Prayers For The Dead

(958) “In full consciousness of this communion of the whole Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, the Church in its pilgrim members, from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, has honored with great respect the memory of the dead; and ‘because it is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins’ she offers her suffrages for them.” Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective. (Page 272)

I cherish the memories of my loved ones who have died, but I can do nothing for them, and neither can anyone else. The claim made in this catechism is not supported anywhere in the Bible. Where is your source of truth, the word’s of men or the Word of God? The rich man in Hell prayed to Abraham, and even righteous Abraham could not change his situation.

Luke 16:27-31 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Abraham was very clear. He told this rich man in Hell that while his brothers were alive they have a chance to repent. They have the option to hear Moses and the prophets. Moses was dead by this time. It is clear that he was talking about the writings of Moses and the prophets, the written Word of God. It is through the preaching of the Word of God that God has chosen to lead men to Christ, and to the world this seems foolish.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the PREACHING of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of PREACHING to save them that BELIEVE.