Utweets
Why must we pray for the dead when the book of Hebrews 9:27 declares, “it is appointed unto man once to die and after that comes judgment.” Is this not medicine after death, as many claim? Does the dead actually need our prayers? What is the benefit of our prayers for the dead? What kind of prayer are we supposed to offer for the dead? ...READ THE FULL STORY FROM SOURCE ↔️
November 2nd is All Soul’s Day. It is a day set aside to pray for the souls of all the faithful departed. On this day, people remember their family members and their loved ones who have departed from this world to the land of no return. Some people visit commentaries with flowers to pay tribute to their loved ones; while many others offer masses for the repose of their souls.
All soul’s day is equivalent to Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Armed Forces Remembrance Day is a day when our fallen heroes are remembered and celebrated. We also celebrate members of the Armed Forces who have either retired or are still in service. The president, the governors and other leaders usually mark this armed event placing a crib in the tomb of the fallen heroes.
If the secular world could remember their fallen heroes, who says we Christians should not remember our own fallen heroes? The souls of the faithful departed are our fallen heroes. This is exactly what we do every November 2nd when we celebrate All Souls Day. On this day, we are not only celebrating the faithful departed, we are also using the medium to remind ourselves that we are all pilgrims here on earth.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares, “From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic Sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God” (CCC. No. 1032). The prayer we offer for the departed souls is for their purification and for the beatific vision of God.
This prayer can only be comprehended in line with the idea of God as a Merciful Father. The book of Revelation 21:27 declares that nothing unclean will enter the kingdom of heaven; whereas in Romans 3:23, St. Paul declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If nothing unclean will enter heaven and all, as St. Paul declares, have sinned; that means no one will ever enter the kingdom of heaven.
No wonder the author of the book of Revelation lamented so bitterly, “So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.” (Revelation 5:4). Imagine, not even a single soul is found worthy of eternal life! God’s mercy is the only way forward!
A sinner is a living dead. St. James encourages us to pray for the sick and sinners. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” With this we are encouraged to pray for the sick, the sinners and of course the soul of the faithful departed.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace – Amen! May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace – Amen!…READ THE FULL STORY FROM SOURCE ↔️
