"wasted" Prayers For The Dead?

[Dreamweaver]

As a Catholic, I understand the importance of praying for the dead, especially for those in purgatory. What if, in praying for a particular soul, they have been assigned to Hell? Would the prayers (unintentionally) prayed for a person in Hell ever be wasted, or would God grant grace to another that is in purgatory? If someone could explain this in more detail, I would be thankful!

[cathoholic_anonymous]

I am not sure about this one. Prayer is essentially an act of love, an opportunity to go deeper into the Christian mystery, so I don't think it could ever be wasted.

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

We do not know the depths of the mercy and compassion of God, but He would never allow for prayer to fall to waste.

[N/A Gone]

I dont like thinking of prayers as currency

[thessalonian]

The purpose of prayer is to open us up to God. By praying for the dead that part is accomplished. I have heard and have little doudt that prayers for the damned are not wasted. There are many souls in purgatory who do not have anyone to pray for them and so I strongly suspect that that is where they go.

[brendan1104]

If we pray for a soul, if they're in hell I think it would go to a soul in purgatory... the same as if they're in heaven.

[Dreamweaver]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

[A Yearning Heart]

never assume that someone is in hell-we can not judge and the mercy of God is unimaginable. by praying for the dead we have love and mercy for our neighbour-"blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy". besides each and every prayer we offer to God is never wasted such that even if a prayer for a damned soul is said it would be beneficial for some other soul who is in need we dont know about.
on the flip side-dont assume someone is in heaven-they may be in purgatory and in need of prayer! "knock and the door shall be opened for you, seek and yeh shall find, and ask and it shall be given".

"The day was long, The burden I had borne seemed heavier than I could longer bear and then it lifted-but I did not know some one had knelt in prayer; had taken me to God that very hour, and asked the easing of the load, and He, in infinite compassion, had stooped down and taken it from me. We cannot tell how often as we pray for some bewildered one, hurt and distressed, the answer comes, but many times those hearts find sudden peace and rest. Some one had prayed, and faith, a reaching hand, took hold of God, and brought Him down that day! So many, many hearts have need of prayer. Oh, let us pray!"
-St. Maximilian Kolbe

[123]

[quote]What if, in praying for a particular soul, they have been assigned to Hell?[/quote]

God's ways are mysterious...We will never know, until the end whom really has gone to the heavens or the depths of hell. And, in reality...Do we really need to know whom has entered enlightenment or seperation from God?

[Dreamweaver]

[quote name='A Yearning Heart' post='1259475' date='Apr 29 2007, 05:23 AM']"The day was long, The burden I had borne seemed heavier than I could longer bear and then it lifted-but I did not know some one had knelt in prayer; had taken me to God that very hour, and asked the easing of the load, and He, in infinite compassion, had stooped down and taken it from me. We cannot tell how often as we pray for some bewildered one, hurt and distressed, the answer comes, but many times those hearts find sudden peace and rest. Some one had prayed, and faith, a reaching hand, took hold of God, and brought Him down that day! So many, many hearts have need of prayer. Oh, let us pray!"
-St. Maximilian Kolbe[/quote]

Cool, thanks for sharing that quote. I love St. Kolbe, but I hadn't come across that quote yet.

[bonoducchi]

If even one of my prayers is ever wasted, I'm quitting and becoming Buddhist!