[NYer]

The most obvious scriptural reference (apologies if someone already posted it), is from the Book of Revelation

"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." - Revelations 5:8

[PetroniusMaximus]

How does Rev 5:8 relate to the issue of prayers for the dead...

.. or for the "un-alive" or "living-challenged" or whatever you want to call them.

:)