Since my wife, Karen, died in May, I have been praying much more for the holy souls in purgatory; although I know how she lived and all she did. (I wrote about my wife’s life- Now That She Has Died, What Do I Do. https://the-american-catholic.com/2021/06/20/now-that-she-has-died-what-do-i-do/).
My wife and I had a “prayer deal” that whoever died first, the other one would pray for the dead spouse’s resting in peace in heaven. Even though I feel like I am almost insulting Karen, I am praying daily for her just in case I am wrong and she is not yet with God in heaven. To let God know how I feel about it, I say “If she is in purgatory.”
(To forestall the inevitable comments to this article about the truth of purgatory, suffice it to say that no matter how many protestant denominations there are – whether about 200, at least 22,000, 30,000, or over 47,000 depending on which authoritative protestant source you consult – many protestants agree with the Church’s teachings.)
But What If She’s In Heaven?
I got to wondering if she is already in heaven enjoying her mansion, her children and grandchildren whom I have never met, and the beatific vision, what happens to my prayers? Are they sent to the heavenly “dead prayer” office?
A good friend, who also happens to be a good priest, suggested I add a “secondary” intention. For example: “Eternal rest grant unto Karen, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her; and through the mercy of God may she rest in peace (and if she is already resting in peace, laughing, smiling and happy with You, please consider this as a prayer for all the holy souls still in purgatory, or for our friends Bart, Brendan and Bob, and for me a sinner who will probably, hopefully, be there someday) Amen.”
Can They Intercede For Us?
My particular question is one of several that I have not found much-discussed related to purgatory. Compared to other doctrines, dogmas, and teachings of the Church, there is relatively little addressing purgatory and various issues about it. For example, on the question of whether or not the holy souls presently in purgatory can now pray for us, there is no definitive Church ruling or teaching. This means we can have different views and opinions about these things. (And, no doubt, have some interesting comments below.)
Regarding the possibility of those now in purgatory interceding for us still on earth, different theologians, scholars, and thinkers have stated different opinions. St. Thomas Aquinas taught that the souls in purgatory “are above us on account of their impeccability,” but “are not in a condition to pray” for us still on earth. St. Robert Bellarmine had an opposing view, but he also believed that the holy souls are unaware of our earthly situation, unlike the saints of the Church Triumphant. St. Alphonsus Liguori said that:
[W]e should piously believe that God manifests our prayer to those holy souls in order that they may pray for us; and that so the charitable interchange of mutual prayer may be kept up between them and us… [I]n this state they are well able to pray, as they are friends of God. If a father keeps a son whom he tenderly loves in confinement for some fault; if the son then is not in a state to pray for himself, is that any reason why he cannot pray for others? And may he not expect to obtain what he asks, knowing, as he does, his father’s affection for him? So the souls in purgatory, being beloved by God, and confirmed in grace, have absolutely no impediment to prevent them from praying for us. Still the Church does not invoke them, or implore their intercession, because ordinarily they have no cognizance of our prayers. But we may piously believe that God makes our prayers known to them; and then they, full of charity, most assuredly do not omit to pray for us. St. Catharine of Bologna, whenever she desired any favor, had recourse to the souls in purgatory, and was immediately heard. She even testified that by the intercession of the souls in purgatory she had obtained many graces which she had not been able to obtain by the intercession of the saints.
Can They Pray With Us?
Since the Church had not taken an official position on many purgatory issues, and as I am wont to flit around in my empty brain spaces and daydream about such things, I wonder if when we pray we can have the holy souls in purgatory pray with us? I have been, tentatively and subject to correction, praying with them for them. I suppose that when I am doing this on my daily commute, praying with Karen, and with all the holy souls of the Church Suffering, my car must be spiritually overflowing, especially when I have also invited the entire Church Triumphant, with me as the unworthy single representative of the Church Militant.
I have also realized that holy souls are included in many, many prayers when we use “our” or “us,” and I try to consciously include all the holy souls whenever these words are said, especially during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. “Our Father” applies to all God’s children, including those not yet in heaven who have left this earth. And “Pray for us sinners” includes all sinners, living and dead.
Any thoughts on the holy souls praying with us will be greatly appreciated, especially if I am wrong.
Specific Unnamed Souls
I have also been praying for specific, although unnamed, holy souls. For example:
the most forgotten soul in purgatory, the 1,000 most forgotten, the 1,000,000 most forgotten, and all the forgotten souls in purgatory
the most unknown soul . . .
the most wretched soul . . .
the soul who has just arrived . . .
the soul just ready to leave . . .
Me Too, Lord
Finally, and this is purely out of selfishness, I ask God to please let all these holy souls know my name. When they are beholding God, long before I do, I want them to know the guy that prayed for them.
Eternal rest grant to all the holy souls, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, and through the mercy of God, may all of them rest in peace. Amen.
[This article was originally published at the site Catholic Stand, Sept. 28, 2021]
I assume that no prayer is wasted, from a pious petition for something that God doesn’t will, to a prayer offered for a soul who has already attained heaven. Jesus tells the 72 that when you enter a house, wish peace upon it; if a man of peace is there, it will rest on him, if not, it will return to you. At the risk of describing it mechanically, any prayer increases the net grace in the world. I personally don’t pray for specific people who may be in purgatory, except for offering up a Mass for a lost loved one. I do pray for them in general a lot, though.
This idea if “net grace” also applies to my thinking about whether the souls in purgatory pray for us. They are part of the Church; I can’t conceive of a way in which their prayer would not be a benefit to all. But if Aquinas and Bellarmine are surfing the waves, I’ll stay in the kiddie pool.
Great article.
(Don’t worry!)
Offer prayers for your wife to Mary. She’ll dispense them beautifully.
“The Church suffering in Purgatory cannot merit for themselves. In the merciful plan of God, He allows us to merit and to pray for the souls going through purification.
It’s been a long-standing custom that the faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence by visiting the cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. This has been extended throughout the entire month of November this year. The decree from the Vatican states, from last week, a plenary indulgence for those who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead, even if only mentally. This is very important. For those who can’t get to a cemetery, for those of you at home who are homebound, the Church extends this to you, for those who can only get there at least mentally that you want to get there, normally established only for the individual days from the 1st through the 8th of November, may be transferred to other days of the same month until its end. These days freely chosen by the individual faithful may also be separate from each other. In other words, you have the entire month. To make this pilgrimage, albeit in person, to a cemetery and also, for those who can’t, to do so mentally. You can break it up throughout the month. Also, the plenary indulgence normally available on this particular day, November 2, may be transferred to any day of the month of November.
These indulgences are applicable only to the souls in Purgatory and not for us. We offer it for them. For our deceased. In visiting the church or an oratory in person or as the decree states at least mentally, it is required that one Our Father and the Creed be recited. The usual conditions for obtaining an indulgence are required. This is being in a state of grace, sacramental confession 20 days before or 20 days after, and the intention and the inner disposition of detachment from sin, and the reception of Holy Communion along with prayers for the intentions of the Pope, the Creed, the Our Father, and the Hail Mary are suggested prayers. All of us have friends and family who have passed on to eternal life. All of us. Maybe even during the last 2 years. We never presume that a soul has gone straight to Heaven. That’s God’s work. That’s God’s priority. That’s God’s judgment. That is up to the Mercy of God. Purgatory in essence is an act of God’s mercy and act of God’s goodness and we commend all the souls the faithfully departed to the mercy of God.”
From the homily of Fr. John Paul Mary, M.F.V.A. on EWTN on November 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMisKTeEXAM
Hello Guy.
I’ve included Karen in my prayers today. I recall your, now what, post and my heart united to your great grief the day you posted her departure. I recall the prayers for the both of you then. I’m grateful for the faith that God has given me, undeserved though it be, but grateful that he truly is our dad. We are united. We are family.
They, the holy souls, know your name. They know your wife’s name and as a kiddie pool attendee, I believe they know your sufferings too.
I’m going to ask a huge favor from you Guy, and any TAC commentator.
My dearest friend in Santa Anna lost his wife on the eve of the feast of the Holy Rosary this year, Oct. 6th.
Her name is Virginia F.
A beautiful soul.
Her husband, John, is hurt deeply as you can imagine. Married over 40 years.
Please put Ginny in your prayers this month.
I’m sending John this link.
Mass has been set up for her soul at our local church.
We are family…so I don’t mind asking all of you for help.
Peace and God’s Holy Light, perpetual Light.
God bless you Guy.
One of the [much neglected] Spiritual Works of Mercy is “Pray for the living and the dead.” Most neglected are “Admonish the sinner.” and, “Instruct the ignorant.”
The two quick prayers at the end of The Holy Rosary are: “May the Divine assistance remain always with us.” And, “May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace,”
Dante’s Purgatorio gives his concept of the Purgatory process. The happy, suffering souls in Purgatory are sure, after their suffering/purification, they will be with the saints in Heaven.
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Will do, Philip. for Ginny F. At lunch on the 2nd the priest who is a hospital chaplain said he will say his Masses in NOV for the souls in purgatory. He brought up St. Thos. Aquinas who did not believe that the souls can pray for us. Fr. does not agree and mentioned several sources which say the souls cannot pray for themselves but they can for us. I asked the church office to order holy cards with the following prayer:
The Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.
Read more at: https://www.praymorenovenas.com/prayer-st-gertrude-great-souls-purgatory
Dear Pinky, Quotermeister, David WS, Phil N, T Shaw and CAM, Thank y’all for the kind and comforting words and the prayers. And for taking the time to read and comment. Phil N, prayers have gone and are continuing for Virginia and John. I wish I could tell him all I have sensed, felt, learned, thought, suffered since May 13 – but most importantly I wish I could tell him there is light at the end of this dark dark tunnel, God still loves him, Ginny is now working with God his father and Jesus his bro to get John with them. And somehow John should go on and do the good Ginny showed him how to do and what she wants him to do. I just figured out God took Karen home first-God’s thoughts are not ours and all that; so God decided, I guess, I am supposed to be here praying for Karen and all the Holy Souls and all those still here. I will pray especially for John by name often. God bless us, everyone. Guy, Texas
Philip, Praying for the soul of your friend Ginny and prayers for her husband John who is suffering her loss. I can only imagine how hard the loss is.
Guy, prayers for your beautiful wife Karen. I still remember the rawness of your post after you lost your beautiful Karen. Your love for her was very present in your words.
I was taught and always believed that we pray for the souls in purgatory, and they rely on our prayers to get them to heaven. As we are not God, we don’t know if our dearly beloved who have departed this earth reached heaven or are awaiting heaven in purgatory. However, I too was taught and believe that no prayer or thought directed to heaven is ever wasted. Ever. But take comfort Guy knowing that God is good, God is great and God loves us all very much. Suffering because of a loss of a loved one is unbearable. But God sees and knows and understands. I pray He eleviates your suffering over time. Not your love or your memories of your beautiful wife Karen. Pray for her. It is the most important thing you can do for her. Because she will/is praying for you and for her family. At the end of the day we are all headed to our Fathers arms in heaven. That’s the only true hope we hold in this life.
Updated Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Db6y8nwYQ
Dear Ezabelle, Your comforting words mean a lot to me. You speak truth. Thank you, much. Hope you and yours [and all here] have a fullofwonder weekend. Guy, Texas