evangelicalism.

[BLAZEr]

Just to clarify - the purification of the Elect in purgatory is made possible only by the super-abundant merits of the Blood of Jesus Christ, right?

I'm still having trouble getting my head around this whole doctrine of purgatory. I'm not saying I dont beleive in it, its just that that belief isin't as well formed as my belief in Heaven and Hell. Call it the "leftovers" from Evangelicalism.

The purification of the elect is done by Jesus . . . by his cross and resurrection . . . it's where we are "washed in the blood of the lamb." I just spent the whole night explaining to my teens that Purgatory is like a drive through carwash where the "soap" is the blood of Jesus and the "brush" is the time we have to wait to enter into the Heavenly banquet fully . . .

so . . . yes, it is done by the merits of Christ . . . but then I would say that being able to get up in the morning is also won for us by the merits of Christ

[M.SIGGA]

do the eastern orthodox pray for the dead like Catholics do?

[Dave]

do the eastern orthodox pray for the dead like Catholics do?

Yes, they sure do. :)

[cappie]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 1032) recommends prayer for the dead in conjunction with the offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. Likewise, it urges "almsgiving, indulgences and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead." All these prayerful acts are to be conducted as matters of faith, and not as something magical. The greatest act is to offer Mass for the dead, because in this One Sacrifice, the merits of our Lord Jesus are applied to the dead. Hence this reconciling offering of the Lord is the greatest and most perfect prayer, which we can offer for the dead in their state of purification. Let us not forget to pray for our dear departed, have Masses offered for them, visit their graves, and make daily sacrifices for them.

St Alphonsis said that it comes down to belief in the Communion of Saints, we are as a Church united with all who are the Body of Christ, living, departed or in heaven now triumphant, it is a concrete way of following Jesus' command to love our neighbour, for the souls of the departed are our neighbours who now need the charity of our prayers.

The Catholic understanding of the Communion of Saints is a “two-way affair" between the living and the faithful departed. The saints pray for us, and we pray for the dead. Death is no barrier to prayerful communion with the dead. We lovingly remember them and thank God for their eternal reward.