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Well, I won't be praying for the dead, that's for sure. Kinda scary stuff. The Bible speaks against this -- it's called necromancy. "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" (don't see any mention of "purgatory" in this Pauline verse).

But for the departed heroes of the faith and of this nation, the best prayer I can think of is for their families and for God's glory to once again be held up over this God-kissed nation of ours. And don't forget to be praying for this election!

Our purpose on earth is to bring the kingdom's rule and reign to earth -- not to worry, wonder, pontificate or pray for the dead. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Jesus said "Let the dead bury their dead". It's over once we die. The dead set a course for heaven or hell that can't be altered once they pass over -- and the dead cannot 'intercede" for the living on earth. Sorry -- that's Jesus's job and position with the advocacy of the Holy Spirit.

We Christians on earth are already "saints" because of His shed blood for us on the Cross-- so praying for the dead (even if they have been named "Saints" by the C. Church) is scary, weird and unnecessary. What would Jesus do? He certainly wouldn't advocate praying to his mom, who admits in her Magnificat that she is a sinner in need of a savior.

You are ignorant of Scripture.

The Bible speaks against this -- it's called necromancy.

Necromancy is conjuring up dead people's ghosts for the purpose of fortune-telling. I have no idea why you think that has anything to do with praying to God on behalf of a dead Christian brother or sister. Do you?

"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord"

Nice of you to invent "Scripture," but that isn't what the verse says. Paul says he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord, but he makes no claim that the first necessarily implies the second, not even for himself.

The Bible speaks against this -- it's called necromancy.

Necromancy is conjuring up dead people's ghosts for the purpose of fortune-telling. I have no idea why you think that has anything to do with praying to God on behalf of a dead Christian brother or sister. Do you?

"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord"

Nice of you to invent "Scripture," but that isn't what the verse says. Paul says he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord, but he makes no claim that the first necessarily implies the second, not even for himself.

The Bible speaks against this -- it's called necromancy.

Necromancy is conjuring up dead people's ghosts for the purpose of fortune-telling. I have no idea why you think that has anything to do with praying to God on behalf of a dead Christian brother or sister. Do you?

"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord"

Nice of you to invent "Scripture," but that isn't what the verse says. Paul says he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord, but he makes no claim that the first necessarily implies the second, not even for himself.

He certainly wouldn't advocate praying to his mom, who admits in her Magnificat that she is a sinner

Where does the Blessed Mother acknowledge she is a sinner?

The Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord:

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

Because He hath regarded the lowliness of His Handmaid:

for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For He that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is His Name.

And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.

He hath showed might with His arm:

He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the lowly.

He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich He hath sent empty away.

He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy;

As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

"Well, I won't be praying for the dead"

You are like the mother of the soldier marcing by where she and a neighbor stood watching the 1000 of them march by. Mom exclaimes to her friend, that's my john! Did you see him go by? Her friend exclaimes...no! How can you tell it's your John? See, See...He is the only one in step.

Must be kind of cool that you are the only one with the truth!