PRAY FOR US

THE POWER OF INTERCESSION.

The first 2 days of November are very essential in our Christian lives. These are the days when we
remember our departed loved ones in a special way. November 1 is All Saints Day, which acclaims to all
the saints in heaven. November 2 is All Souls Day is a day of prayer for the faithful departed in
Purgatory.

Before we learn about prayer of intercession, we must learn some facts.

3 Sections Of Church

In the catholic faith, we believe that the Christ’s body, the church is very much present both in this life
and in afterlife. Thus, we divide our church into 3 sections.

1. Church Militant – this is us, the ones who are still here on earth.
2. Church Suffering – this refers to the souls in purgatory waiting for their entry to heaven.
3. Church Triumphant – this refers to those who are already in union with God in heaven.

Though divided into 3, still, we are one in the Mystical Body of Christ. We are still family. In our family,
we still need to pray for each other. This is where intercessory comes in. Within the body, the power of
intercessory prayer constantly flows among the three parts and different members. Our common
baptism and the unifying prayer of the Holy Spirit make that possible.

Saint Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians that “there is one body and one Spirit, just as you
were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and
Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:5-6).

We are already aware of the need for praying for each other. It is important to learn in a basic sense
why need to pray for and ask for intercession from the church suffering and church triumphant.

Praying For The Dead

The practice of praying for the souls of the departed is very ancient. It is, in fact found in the Old
Testament, 2 Maccabees 12: 40-46.

“And they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been committed might be wholly blotted
out... He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and
sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking
account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it
would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But, if he was looking to the splendid
reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore
he made atonement for the dead that they might be delivered from their sin.”
In addition, the New Testament referred to suffering that ultimately leads to salvation.

If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through
fire” (1 Cor 3:13-15).

Purgatory is not definitively a place but a process of cleansing a person from temporal effects of sin. We
cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless we are pure. Purgatory does not limit God’s mercy. In fact, it
is a manifestation of His love. He does not want us to end up in hell but He also wants us to be pure.

Praying for the souls in Purgatory is an act of charity. It will greatly benefit us spiritually and as a person.
It is just like helping people who are in need. By praying for our departed loved ones, we win their
friendship in heaven and if one day, when they are finally united with God, they will be helping us.

Prayers From Saints

Saints are the people who are recognized by the church to have lived an inspiring and holy life. We
believe, through the manifestation of their lives here on earth, that they are already in heaven and are
closer to God. There, they can pray for our needs. Surely, their prayers will be answered because of the
merits they received while they were still living here on earth.

James affirms, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” – James 5:16.

We Need To Pray For Each Other

We have needs, we have something to be prayed for. We have concerns, we have struggles, we need
help. Prayer is one of the ways we can reach out to God and make His presence known in our lives.
Through prayer, we invoke his presence and through it our needs will be met.

It is each the duty of every Christian to pray for one another. This is a manifestation of love; a
community that prays together will be blessed. Find a prayer partner today and let this be the beginning
of a blessed and prayerful life.

All the saints in heaven; pray for us.