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Sandy wrote:

Hi, guys —

The other day after I finished my prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory when a question came to mind.

  • Shouldn't we be spending the time praying for the living (that need prayer coverage to make it to Heaven) instead of spending so much time in prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, who are saved and with time, will be there anyway?

Please, help me out here!

Thanks,

Sandy

  { Shouldn't we be spending more time praying for the living than praying for Holy Souls in Purgatory? }

Mike replied:

Hi Sandy,

Great to hear from you!

I hope things are going well with the Free Purgatory Prayer Program we sent you.

You said:

  • Shouldn't we be spending the time praying for the living (that need prayer coverage to make it to Heaven) instead of spending so much time in prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, who are saved and with time, will be there anyway?

First, there is no reason why you can't pray for both. My colleague Brian has a holy hour for the conversion of sinners as well as those near death.

Second, living souls on Earth have free will whereas the Holy Souls in Purgatory, while saved, have no ability to choose and no one to pray for their total purification. They are relying on us; they have no one else they can turn to.

Unlike living, Earthly souls, the Holy Souls in Purgatory can no longer gain merit so like many Protestant, counter-arguments to Catholic teachings, the answer is an and-both, not an either-or type of answer.

I hope this helps,

Mike

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