Expert: Griff Ruby - 6/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello-

This may come off as sort of a strange question.  I know that we are to pray for the souls of the departed for eternal life with God.  I feel silly asking this, how long do we pray?  My brother passed away two years ago and I pray almost nightly for his soul.  Should I just continually make him a part of my prayers?  It's not that I mind, I so don't!  I am just curious on the matter.

Thank you,

Holly

ANSWER: There is no way to know how long to pray for someone (short of some special vision or visitation, which is extremely rare), but basically so long as you are inclined to continue to pray for them, then do so.  Your prayers will not be wasted, even if by some point they really do enter Heaven while you continue praying, for God applies your prayers to other such souls.
In Judaism for example however, the normal practice was to pray the Kaddish prayers for the dead for 11 months, but I have no idea how they arrived at this figure or what changes the present Covenant may have brought about to this.
In fact, there is no good reason that anyone you knew in life could not be in your prayers for the remainder of your life.  It would be a rare and extraordinary case where someone would still need prayers after everyone who knew them had died off and thereby ceased praying for them (in this life - some might continue praying for them after death, if they find then that it is necessary).


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I am not sure how deeply I want to go in this.  I am intrigued on one hand and the other am terrified that he won't make it to heaven.  My brother was a good person.  He loved his family and his friends and while stubborn and sometimes rude, the most offensive and wrong thing he did in his short life was maybe say a few swear words and miss church occasionally.  Since he was my brother, my baby brother at that, and because of how very sick he was and how bad off he was at the time of death, I know he will enter heaven.  I know it's just a matter of when.  I am fearful, that without prayer, this will never happen and I think I am more concerned for his soul than anything else.  Just some reassurance please.  I will continue my prayers in any fashion.

Thanks for your response.

Answer
It is never a question of him needing enough prayers or else he will never enter Heaven.  If he has escaped damnation then he will eventually get to Heaven, even with no one praying for him.  It just takes longer, perhaps much longer.
The fact that you brother has been so clearly placed on your heart for such prayers is a hopeful sign that perhaps he needs them, and therefore is in a position to be helped by them.
It is also said that the prayers of the righteous have much power.  The more earnestly you pursue the Kingdom of God for yourself the more your prayers for your brother will also mean.