Maccabees is apocryphal, not scripture (at least not in the Protestant Bible) and is not considered divinely inspired. Adding anything to what we do is still telling Christ that his sacrifice was insufficient. Heresy. May as well join the LDS church cause they do the same thing.
Who considers it apocryphal, and by what authority?
Even if you accept Luther's canon, the passage in Maccabees reflects the ancient Jewish practice of praying for the dead, a practice that continues to this day.
Have mercy upon him; pardon all his transgressions . . . Shelter his soul in the shadow of Thy wings. Make known to him the path of life.And what about the words of Jesus that imply the possibility of the forgiveness of (at least some) sins after death?
“And I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”If no sins could be forgiven after death, why would Jesus make this statement?