And as within the fellowship of Christ’s Church we can benefit so greatly by asking the blessed Saints in Heaven to remember us in their prayers, so we must be equally ready to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Purgatory and on earth.

The souls of the faithful departed, and especially our own departed relations and friends, rely on us to intercede for them so that they may the more quickly progress towards the perfection and the joy of Heaven and take their place among the blessed Saints.  We must not fail them.

One day we too shall long to have the prayers of those whom we shall have left behind.  And here in this troubled world, in this vale of tears, there is not one of us who does not know someone in sorrow, or anxiety or pain or distress of some kind, who could and would be strengthened and consoled if only we would remember to pray for them, and thus set in motion God’s healing and strengthening power which all prayer releases.

Let us then ask ourselves first: “What fellowship do we have with the Saints in Heaven, which is our true home, by asking them for their prayers?”

And secondly: “How much time do we give to intercession for others both living and departed, and how many do we actually pray for?”

The Saints do not forget us.  Let us be equally generous to others; for mutual prayer and intercession is the link which makes earth and Purgatory and Heaven all one.

Reference

1. Wordsworth, C. (1862) Hark! The sound of holy voices.  Available from: http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/h/h081.html (Accessed 29 March 2011) (Internet).