Praying For The Dead?

Adapted from Fr. John Echert

Praying for the dead, or commonly known as the Poor Souls...

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches the following with regards to purgatory:

1030 - All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1032 - This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead that they might be delivered from their sin."^[607] 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.^[608] The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead.

It is said (2 Maccabees 12:45): "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins."

Now there is no need to pray for the dead who are in heaven, for they are in no need; nor again for those who are in hell, because they cannot be loosed from sins.

A great way to pray for the Poor Souls is praying the rosary, praying a Novena for the Holy Souls or having a mass offered up for a deceased loved one.

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