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Traveler
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| Joined: | Fri Jun 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 19 |
| First Name: | Jean | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | North American Baptist, Evangelical Free |
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Posted: Thu Oct 25th, 2007 07:00 pm |
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I have some questions about purgatory. As a Protestant seeking to understand the Catholic faith, I find the doctrine of purgatory reasonable (however I still don’t have the guts to bring this up to another Protestant and see how it fairs in an open debate). However recently I was faced with the more practical aspects of purgatory. The sister of a close friend died. From what I know of the lady, I believe she had a deep faith, but as she was not a saint, it occurred to me that she is probably in purgatory. So that brought up the questions-
How do you pray for someone in purgatory ? General prayers like the Rosary or specific prayers like “God help Lacy be purified”.
Do you just pray for loved ones that die or everyone and how long should a person pray for someone in purgatory?
What happens to the people who died, go to purgatory and no one ever prays for them? Most Protestants would fall in the category. I think of my father, a man with great faith who died several years ago. Pretty good chance no one ever prayed for him. The whole idea of the communication saints gave me comfort that my dad who always prayed for his kids in this life was still praying for us in the next. But now I realize maybe I should be praying for him.
So what is the Catholic church's teaching on this. I will say that the Protestant “absent from the body, present with the Lord” approach, although perhaps too simplistic, sure is easier to deal with.
I would appreciate your input. If I accept the teaching of purgatory, I also have to accept the responsibility that goes with it.
Thanks
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Traveler
Member
| Joined: | Fri Jun 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 19 |
| First Name: | Jean | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | North American Baptist, Evangelical Free |
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Posted: Thu Oct 25th, 2007 08:12 pm |
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The whole idea of the communication saints gave me comfort that my dad who always prayed for his kids in this life was still praying for us in the next.
Whoops, I meant "The whole idea of the communion of saints gave me comfort that my dad who always prayed for his kids in this life was still praying for us in the next."
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Intercessor
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| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1238 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Oct 25th, 2007 10:05 pm |
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However recently I was faced with the more practical aspects of purgatory. The sister of a close friend died. From what I know of the lady, I believe she had a deep faith, but as she was not a saint, it occurred to me that she is probably in purgatory. So that brought up the questions- How do you pray for someone in purgatory? General prayers like the Rosary or specific prayers like “God help Lacy be purified”.
Hi, Jean,
You could pray either a formal prayer or an informal prayer. Most practicing Catholics include a prayer for the souls in purgatory when they offer thanks for a meal:
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
or
Lord, let Aunt Catherine know that I love her, am grateful for her life, and that I am praying for her soul. Please bring her into the joy of your Presence.
Do you just pray for loved ones that die or everyone and how long should a person pray for someone in purgatory?
The sky is the limit here, Jean. Some options:
for those in purgatory who most deserve mercy.
for those in purgatory who least deserve mercy.
for those in purgatory who are closest to entering your Presence.
for those in purgatory who most deserved my kindness but did not receive it.
for those in purgatory who are there partly because of me.
You get the idea. The second part of your question is a bit harder. We don't get monthly reports from glory about new arrivals. It's not an exact science knowing how long is long enough. One approach is to use language that would make sense wherever the loved one is, on the journey toward the presence of God. For example:
Lord, bless Aunt Catherine with the joy of your Presence.
Grant her rest and peace.
What happens to the people who died, go to purgatory and no one ever prays for them? Most Protestants would fall in the category. I think of my father, a man with great faith who died several years ago. Pretty good chance no one ever prayed for him.
Gotta love the Catholic Church, Jean. Your dad was covered. Remember that every day faithful Catholics are praying for the faithful departed. It's part of our charitable obligation. Members of the Church Militant, the Church Suffering, and the Church Triumphant all pray for each other. We are all part of the One Body of Christ.
The whole idea of the {communion of} saints gave me comfort that my dad who always prayed for his kids in this life was still praying for us in the next. But now I realize maybe I should be praying for him.
Yes, you know now that you can be praying for him.
I will say that the Protestant “absent from the body, present with the Lord” approach, although perhaps too simplistic, sure is easier to deal with.
I understand what you are feeling. I have buried a father-in-law, a father, and a husband—all three were ordained Baptists. It's wise to focus on the justice, mercy, and love of God. Trust Him to do what is good, fair, and necessary. Purgatory exists, Jean, because of the Father's great mercy, not because He is punitive.
If I accept the teaching of purgatory, I also have to accept the responsibility that goes with it.
Wow, Jean! You are my kind of lady!
God bless you.
Last edited on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 04:24 am by Intercessor
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"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5353 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Oct 25th, 2007 11:36 pm |
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Traveler wrote: How do you pray for someone in purgatory ? General prayers like the Rosary or specific prayers like “God help Lacy be purified”.
Yes. Like any other prayers, you talk to God. You may use your own words or the words others have written. You may pray alone or in a group. You may ask the Church to pray with you by offering masses for them.
The traditional prayer is "Eternal rest grant unto him/her/them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him/her/them. May he/she/they rest in peace. May his/her/their soul(s) and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
This is what you want to convey. You can pass up dessert and think to yourself, "I'm offering this sacrifice for the purification of Charles". (Charles is my father-in-law, who died two years ago next month.) If you're in a restaurant, put the money that dessert would have cost into the collection basket, or give it to the Red Cross. There is value in suffering and deprivation, and that value will benefit the soul of the person if they need it. If not, God will dispense that grace where it is most needed.
You're not paying for someone's salvation. You are giving your love, and it is love that purifies.
Do you just pray for loved ones that die or everyone and how long should a person pray for someone in purgatory?
Yes and yes and forever. Prayers are never wasted. The thoughtful act of your prayers will benefit you, and God will dispense any graces as they are needed.
What happens to the people who died, go to purgatory and no one ever prays for them?
There are no such persons. The Church prays for all the souls in purgatory on a regular basis. Each church offers mass every week for the souls in purgatory. In the prayer above, we say "the souls of all the faithful departed". And in the Fatima prayer, which many people say at the end of each decade of the rosary, we pray for "those in most need of thy mercy." And we celebrate their "feast day" on All Souls' Day, November 2nd. And we pray for the souls of those who have died at ever mass as part of the Eucharistic Prayer, especially for "those whose faith is known to [God] alone".
If I accept the teaching of purgatory, I also have to accept the responsibility that goes with it.
As is true of every one of the Church's teachings.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Prodigal Daughter
Member
| Joined: | Wed Nov 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 200 |
| First Name: | Deborah/PD | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptized Catholic, received First Communion, left during Confirmation year. ... |
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Posted: Wed Jan 30th, 2008 05:13 pm |
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There is value in suffering and deprivation, and that value will benefit the soul of the person if they need it. If not, God will dispense that grace where it is most needed.
A question similar to this came up at work today. My co-worker's friend committed suicide. She prays for him, but is not sure "where he is." Is that teaching on God dispensing grace where it is most needed from the CCC? I would like to send her a link or quote if you have one.
Thanks Rick. 
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"Man should tremble, the world should vibrate, all Heaven should be deeply moved when the Son of God appears on the altar in the hands of the priest."
St. Francis of Assisi
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