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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Knowledge Of Departed Souls	Omar	Saturday, November 24, 2007
Question: Hello Brother, I was wondering if our loved ones who have departed from this world and either in Heaven or Purgatory, are aware of what goes on here? Do my parents, for example, who are both deceased, know what currently transpires in our lives on Earth? Is there any official philosophical or theological teaching that is supported by the Catholic Church regarding this matter? Thanks and God Bless.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Omar: The Doctrine of Communion of the Saints includes the following from the Catechism: 956 The intercession of the saints. "Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness.... [T]hey do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped." Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life. (St. Dominic, dying, to his brothers.) I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth. (St. Therese of Lisieux, The Final Conversations, tr. John Clarke (Washington: ICS, 1977), 102.) In addition we have a hint of this question in Hebrews 12:1 "And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head..." So the answer to your question seems to be that to one degree or another our departed loved ones have some knowledge of us since they continue to pray for us. 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

Knowledge Of Departed Souls

Omar

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Question:

Hello Brother,

I was wondering if our loved ones who have departed from this world and either in Heaven or Purgatory, are aware of what goes on here? Do my parents, for example, who are both deceased, know what currently transpires in our lives on Earth? Is there any official philosophical or theological teaching that is supported by the Catholic Church regarding this matter?

Thanks and God Bless.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Omar:

The Doctrine of Communion of the Saints includes the following from the Catechism:

956 The intercession of the saints. "Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness.... [T]hey do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped."
Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life. (St. Dominic, dying, to his brothers.)

I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth. (St. Therese of Lisieux, The Final Conversations, tr. John Clarke (Washington: ICS, 1977), 102.)

In addition we have a hint of this question in Hebrews 12:1 "And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head..."

So the answer to your question seems to be that to one degree or another our departed loved ones have some knowledge of us since they continue to pray for us.

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