Pray for those in hell

FriendlyJosh · Apr 2, 2012

as you all know hell is the most horrifying place imaginable and unimaginable. I don't know if prayers will do souls there any good but what if they do? Please considering joining me and praying for the lost souls. :crossrc:

Ave Maria · Apr 2, 2012

I don't think prayer can help those who are in Hell. It can, however, help to provide graces to those who are on their way to Hell but who have not yet died and therefore still have a chance to repent.

LOCO · Apr 2, 2012

Friendly Josh,

Catholics believe those in hell are beyond redemption. Our prayers cannot help them.

We can pray for those in Purgatory, our prayers can lessen their time there and relieve the pain.

God Bless You

FriendlyJosh · Apr 2, 2012

LOCO said:
Friendly Josh,

Catholics believe those in hell are beyond redemption. Our prayers cannot help them.

We can pray for those in Purgatory, our prayers can lessen their time there and relieve the pain.

God Bless You

Well i'm going to pray for both, because it's possible your friends and maybe even family could be in Hell and if my prayers help at all, then i'm happy to offer them. Wouldn't wish that place on anyone.

JacktheCatholic · Apr 2, 2012

FriendlyJosh said:
as you all know hell is the most horrifying place imaginable and unimaginable. I don't know if prayers will do souls there any good but what if they do? Please considering joining me and praying for the lost souls.

Way ahead of ya bro.

Divine Mercy is usually my favorite prayer for the suffering of those in Purgatory.

(you did mean Purgatory?)

WarriorAngel · Apr 2, 2012

1 John 5:16
He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask, and life shall be given to him, who sinneth not to death. There is a sin unto death: for that I say not that any man ask.
All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death.

We cannot specifically pray for those in hell. We pray for souls in purgatory who have hope. There is no hope once someone is in hell.

JacktheCatholic · Apr 2, 2012

WarriorAngel said:
1 John 5:16
He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask, and life shall be given to him, who sinneth not to death. There is a sin unto death: for that I say not that any man ask.
All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death.

We cannot specifically pray for those in hell. We pray for souls in purgatory who have hope. There is no hope once someone is in hell.

Worth repeating...

There is no hope once someone is in hell

StThomasMore · Apr 3, 2012

FriendlyJosh said:
as you all know hell is the most horrifying place imaginable and unimaginable. I don't know if prayers will do souls there any good but what if they do? Please considering joining me and praying for the lost souls.

as dante said. "abandon hope all ye who enter"

There is no hope for the damned.

which is saddening.

Incariol · Apr 3, 2012

Does the theology strongly indicating there isn't any hope mean we shouldn't grieve and pray for them nonetheless? St. Isaac of Nineveh and other saints say things like,

"What is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation, for humanity, for the birds, for the animals, for demons, and for all that exists. By the recollection of them the eyes of a merciful person pour forth tears in abundance. By the strong and vehement mercy that grips such a person’s heart, and by such great compassion, the heart is humbled and one cannot bear to hear or to see any injury or slight sorrow in any in creation. For this reason, such a person offers up tearful prayer continually even for irrational beasts, for the enemies of the truth, and for those who harm her or him, that they be protected and receive mercy. And in like manner such a person prays for the family of reptiles because of the great compassion that burns without measure in a heart that is in the likeness of God."

*shrug* but then again, what do I know.

mg0086 · Apr 3, 2012

I agree with the responses here,

those who have been condemned by the Almighty are beyond hope and prayer. They have chosen to reject God so God chose to reject them. This is saddening but there is hope for those in purgatory.

Yeah, they could really use our prayer...

WarriorAngel · Apr 3, 2012

Incariol said:
Does the theology strongly indicating there isn't any hope mean we shouldn't grieve and pray for them nonetheless? St. Isaac of Nineveh and other saints say things like,

"What is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation, for humanity, for the birds, for the animals, for demons, and for all that exists. By the recollection of them the eyes of a merciful person pour forth tears in abundance. By the strong and vehement mercy that grips such a persons heart, and by such great compassion, the heart is humbled and one cannot bear to hear or to see any injury or slight sorrow in any in creation. For this reason, such a person offers up tearful prayer continually even for irrational beasts, for the enemies of the truth, and for those who harm her or him, that they be protected and receive mercy. And in like manner such a person prays for the family of reptiles because of the great compassion that burns without measure in a heart that is in the likeness of God."

*shrug* but then again, what do I know.

We pray for souls who have hope - those committed to eternal hell have no hope - BUT we cannot judge who is in hell or in purgatory so we pray for all souls in hopes that they may be able to enter Heaven.

A pious opinion, maybe? That which you posted, but it does seem to romanticize the demons getting a reprieve which is certain there will be none for them.

Jude 1:7
As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

2 Thessalonians 1:9
Who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction, from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his power:

Hebrews 6:2
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Matthew 3:12
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

Matthew 18:8
And if thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire.

Matthew 25:41
Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.

Mark 9:42
And if thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire:

Mark 9:45
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out. It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.

We get the picture.... there is no end to the eternal punishment - they are cursed and go to the eternal flames meant for the devil and his angels.
IT is sad and i believe this is ONE reason we are not privy to who shall go there. Our hearts spring eternal hope for that last moment of taking God's grace - which is why we pray - for not only them to coonvert in life and bear good fruit - but if that is not possible - that God grant them extra mercy at their death so they may pass thru purgatory but still eventually get into Heaven.

So we offer up Masses while they live as well as when they die. For it is more meritorious for them in life....more grace before death.

ProScribe · Apr 3, 2012

Daily Prayers :prayer:

JacktheCatholic · Apr 3, 2012

One of the great and many reasons I love catholicism is the Catechism of the Catholic Church because it is an assured teaching from God.

IV. HELL

1033 We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: "He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."612 Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren.613 To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell."

1034 Jesus often speaks of "Gehenna" of "the unquenchable fire" reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe and be converted, where both soul and body can be lost.614 Jesus solemnly proclaims that he "will send his angels, and they will gather . . . all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire,"615 and that he will pronounce the condemnation: "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire!"616

1035 The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, "eternal fire."617 The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

1036 The affirmations of Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church on the subject of hell are a call to the responsibility incumbent upon man to make use of his freedom in view of his eternal destiny. They are at the same time an urgent call to conversion: "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few."618
Since we know neither the day nor the hour, we should follow the advice of the Lord and watch constantly so that, when the single course of our earthly life is completed, we may merit to enter with him into the marriage feast and be numbered among the blessed, and not, like the wicked and slothful servants, be ordered to depart into the eternal fire, into the outer darkness where "men will weep and gnash their teeth."619

1037 God predestines no one to go to hell;620 for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want "any to perish, but all to come to repentance":621

Father, accept this offering
from your whole family.
Grant us your peace in this life,
save us from final damnation,
and count us among those you have chosen.622

underheaven · Apr 3, 2012

FriendlyJosh said:
as you all know hell is the most horrifying place imaginable and unimaginable. I don't know if prayers will do souls there any good but what if they do? Please considering joining me and praying for the lost souls.

What a lovely heartfelt thought.
Since I am no longer bound by Catholic theology,I hope I am
allowed to say that they are probably correct on this one,but Josh,
what I am sure of ,is that one day our loving God will send His Saviour
back , to 'save ' those who might be saved, as He did this time.
But that will be a Time chosen by God in the future .
Only a Saviour sent by God Himself would have the power to release
those souls who have refused absolutely,the power of the Holy Spirit,and
the love of Jesus Christ,not only to save them,but to even recognise their
existence,when face to face.
They will also have led many souls against God deliberately.

Azureknight 773 · Apr 3, 2012

Oh dear me, I wish to do it but those people there are beyond the boundary of salvation. Much as we want them to be saved, it appears that they are locked there for ALL ETERNITY. Now that place would be the worst place of all of the worst. That would be the eternal death that is full of endless suffering. Bodies will be fire and the burning worms will never cease to eat everything there. It is the ultimate capital of High Octane Nightmare Fuel. No matter how we pray, it will not work.

StThomasMore · Apr 4, 2012

I heard of a tradition where St. Paul prayed for the damned in hell and they got a days respite in hell. It might have been in a apocryphal account if I recall. Maybe someone can list it here

Foundthelight · Apr 4, 2012

We can and should pray for all the departed.

We don't know who is in hell and who isn't. Those in purgatory will benefit greatly, those in heaven will be appreciative, and those in hell are probably in too much torment to notice.

Eirlysa · Apr 4, 2012

Once a soul is condemned to Hell it becomes incapable of love (Hell being the absence of Love, which is God) and any prayers one might offer would just be disgusting and annoying to it.

One should pray instead for those who have departed this world in general. God is outside of time, after all, and we can still offer prayers and ask for mercy even today for those souls who departed long ago.

Fantine · Apr 4, 2012

People condemn themselves to hell through ego and narcissism. In their self-absorbed construct, God has no place, and they live trapped in their own self-absorption. In a sense, they are living in hell even when they are alive.

If God has no place in their world, they have no place in God's world, but they don't know any differently. But they may not miss what they don't know, either.

That's hell.

JacktheCatholic · Apr 4, 2012

StThomasMore said:
I heard of a tradition where St. Paul prayed for the damned in hell and they got a days respite in hell. It might have been in a apocryphal account if I recall. Maybe someone can list it here

It is an Aprocrypha writing called, "The Apocalypse of Paul" and it is part #44 that it speaks of this day of reprieve.

The Apocalypse of St. Paul
A prefatory notice pretends that this work was found in a marble case under the house of Paul at Tarsus, in the reign of King Theodosius (A.D. 379-395), and upon intelligence conveyed by an angel. This indicates the date of the apocalypse's fabrication. It purports to reveal the secrets seen by the Apostle in his transport to the third heaven, alluded to in 2 Corinthians 12:2, and was composed in Greek. From this Pauline apocalypse must be distinguished a Gnostic work entitled the "Ascension of Paul", referred to by St. Epiphanius, but of which no remains have survived. There is a spurious "Apocalypse of John", of comparatively late origin. Regarding the so-called Apocalypse of St. Bartholomew see Gospel of St. Bartholomew.

Source: CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Apocrypha

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