Friday, November 13, 2009

Pope John Paul II Encourages Fervent Prayer for the Dead

"During the Eucharist, through the general intercessions and the Memento for the dead, the assembled community presents to the Father of all mercies those who have died, so that through the trial of purgatory they will be purified, if necessary, and attain eternal joy. In entrusting them to the Lord we recognize our solidarity with them and share in their salvation in this wondrous mystery of the Communion of Saints. The Church believes that the souls detained in purgatory "are helped by the prayers of the faithful and most of all by the acceptable Sacrifice of the Altar" (Council of Trent, Decree on Purgatory), as well as by "alms and other works of piety" (Eugene IV, Bull Laetantur Coeli)."

"I encourage Catholics to pray fervently for the dead, for their family members and for all our brothers and sisters who have died, that they may obtain the remission of the punishments due to their sins and may hear the Lord's call: 'Come, O my dear soul, to eternal repose in the arms of my goodness, which has prepared eternal delights for you"'.
~ Pope John Paul II ~

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