in thread "Luther on Retroactive Prayer — Can you pray for someone in the past?": FWIW, the Catholic idea of prayers for the dead is that it is only applicable to souls in purgatory, i.e., souls of those who died in a state of grace, and so are destined for heaven, but are still in need of spiritual purgation. The prayers help to facili... 4mo ago (collapse hidden) log in to judge received 2.2 2.2 FWIW, the Catholic i (view hidden) log in to judge received 2.2 2.2