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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Prayer for the dead	Mathew	Saturday, April 14, 2007
Question: During our night prayers , a line of prayer that i pray is "Bless my Dad and mother" my father died a few years ago... however I still believe that as quoted " HE is the God of the living and not of the Dead" So in my belief i pray asking Christs Blessings on my Father too... Am i right in doing this... Also I would like a clarification for "For the dead in Christ there is no condemination" Please advise Mathew
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Matthew: It is perfectly proper to pray for your father who has past on. The Church teaches that we should pray for the dearly beloved who have past. You should keep up your prayers for your father. Technically, however, we do not know who is in heaven or hell except for those who are canonized Saints. The canonized Saints are definitely in heaven. Everyone else we technically do not know because we have no idea what their state-of-soul was at the time of their death. Only God knows that. I do think that it is possible, however, that God lets a loved one know that their dearly departed has made it to heaven, but technically, we can never really know for sure this side of heaven unless the Church declares them a Saint. Nevertheless, we are to always hope for the salvation of our loved ones and pray for them. The scripture that says that there is no condemnation for the DEAD IN CHRIST. That means that those who die in a state of grace, die "in Christ" and are thus saved and will see eternal life (heaven). Those who die with mortal sin on their soul, die "without Christ" and are condemned to eternity without God (hell). 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

Prayer for the dead

Mathew

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Question:

During our night prayers , a line of prayer that i pray is "Bless my Dad and mother" my father died a few years ago... however I still believe that as quoted " HE is the God of the living and not of the Dead" So in my belief i pray asking Christs Blessings on my Father too...

Am i right in doing this...

Also I would like a clarification for "For the dead in Christ there is no condemination"

Please advise

Mathew

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Matthew:

It is perfectly proper to pray for your father who has past on. The Church teaches that we should pray for the dearly beloved who have past. You should keep up your prayers for your father.

Technically, however, we do not know who is in heaven or hell except for those who are canonized Saints. The canonized Saints are definitely in heaven. Everyone else we technically do not know because we have no idea what their state-of-soul was at the time of their death. Only God knows that. I do think that it is possible, however, that God lets a loved one know that their dearly departed has made it to heaven, but technically, we can never really know for sure this side of heaven unless the Church declares them a Saint.

Nevertheless, we are to always hope for the salvation of our loved ones and pray for them.

The scripture that says that there is no condemnation for the DEAD IN CHRIST. That means that those who die in a state of grace, die "in Christ" and are thus saved and will see eternal life (heaven).

Those who die with mortal sin on their soul, die "without Christ" and are condemned to eternity without God (hell).

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