What’s the scriptural basis for praying for the dead and venerating relics?

[Michie]

Question: What scriptural basis is there for praying for the dead, for their repose, or for praying to the dead, for their intercessions? And in a related way, what scriptural basis is there for the Catholic practice of “relics,” such as saving a person’s bone fragments? My Protestant friends say these practices are not in the Bible and in fact border on the occult. (Indiana)

Answer: The Catholic customs of praying for the souls of the dead, praying to the saints who have gone before us in earthly life, and of venerating relics are based primarily in the church’s long-standing tradition and theology rather than explicit scriptural “prooftexts.” However, the Bible does indeed allude to these practices.

In terms of praying for the repose of the souls of the dead (praying for the souls in purgatory), the clearest supporting Scripture passages is found in the Old Testament book of 2 Maccabees.

Continued below.

What's the scriptural basis for praying for the dead and venerating relics?

The Catholic customs of praying for the dead and of venerating relics are based primarily in the church's long-standing tradition.

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[RileyG]

"And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection,

(For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)

And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them.

It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins."

- 2 Maccabees 12:43-46