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C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Of course I pray for the dead. The action is so spontaneous, so all but inevitable, that only the most compulsive theological case against it would deter me. And I hardly know how the rest of my prayers would survive if those for the dead were forbidden. At our age, the majority of those we love are dead. What sort of intercourse with God could I have if what I love best were unmentionable to him?”
Happy Easter! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thank you for joining me for All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. I recently saw what struck me as an odd question on a discussion board. The question was, “Why do Catholics pray for the dead?” That’s an interesting question, isn’t it? As a Catholic, I don’t’ think I have ever thought twice about it. But it’s a good question to explore.
We lost a dear friend this week. Between COVID-19 and the fact that she is in Honduras, well, she might as well be on Mars. So, thinking about her and our all the souls she helped and all the souls she encountered around the world, I’d like to take on that question today. Don’t forget to send me your questions either through the comment form on the website, or by email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.
First, and this is important, we pray for the dead because we are grieving. We pray for the dead out of love. We pray for the dead to help our families and friends and who are suffering from the loss – and we all suffer. When Jesus heard about Lazarus’ death, he wept, John 11:39. So comforting someone who is suffering is certainly in line with what St. Paul told the Corinthians. We are part of the Body of Christ, so when one of us suffer, we all suffer, 1 Corinthians 12:26-27.
But we also pray for our friends and family that God forgive their sins and that He receive them into the light of His face. Now, we are not the only ones who pray for the dead. The Jews pray for the dead as do the Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and at least half a dozen others. In 2 Maccabees, the Jewish leader Judas Maccabeus leads his army into battle. After the battle, they find some pagan amulets under the tunics of some of their soldiers. This was a sin against the Ten Commandments, so they pray that God shows these troops mercy (2 Maccabees 12:40, 42, 44).
Why pray for someone who is dead unless we know we will see them again? Our liturgies are designed to support us through this process. Our prayers and the liturgies of the Church recognize the spiritual bonds between the living and the dead. It affirms that all the faithful will be raised again and reunited, (Rites, 6).
But we don’t just gather to commiserate. The Easter season is a clear reminder! “The Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity,” (Rites, “Order of Christian Funerals”, 1). St. Paul tells us, “If we have died with Christ, we have faith that we shall also live with him,” (Romans 6:8). So, our prayers and our liturgies offer hope and consolation to the living. (Rites, 7).
This is important because first and foremost, our liturgies are about worshipping God. We worship God and we give thanks for the blessing of the life of the person who died and everyone they touched. We celebrate the life in Christ.
One of the most beautiful parts of the various liturgies we have for the dead is something we call the final commendation. This happens after the funeral and before the body is processed to the cemetery. In the final commendation, the entire, “community acknowledges the reality of separation and commends the deceased to God,” (Rites, 6). We give thanks for our deceased who is now returning to God. That’s a beautiful image, isn’t it?
Why do Catholics pray for the dead? We pray to thank God for the gift this person was in life. We pray to help console ourselves in our grief. And we pray for the soul of our deceased that God show them mercy for any unresolved sins in their life.
Does that make sense? Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
You’re listening to All Things Catholic. If you have a question you’d like me to discuss, please use the comment form on the website, or send me an email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.
This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join us again next time and don’t forget to check out the weekend edition where we break open the Word. He is RISEN! Alleluia! Alleluia!
References:
1. Johnson, Kevin Orlin, Ph.D. Why Do Catholics Do That? A Guide to the Teachings and Practices of the Catholic Church. New York: Ballantine Books, 1994.
2. Sheed, Frank. Theology for Beginners. Published by Beacon Publishing with permission of Servant Books, an imprint of Franciscan Media, © 1981.
3. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
4. The Rites of the Catholic Church: the Roman Ritual Revised by Decree of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and Published by the Authority of Pope Paul VI. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1990.
Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
1. I believe in the resurrection of the body, 988-91
2. Christ’s resurrection and ours, 992-1004
3. Dying in Christ, 1005-1019