Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Gregorian Masses	Therese	Monday, May 28, 2007
Question: Dear Bro. Ignatius Mary, Welcome back and God bless you for the work you do! Recently a woman I knew died suddenly of a heart attack. She had been my best friend for over 10 years. Our friendship was a worldly friendship though and eventually gossip and jealousy drove us apart. At the time of her death I had not spoken to her in 17 years. I was very hurt and upset at the news of her death. As a last act of frienship I paid to have 30 Gregorian Masses said for the repose of her soul. Her obituary said she was a member of a nearby Catholic church but I have since learned that she may have never returned to the Catholic church and she may not have died in a state of grace. I think I acted to quickly in having these Masses said. If my poor friend was damned does my act cause her more suffering? Do the Masses go to help another soul in purgatory? At the time of a loved one's death should you always have Masses said even if by outward appearances one was not in good standing with the church? Thank you for taking the time to answer my post.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Therese: Thank you for the welcome. I am sorry for your loss of your friend. Your offering Masses for this poor woman was totally appropriate. We cannot know the state of her soul. Only God knows that. We must always hope for the salvation of others and thus even when it might appear the person died without God, we must hope that somehow the person accepted God's love and friendship in the last second of life. We cannot know, thus offering Masses for them is proper and charitable. If the person did die without God, then those Masses will be applied to whomever our Blessed Mother, as the Mediatrix of all Graces, chooses. God never wastes prayers. All prayers are efficacious and will be applied to someone. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Gregorian Masses

Therese

Monday, May 28, 2007

Question:

Dear Bro. Ignatius Mary,

Welcome back and God bless you for the work you do!

Recently a woman I knew died suddenly of a heart attack. She had been my best friend for over 10 years. Our friendship was a worldly friendship though and eventually gossip and jealousy drove us apart. At the time of her death I had not spoken to her in 17 years.

I was very hurt and upset at the news of her death. As a last act of frienship I paid to have 30 Gregorian Masses said for the repose of her soul.

Her obituary said she was a member of a nearby Catholic church but I have since learned that she may have never returned to the Catholic church and she may not have died in a state of grace. I think I acted to quickly in having these Masses said. If my poor friend was damned does my act cause her more suffering? Do the Masses go to help another soul in purgatory? At the time of a loved one's death should you always have Masses said even if by outward appearances one was not in good standing with the church?

Thank you for taking the time to answer my post.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Therese:

Thank you for the welcome.

I am sorry for your loss of your friend.

Your offering Masses for this poor woman was totally appropriate. We cannot know the state of her soul. Only God knows that.

We must always hope for the salvation of others and thus even when it might appear the person died without God, we must hope that somehow the person accepted God's love and friendship in the last second of life. We cannot know, thus offering Masses for them is proper and charitable.

If the person did die without God, then those Masses will be applied to whomever our Blessed Mother, as the Mediatrix of all Graces, chooses. God never wastes prayers. All prayers are efficacious and will be applied to someone.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.