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Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by Empredboy(m): 7:53am On Nov 02, 2015 |
“DO WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THE DEAD?” REFLECTION FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL SOULS Rev. Fr. Boniface Nkem Anusiem PhD I still find memories of my minor seminary days very interesting and sometimes reflective. During those days, late coming to any activity was (and is still) a great offence. Once the prayer commences in the chapel for instance, those outside were considered late and would be punished adequately. One day, I was just stepping onto the threshold of the Chapel alongside other junior seminarians when the signal for the commencement of the prayer was given. We were stopped just at the threshold where there was an inscription “Domus dei et porta caeli” which means “House of God and gate of heaven”. We were asked to move to one side and behind us were others who had not reached the threshold at all and they were asked to move to another side. After a while, one of the auxiliaries (prefects) pleaded with his colleague to allow us to enter into the chapel since we were not as late as the lot behind us and that we had reached the threshold. With this, we went through the traditional knelling down as was obtainable at the time. Thereafter, those of us who had reached the threshold were asked to cross over and join the rest inside the chapel while those behind us were not only denied access but were also severely punished. Yesterday we were in a blissful mood as we celebrated the joy of our innumerable brothers and sisters who have gained entrance into the Kingdom of heaven. Today on the other hand we contemplate the fate and pray for those who like in my story have reached but not crossed the threshold. Today, we are encouraged to pray for those who might be undergoing some forms of probation. Such people have been asked to stand aside. They are not with those inside neither are they pushed outside and denied access like those who were gravely late. They are like in a betwixt position though with much hope. Their hope is actually based on our prayers: their brothers and sisters in the militant Church. Attentive to this, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: All who die in God’s grace, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven (1030). Attentive to the above, we are called to bend our kneels in utter supplication to God on their behalf. We are encouraged to continuously call on God to have mercy on them and admit them into his Kingdom. Hence like those of us who were held at the threshold of the Chapel and who were mildly punished and allowed to cross based on the pleading of one of the prefects, these our brothers and sisters cannot help themselves. They can only be liberated on account of our ardent prayers and supplications since they still stand a chance to enter into bliss. We are convinced about a place of temporary punishment or purification based on the confirmation of the word of God. Purgatory as a word is not mentioned in the bible as it is but we have references pointing to its reality just like the word bible is not strictly mentioned in any of the books in the bible. If we read from the second book of Maccabees (12:46) we will discover that it is a worthwhile thing to pray for the dead so that their souls will be released. Of course even in our secular parlance we observe minutes of silence for the dead and afterwards we say: “Rest In Peace” (RIP). We cannot do these if we do not have hope for a better future or rest for them. In the Gospel of Matthew (12:32) our Lord Jesus said that anyone who sins against the Son of man will be forgiven, but anyone who sins against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven neither in this world nor in the world to come. By this statement our Lord made us understand that there is forgiveness after our life in this world. He did not mention what the world to come looks like but that definitely cannot be heaven and it cannot be hell because there is no forgiveness the two locations. So we are left with purgatory as the most probable place that could stand for it. Another outstanding biblical reference can be found in the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (3:15). It will be very pertinent if we quote this passage and I wish to do so using the King James Version for the benefit of my protestant readers. It says: If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he Himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. St. Paul was saying that a man’s work will be judged and he will suffer loss on that account. But he himself will only be saved through fire. Now the Greek description of “suffer loss” is “zemiothesetai” and this comes from the root “Zemioo” which means punishment. (The same word we can see in Exodus 21:22; Proverbs 17:26 and Proverbs 19:19.) From the passage above we understand that a man’s work will be examined as with fire and on account of that he will be punished and his salvation will still come but through that same burning by fire. It is like raw gold that can be refined only by passing it through fire. Furthermore in Revelation (21:27) we are told that nothing unclean can enter into the Kingdom of God; it could be said that nothing raw, unrefined imperfect can enter. So purgation or purification will be required for those who cannot be granted direct entrance on account of imperfection. Looking at our human valuation perspective, there are various levels of offences for instance in the civil society. A person who commits murder has committed an offence and someone who contravenes traffic also committed an offence. Judging the two offences the same punishment cannot be given to them. St. John (1John 5:16) tells us about sins that lead to death and others that do not lead to death. It is from here that we talk about mortal sins and venial sins. We are greatly encouraged today to pray for our departed brethren as our prayers will assist as many as possible to be liberated from purgatory and be admitted into the Kingdom of God. Yes they may be delayed but not denied or defeated. May the Souls of the Faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace! Fr. Bonnie. |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by Rich4god(m): 8:03am On Nov 02, 2015 |
I was here |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by marshalcarter: 8:09am On Nov 02, 2015 |
Wat are we prayin for...for dem to rise again or for dem to be @ the right place I wonder wen dis so called catholics would stop deceiving demselves....even the bible said after death comes judgment so if one dies and his/her soul is in hell....bro rev father sister andrew Matthews peter patrick....ya prayers and rosary cannot put the person in heaven....so I dnt see the relevance of prayin for the dead |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by Empredboy(m): 8:33am On Nov 02, 2015 |
marshalcarter:read 1john 5:16 and Matthew 12:32 |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by Empredboy(m): 8:35am On Nov 02, 2015 |
marshalcarter:read 1john 5:16 and Matthew 12:32. Why do you you observe a minute silence to the dead in the public gathering? |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by marshalcarter: 8:54am On Nov 02, 2015 |
Empredboy:Matthew 12:32 does not in any how nor in any form relate to wat we are talkin abt here....here we talkin abt prayin for the dead..but matt is talkin abt sinning against man and Holy ghost |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by skyhighweb(m): 8:55am On Nov 02, 2015 |
Empredboy:If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. the verse is just totally against ur believe, did u even read it or u just copy and pasted |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by Empredboy(m): 10:51am On Nov 02, 2015 |
skyhighweb:explain it to me |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by Empredboy(m): 11:03am On Nov 02, 2015 |
marshalcarter:OK aw will those sins that their sins can be forgiven in the other world, who will pray for them or will they be the one to pray for themselves? Remember after death judgement. Then why is Christ talking about forgiveness after death? Let me explain my point. Now that we are alive Christ said some sins can be forgiven when we die but some can't be forgiven even after we die. So aw will he or who will help the dead so seek forgiveness since u know that the dead can't talk |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by skyhighweb(m): 11:30am On Nov 02, 2015 |
Empredboy:guy people like u should aviod being pastor cause u dont have any clue about what u talking about, sins forgiven after u are dead really na so they tell u, Christ tell u |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by skyhighweb(m): 11:42am On Nov 02, 2015 |
Empredboy:sin that does not lead to death eg suicide its a sin to try take one life, if the person succeed God will not forgive but if u dont succeed and ask for forgiveness you will be forgiven |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by Empredboy(m): 12:08pm On Nov 02, 2015 |
skyhighweb:bro mi don't preach the Bible from a lay man angle. Death here means eternal condemnation. Just as Chris say unless u eat my body u shall not die. Shabi the body of Christ is communion you and I eat yet we will still die. Every word and parable of Christ was about heaven that was why people of that time and his disciples didn't understand him. Now you people too don't understand the DEATH the Bible means. Plz understand the Bible not from a lay man way from from well grounded spirit filled influence. |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by Empredboy(m): 12:11pm On Nov 02, 2015 |
skyhighweb:what does this mean in the In the Gospel of Matthew (12:32) our Lord Jesus said that anyone who sins against the Son of man will be forgiven, but anyone who sins against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven neither in this world nor in the world to come. |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by skyhighweb(m): 12:36pm On Nov 02, 2015 |
Empredboy:son of man is jesus is idea of dying for our sins is for us to get forgiveness, but holy spirit is of God him self is like wwhen the devil decided to take over that didnt end well for him n his followers or when does angels took men sharp to sleep with women those where direct sins to holy spirit which is closer to God |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by skyhighweb(m): 12:46pm On Nov 02, 2015 |
Empredboy:dude the death isnt physical death, its like when he told that samaratian lady that the water he will give to her it everlasting that she wont thirst again, does that mean she will never drink water again nope physical she will spiritually she wont, and body of christ is a ssymbol of being strong spiritually and it means once u eat ur will(spiritual strenght) wont die it has nothing to do with ur physical body, per say spiritually if u strong then d body is strong and just because u say lay man point of view doesnt mean u are right, any one can use the phrase lay man point of view |
Re: Catholic “do We Need To Pray For The Dead " by Empredboy(m): 2:06pm On Nov 02, 2015 |
skyhighweb:plz don't let us continue to argue about the word of God cos no matter how you look at it you will always see it in your own way. Just as the lawyers see the Constitution. So what is important is the greatest commandments which is love of God and man. Be it any church let's just keep to these commandments. God bless you |
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