Praying for the dead

"If the dead are not raised, what about those who have themselves baptized on behalf of the dead?" 1, Cor. 15:29

The resurrection was violently disputed in the Judaism of Christ’s time and in the early Church (i.e. Acts 23:6; Lk 20:27; 1 Cor. 15:12). However, those who believed in the resurrection assumed we could pray for the dead. In our day, most people assume our resurrection in some way, but may dispute the validity pf praying for the dead. What was disputed in Christ’s time, we assume. What was assumed by the early Christians, we dispute.

These differences in assumptions and disputed questions tempt us that since the Bible rarely mentions praying for the dead (see 2 Mc 12:44; 1 Cor 15:29), this practice must not have been acceptable. Others reason that some practices not mentioned often in the Bible were assumed to be acceptable and needed no further explanation.

For example, Paul referred to the Corinthian practice of baptizing the dead by proxy. People today feel a need for further explanation of such a dubious practice. However, Paul didn’t question the validity of this practice and didn’t bother to explain it. Rather, he used it to illustrate the validity of our resurrection, the main concern of the Church at that time.

Therefore, when we pray for the dead, one of the main things we do is to affirm the resurrection. The "poor souls" in purgatory are risen, victorious over death, and certain of eternal happiness in heaven. Praying for the dead is proclaiming the resurrection.

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