With the first Memorial Saturday having past it is good to examine the state of the departed, what we can do for them and what their condition does for us.  For them,  their state is fixed:  no one can be ‘prayed out of hell’ according to most Church Fathers.  but, our prayer can move those bound for heaven out of Hades more quickly and lessen the punishment of those that remain.     For us, the departed are an eternal warning:  there is no repentance after death, only judgement.  This should spur us to take Lent a little more seriously.

 

Prayers for the Dead in the Bible and in Tradition