mass for the dead
2007-02-28 16:35:15 · 13 answers · asked by max 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Catholics pray for the dead for the following reasons:
+ We pray that the the dead person was right with God at the time of his (or her) death. God can do anything and is not constrained by a little thing like time.
+ We pray that the dead person will not have a hard process of purgation.
Yes, Catholics believe in Purgatory.
Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.
Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.
Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings.
Depending on the amount of change needed by different people this can be an easy or slightly harder process.
Everyone in purgatory is on their way to heaven.
I don't think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.
With love in Christ.
2007-02-28 17:23:43 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Badly in need of funds for the building of the now famous Sistine Chapel, Pope Sixtus IV resorted to the sale of indulgences for the dead. These indulgences were immensely popular. The book Vicars of Christ---The Dark Side of the Papacy states: "Widows and widowers, bereaved parents spent their all trying to get their loved ones out of Purgatory."............As you see this was done only for greed. ......Ecclesiastes 9:5-6......For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun.
2007-03-04 00:29:06 · answer #2 · answered by papa G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mass is offered for the deceased, usually at the parish church of the deceased. "The Mass, the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral."5 The Mass includes the reception of the body (if this has not already take place), the liturgy of the Word, the liturgy of the Eucharist, and the final commendation (unless the commendation will be celebrated at the place of committal).
2007-02-28 16:42:17 · answer #3 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because they are spiritually dead. On what are its teachings based? Are they from God, or are they largely from men? (2 Tim. 3:16; Mark7:7) Where does it say that the human soul is immortal? Why should catholic christian offer mass for the dead, if the Bible Eccl. 9:5: teaches that "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." Eccl. 9:10: "All that your hand finds to do, do
with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["the grave,", "The world of the dead," the place to which you are going." Psalms146:4: "His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts and all his thinking do perish."
2 Cor. 11:14, 15: "Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness."
We are cautioned that not everything that originates with Satan may appear hideous. One of his chief methods of deceiving mankind has been false religion of all kinds, to some of which he gives a righteous appearance. Roman 6:7 "A man who is dead has been freed from sin." "Guilt makes no more claim on a man who is dead." The catholic doctrine on purgatory is based on tradition, not Sacred Scripture. Hope this has given light to your question.
2007-02-28 17:25:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Because Catholics who consume the body and blood of Jesus are NOT dead. We are all one with this person. It just so happens this person , instead of being with us in the pew next to us is now in Heaven, At the Mass we truly are at the Heavenly banquet with all the people who have died in sanctifying grace. The Saints, The Blessed Mother, our loved ones etc. This is what is known as the Communion of Saints. We on Earth are with them in Heaven too.
2007-02-28 16:44:50 · answer #5 · answered by Midge 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
They believe that the dead are in purgatory, a holding place. They also believe that by praying for them it will help.
2007-02-28 16:43:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
the catholics believe in a non biblical place called purgatory... and for a 'price'/donation/offering... they will hold 'mass' specifically in the name of someone that has died. they do not realize that once you are dead and gone, you cannot be prayed into heaven.. if you have not accepted Jesus personally as your savior... if you have not lived for Him, and have chosen to follow your own desires in life regardless what God wishes for you... you may not be going to heaven,.., no matter what prayers or masses are held after a person dies... it is up to that person to choose Christ.... catholic mass after they die cannot 'pray them into heaven'
2007-02-28 16:38:33 · answer #7 · answered by livinintheword † 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋
It is to help them to be released from purgatory and enter heaven.
God bless,
Stanbo
2007-02-28 16:40:44 · answer #8 · answered by Stanbo 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
As a mercy
2007-02-28 16:41:21 · answer #9 · answered by Shinigami 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For the same reason that primitive people used to worship the sun.
2007-02-28 16:41:23 · answer #10 · answered by DrEvol 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋