Home > Commissions > Faith Formation > Why do Catholics archive > Practices/Traditions > Pray for dead

WHY DO CATHOLICS...? ARCHIVE
The following question was answered as a part of our Why Do Catholics...? series. If you would like to submit a question for our Why Do Catholics...? series, email faithform@abecket.org or leave your question in the Faith Formation box in the Parish Office.

Why do Catholics pray for the deceased?

Catholics pray for the dead because we believe we are all, living as well as those gone before, part of the one family of God, called the “Communion of Saints.” The love that we share in Christ is not broken in death. So it means we are concerned for one another. This concern and unity is expressed when we pray for the dead. We can’t judge anyone’s state before God because we can only see outside appearances. So when someone dies, Catholics pray that he/she may be completely reconciled to God in peace and eternal life. This is because we also believe that purgatory is a possibility. A life of love and dedication to God in Christ is an assurance of eternal life, but we can never be sure that someone, though living a faith-filled life, may have unresolved areas at the time of death that had not yet been transformed by God’s love. So, purification is needed in order to be fully prepared to enter the fullness of God’s presence. Catholics pray for their dead that this purification may lead their loved ones to God’s arms. Such prayers also help the bereaved for they experience the loving concern of their fellow Christians which can help and heal at this particular time.

Laura Broyles, Adult Faith Formation Director
laura.broyles@abecket.org

Back to Practices and Traditions questions