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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Mass Intention for Osama	Diego	Monday, May 23, 2011
Question: In another forum, there was debate whether we should pray for Osama bin Laden or not. There apparently was in a church bulletin where somebody offered a Mass for OBL. I say that a Mass can be offered for anybody and just because some person might have been evil we cannot wish hell for them. We need to pray for all who have died as we know not where they are. Some claim it's in poor taste. I say Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us and if done out of love we should commend that person who offered a Mass for OBL. When we pray for the souls in purgatory, we cannot specify to God to leave so and so out of our prayers. Your thoughts. Thanks, Diego
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Diego: You are correct. Christ commanded us to pray for all people, including our enemies. We should pray for the repose of the soul of Osama bin Laden that somehow, in some way, he might avoid hell, and spend eternity with God. Our Lord is the only one who can make that judgment. We will never know the eternal destiny of Osama while on this planet. One thing we do know is that wherever Osama is at, he belongs there according to God's perfect justice, mercy, and love. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Mass Intention for Osama

Diego

Monday, May 23, 2011

Question:

In another forum, there was debate whether we should pray for Osama bin Laden or not. There apparently was in a church bulletin where somebody offered a Mass for OBL. I say that a Mass can be offered for anybody and just because some person might have been evil we cannot wish hell for them. We need to pray for all who have died as we know not where they are. Some claim it's in poor taste. I say Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us and if done out of love we should commend that person who offered a Mass for OBL. When we pray for the souls in purgatory, we cannot specify to God to leave so and so out of our prayers.

Your thoughts.

Thanks,
Diego

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Diego:

You are correct. Christ commanded us to pray for all people, including our enemies.

We should pray for the repose of the soul of Osama bin Laden that somehow, in some way, he might avoid hell, and spend eternity with God. Our Lord is the only one who can make that judgment. We will never know the eternal destiny of Osama while on this planet.

One thing we do know is that wherever Osama is at, he belongs there according to God's perfect justice, mercy, and love.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum