Praying for the Dead: The Sweetest of the Spiritual Works of Mercy...

The Catholic faith does not believe everyone who dies goes to heaven. It does believe that the dead may need our help and that our prayers and sacrifices can indeed help them.

Throughout the month of November, Catholics aim with special dedication to fulfill the sweetest of the spiritual works of mercy, which is to pray for our beloved dead.

We do so of course on Nov. 2, the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), which this year happily fell on a Sunday. The Church remembers our beloved dead not just on this day, however, but makes suffrage for them throughout the year — and with special fervor in November.

We pray for the dead because we know in faith three truths: First, that contrary to the popular — and dangerous — presumption that everyone who dies automatically goes to a “better place,” the Catholic faith does not believe everyone who dies goes to heaven, especially immediately; second, that the dead may need our help; and third, that our prayers and sacrifices can indeed help them.

Regarding the first two truths, the Church teaches that to enter heaven, one must be completely attached to God and radically detached from sin and everything not of God. “Nothing unclean shall enter heaven,” the Book of Revelation affirms (21:27).

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RileyG said:

Yup. Drives me nuts when people say "Heaven has gained a new angel." Never assume. Pray. Pray. Pray.

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Yeah that saying drives me nuts. People do not morph into angels…ever.

In on

RileyG said:

Amen! Unfortunately, some people don’t have much theological or biblical education. It’s really not their fault, I guess?

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You do not really learn the faith through books imo. Bible? Yes. It something the person desires and the Holy Spriit steps in. I know from experience that a convert is hungry and they search out the food that feeds them as the process in the journey. God recognizes that and gives what they need in their desire to become closer to Him. You can read about it or you seek it in humility where it becomes your spiritual DNA. None of us have arrived as far as what we think we know. We are just sowers in His field. But all of us need a Shepherd. Of course that is Jesus Christ the genuine Shepherd. What He left for us is something we should prayerfully discern. I really feel people have pushed the gift of the Holy Spirit away, even as self proclaimed Christ followers. You see many now even criticizing their brethren in favor of worldly approval.

But after my long winded rant.. yep, I agree. But they may not be feeling any of those hunger pangs yet to pursue it yet. Conceding one’s self can be a double edged sword. I know I have often felt like baby bird squealing for mama. Got to be sincerely hungry.