The Healing Journey

July 23, 2026

Why Do We Pray for People Who Died?

By Laura Brennan

I was a last-minute substitute teacher for a 3rd-grade religion class, so I felt no guilt for going completely off script. We opened the class with an Our Father, and then I asked the students if they had any special intentions. We prayed for lots of pets, family members who were sick, and everyone’s moms.

“I want to pray for my grandpa who died,” came a voice.

“Yes, let’s pray for the soul of your grandpa and all those who love him,” I said.

“Why do we pray for people who died?” asked a student who hadn’t raised his hand. Father Mike Schmitz’s podcast had prepared me to answer this question.

“Imagine, it’s Saturday morning, and your parents have asked for your help with yard-work. You put on your junkiest clothes and head out to help weed. You’re covered in dirt when someone arrives to surprise you and take you to meet… What famous person would you want to meet?” I asked.

The answers came back: Taylor Swift! Jason Tatum! Mr. Beast!

“Okay, so imagine you’re about to be whisked off to meet Taylor Swift or Jason Tatum. Do you just hop in the car?”

“No way!” came a sea of voices. “I need a shower.” “I need to put on my jersey.” “I need to get dressed up!”

“Right,” I said. “You have to get ready. Now, imagine you’re meeting God! You have to be ready. So, you make a quick stop in Purgatory, which is like a shower for your soul so you can be ready to meet God face to face.” I continued, “The way a soul gets ready to meet God is through our prayers.”

I knew this myself because I was lucky enough to have a dad who taught me; he prayed every day for the souls in Purgatory — the one closest to Heaven and the one farthest away. I told the class about my dad and about this beautiful tradition.

One of the students asked, “Could my prayer really get someone into Heaven?” I assured him that it could. “Can we pray right now?” So we did, for the soul closest to Heaven. In my life, I have never seen a group of children pray with so much fervor and intention. Their voices were clear and full of excitement. There were twelve students plus me, so we offered 13 Hail Marys together.

“I think someone just got into Heaven from our prayers,” one of the students concluded. “Me, too! Maybe a few people,” the other students replied.

“Let’s say another one!”

I have no idea what the lesson was that day because we spent the remainder of the hour praying Hail Marys and cheering for souls meeting God — maybe that boy’s grandpa? Or maybe my dad.

(Writer Laura Brennan is a lifelong parishioner at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown.)

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