Prayer for the Dead
Asking God's mercy for those who have died — a practice the traditions weigh differently
Prayer for the dead is the practice of asking God to show mercy to the departed. Its roots are traced to passages such as 2 Maccabees 12, to early liturgies, to writers like Tertullian, and to ancient grave inscriptions. The traditions differ on it: Catholic and Orthodox communions actively pray for the dead, while Protestant traditions generally reject or omit the practice, often on questions of scriptural warrant.
How it traveled
- On the Decease of His Brother SatyrusMilan · 397applies
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407applies
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- On Care to Be Had for the DeadHippo Regius · 430explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- A Treatise on the Soul and its OriginHippo Regius · 430applies
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430applies
- Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from ItGeneva · 1564challenges
Key passages(20)
Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin
On Care to Be Had for the Dead · Augustine of Hippo
The Enchiridion · Augustine of Hippo
Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin
Treatise Concerning the Christian Priesthood · John Chrysostom
Book VI · Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Homilies on First Corinthians · John Chrysostom
On Care to Be Had for the Dead · Augustine of Hippo
On Care to Be Had for the Dead · Augustine of Hippo
The Confessions · Augustine of Hippo
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians · John Chrysostom
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom
The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas. · Ethical
A Treatise on the Soul and its Origin · Augustine of Hippo
A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
On Care to Be Had for the Dead · Augustine of Hippo
The Epistles of Cyprian. · Cyprian
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians · John Chrysostom
The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and Eusebius · Eusebius of Caesarea