God destines us all for eternal life. “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). Death, then, doesn’t end our personal existence, only its earthly dimension. Neither does it dissolve the relationships we forged during our lifetime on earth. Rather, death opens the doorway to the fullness of life. This is the foundation of why we pray for the dead.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church adds: “The term ‘communion of saints,’ refers also to the communion of ‘holy persons’ (sancti) in Christ who ‘died for all,’ so that what each one does or suffers in and for Christ bears fruit for all” (CCC, 961).
Today’s Church still encourages us to pray for and to our departed loved ones. “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, 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” (CCC, 1030).
What better prayer can we offer than the Eucharist, which unites us all in Christ to form one body? The Mass makes present to us on the altar the redemptive sacrifice of Christ so we can pray for and to those who have died. Our prayer can also express our thanks and praise to God for the life of the person we have loved.
Fr. Roland Guilmain
𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬.
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