In the Catholic Church we have the great tradition of praying for all the beloved deceased souls throughout the month of November. It is good to know why we should be praying for the dead.

Death is not an end in itself. Death is not the final thing in the plan of God. St Paul says in Phil 1:6, “I am confident of this, that the one who has begun a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Jesus’ mission on Earth was to save you and me, which he has already begun and not yet completed, but it will be completed only on the Day of His Second Coming. Jesus will continue working in us even after our death in order to save us.

Malachi 3:2-3—“But who can endure the Day of his coming? Who can stand firm when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying.” As all human beings are sinners, we all have to go through the purifying process of God. How long may this process take? Mt 5:26 says, “Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Our prayers may let God have mercy on our beloved ones. In Job 1:5 we see Job offering a sacrifice of burned offering for the purification of his (living) children. 2 Maccabees 12:46 says, “Thus he (Judas) made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin.” So, we can offer prayers and sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins of the living and the dead alike. Jesus prayed for those who crucified him, that their sin be forgiven them.

Does God answer the prayers for the dead? Yes! Lazarus is dead for four days. Martha, his sister, prays to Jesus in Jn 11:21-22, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now [even four days after the death of Lazarus] I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” And Jesus answered this prayer by raising Lazarus from the dead.

In Mk 5:21-43 Jairus prays for his sick daughter, who eventually dies. Still later, Jesus answered his prayer by raising the dead girl back to life. In Lk 7:12-15 Jesus answered the tears and cry of a mother, who was a widow from Naim, by raising her dead son back to life. Death is NOT an end in itself, and the dead can listen to the voice of the Lord. If you pray, your beloved deceased souls will be given God’s mercy and heaven!

May the Lord of Mercies grant eternal rest unto all the departed souls. Amen.

Love and Prayers,

Fr. Charley