After my father died, I had a dream in which I could hear his voice. I asked him if everything was going to be all right. ‘It will be.’ I have been praying for him.
It is not popular to pray for the dead outside of the Church, and I think it is a great shame. We can debate the merits of Maccabees, but let me rather describe my family experience.
Our children range from toddler to older teenagers. We take time occasionally to pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. We sit in silence, and at times the children have specific names pop into their minds – Christian names only – for whom we will pray. We also pray for each other, for the living, the sick, the poor, for the Holy Father’s intentions, the rosary, the Hours, and we get the guitar out for hymns (naturally, not all at once).
