Recently, I was on a Catholic prayer board asking for prayer for my father who will probably be going to hell. One person said it was futile to do so as those who will be going to hell, do not need the prayers.

I was told by my grandmother growing up that often the deceased often visit us in our thoughts and dreams, when in need of prayer. My dad, who died about 8 yrs ago, has been on my mind heavily off and on throughout the years, so I assume he needs those prayers especially right now.

I can only assume that he will be going to hell, as he renounced God many times in the years before he died, even joking that he was God. He also committed several mortal sins. I often believed that he could have been possessed by the devil after talks with our parish priest. My priest also had said that not all those possessed were like the movie the exorcist.

I believe as the Virgin Mary once said, and Christ had said many times, through prayer all things are possible.

What is the churches opinion on this? Is praying for those who face hell as waste of time as this one person mentioned. Or should I keep praying for a man who most like will face hell?

Dear Jill,

Keep praying. We on this side of the grave do not know what has happened on the other side.

Dr. Geraghty

COPYRIGHT 2009

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