Please Pray for the

Repose of the Soul of….

By: JF

      Last year I lost my grandfather to lung cancer.  He was diagnosed in January and died Easter Sunday. My entire family came together, from all four corners of the country, to mourn his passing.  My heart was sadden by his death, yet I found it difficult to cry. I kept remembering how funny my grandfather was. How ridiculous it was that he and his dog wore matching bowties on Tuesdays (his favorite day of the week because he felt Tuesdays were more deserving of recognition), how much he adored my grandmother, how he teased my grandma for watching “that Young and the Restless rubbish” but then go into the back room and watch Guiding Light. While I was surrounded by my family who kept focusing on his passing, I’m certain, at that moment, I was the only one thinking how happy he was going to be in heaven.

      Not a day goes by that I don’t think about and pray for my grandfather. But why do I do this? Why week after week, are we asked to pray for the repose of the soul of (insert name)? The answer is simple, to imitate Jesus. We pray for the dead because Jesus prayed for the dead. In the New Testament, we have documentation of two specific people that Jesus raised from the dead. Jesus prayed as he spoke to His Father before raising Martha and Mary’s dead brother, Lazarus (John 11:41). And Jarius prayed as he got on his knees and begged Jesus to raise his dead daughter (Luke 8:41).Two people were raised from the dead, after having prayers said for both of them. (Rosarytapes.com)

      As we approach Easter this year, we are once again given the opportunity to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ and how glorious of a day it really is. To remember that Jesus died so we may live again. When the world ends at the Final Judgment, there will be only two possibilities: heaven and hell. We who celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection over sin and death look forward to sharing in that victory, and we pray that our beloved dead may do the same. (American Catholic Org)

      I envision my grandfather and his beloved dog Nixon (who passed away 7 weeks after my grandfather) strolling through heaven wearing their matching bowties, telling the same silly stories to any and all who will listen. Why would I NOT pray for him still?