Praying for the dead [Purgatory]

CIN ^ | Father Brian Van Hove, SJ

[Salvation]

Prayers for the faifthful departed are said at every Mass.

[Sock]

I Corinthians 3:

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble:

13 Every man's work shall be manifest; for the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. (D/R)

[JMJ333]

Ever heard of the "heroic act in favor of the souls in purgatory?"

I found a prayer and explanation in a book by Joan Carroll Cruz about it. It is an act of charity of unselfish offering to God all the satisfactory value of one's prayers and good works--plus the value of any that may be offered for you after one's death--for the benefit of the souls in purgatory.

[The explanation says]The "satisfactory value" of a good work is its value with regard for making up for our sins and reducing our stay in purgatory. However the "meritorius value" of our good works is inalienable, i.e. our merits, which give us a right to an increase of glory in heaven, cannot be applied to anyone else. Moreover, a person who has made the act may still pray for himself, friends and other intentions.

Its revocable at will and is not a vow. By making this act with purity of intention, one is relying on the mercy of God and the prayers of the communion of saints to assist his soul after death.

The heroic act was approved and encouraged by Pope Benedict XIII (1724-1730)

And the prayer goes as such:

Oh God, for your greater glory, and to imitate as closely as possible the generous heart of Jesus, my redeeemer, and also to testify my devotion to the blessed virgin Mary, who is also the mother of the souls in purgatory. I place in your hands all my satisfactory works, as well as the fruit of all those which may be offered for my intention after my death, that you may apply them to the souls in purgatory according to your wisdom and good pleasure. Amen.

Thought that was interesting. =)

[JMJ333]

Indeed. And the holy souls appreciate it! =)

[JMJ333]

Thank you for the verse!

[Sock]

This has reminded me of Totus Tuus.

[JMJ333]

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.

English

V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R. And let the perpetual light shine upon them.

And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Latine

V. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.

[TotusTuus]

Totus tuus
ego sum,
Maria,
et omnia mea
tua sunt!

[Desdemona]

I'm just wondering how many of my relatives I'm going to see there.

[Sock]

Sedes sapientiae, ora pro nobis.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

As the sacraments on earth provide us with a process of transformation into Christ, so purgatory continues that process until the likeness to Him is completed.

IOW, the work that the bible tells us was completed and finished on the cross wasn't really completed and finished.

Becky

[JMJ333]

Not at all. In essence, there are only three points on the matter which the Catholic Church insists: (1) that there is a purification after death, (2) that this purification involves some kind of pain or discomfort, and (3) that God assists those in this purification in response to the actions of the living.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Nothing unclean shall enter heaven, Revelation 21:27.

[JMJ333]

Well, there is no way to know, but time for God is incomprehensible to us, so there may be. I will pray for them. =)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

If Jesus died for all sin why do you think you will be unclean.

Becky

[Fithal the Wise]

"1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire."

The National Council of Catholic Bishops contains the following footnote at

http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians3.htm

Will be saved: although Paul can envision very harsh divine punishment (cf 1 Cor 3:17), he appears optimistic about the success of divine corrective means both here and elsewhere (cf 1 Cor 5:5; 11:32 [discipline]). The text of 1 Cor 3:15 has sometimes been used to support the notion of purgatory, though it does not envisage this.

[JMJ333]

He died for the forgiveness of all our sins, but between our death and glory there is a purification. If you like I can outline it from a biblical standpoint.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Sure, I'd like to see it. I am leaving for church in a few minutes though so I won't get back till later.

Becky

[JMJ333]

Absolutely. It'll be here for you when you return. =)