Prayer for the Deceased

Eternal Life and the Many Rooms of the Father

When a dearly loved one passes away, the pain of longing can overwhelm the heart; and for many, it may seem like death is the end of everything. But is it truly the end of existence? In His Holy Gospel according to John, chapter 14, Jesus offers comfort and clarifies the eternity of Life, guiding us to pray for the deceased.

The Master says:

¹ Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 
² My Father’s house [the Universe] has many rooms [spiritual dimensions]. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

Those who have “died” or “passed away” now reside in one of these rooms, which each person builds on Earth through their good or not-so-good deeds. This reality is clearly depicted in several of Christ’s accounts, such as in Luke 16:19-31, where the Celestial Educator tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

Both passed away and went to different places, that is, to distinct houses of the Heavenly Father, or, as we call it in the Religion of God, of the Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, the Spiritual Plane,* which is the Spirit’s dwelling outside the body.

The Spiritual World is organized in a just and fraternal manner to welcome the Spirit of those who have passed away, guiding them to the Heavenly Rooms according to the merits earned by their deeds during their earthly lives.

If they passed away (the rich man and Lazarus), how could they talk to Abraham and be in different places? Would this not be further evidence of the Soul’s immortality and that the good or evil we do determines the Heavenly Room to which each of us will go?! It is crucial to reflect on this! If they were there, it means they are alive. Therefore, we can pray for them, comforting their hearts, which continue to beat and feel spiritually, though now on the other side of life.

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*Also known as Spiritual World.

Prayer for the Deceased: Comfort for the New Journey

It is not our place to evaluate, much less judge, the state of the Spirit, the Soul of the loved one who has passed away. In the Religion of the Third Millennium, we refer to these Brothers and Sisters as disincarnated Spirits rather than deceased or dead—to emphasize that the Spirit continues more alive than ever, now in another dwelling. Regardless of the term used, we should pray for them in solidarity, asking for Heavenly support for their spiritual body, which exists as affirmed by the Apostle Paul:

“It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (First Epistle to the Corinthians 15:44).

Saint Francis of Assisi, Patron of the Divine Legion of Good Will, in his prayer, also speaks about this reality:

“And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.”

Upon being born to Eternal Life, this spiritual body remains alive, with its capacities, emotions, and feelings, and it longs for those who remain on Earth. And the prayers born from fraternal feelings reach the loved one as a comfort to the Spirit, to the Soul of the person whose physical body has died.

In the first book of the Prophet Samuel, chapter 28, in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, we find a true and emblematic story. King Saul, who had not been acting well in his reign, decided, through the Medium of Endor, to invoke the Spirit of the Prophet Samuel, who was known by all to have already passed away. However, his Spirit, alive in the Spiritual World, heard the prayer, the plea, the invocation, and came to meet the controversial king, proving the effect of our prayers for those who have disincarnated.

Your father, mother, daughter, son, spouse, or partner may not only hear your prayer born from a heart full of sincerity, but they may also feel the Love of your plea directed to them. This feeling will bring peace and great comfort to that beloved being whom your eyes cannot see, but your heart can feel, as stated by writer Paiva Netto in his literary work Os mortos não morrem [The Dead Do Not Die], on page 263:

“Just as the journey continues for those who remain reincarnated, the same happens for our loved ones who preceded us to the Great Homeland of Truth. Many remain invisibly by our side, helping us; others may even need our prayers. Let us pray for them so that, when our time comes, someone will pray for us. And let us thank God for being the God of the living. Therefore, I repeat: the dead truly do not die!”

“Others may even need our prayers.” This statement by the President-Preacher of the Religion of God, of the Christ, and of the Holy Spirit clarifies the importance of praying for the deceased, since just as relatives and friends who remain on Earth undergo adjustments, suffer, and feel longing, those who have departed face similar, if not more intense, circumstances. That is why prayer, in addition to reaching them fraternally, strengthens them for this new journey.

Worry or longing can cause great anguish for the loved one who has passed away. However, sincere prayer comforts the heart, the Soul of that loved one, helping them reduce or eliminate their concerns, whether for children, a spouse, parents, or other relatives and friends, allowing them to calmly continue their evolutionary path.

Let Us Pray for Our Loved Ones in the Spiritual Realm

May these words, filled with Love and born from the heart of writer Paiva Netto, found in The Dead Do Not Die, bring light to your heart and inspire you to pray for those who have departed and yet still live on:

“When my dear and beloved parents, Idalina Cecília de Paiva (1913-1994) and Bruno Simões de Paiva (1911-2000), and my cherished sister, Lícia Margarida de Paiva (1942-2010), passed away, my heart suffered greatly. However, I soon engaged in a heartfelt dialogue with the Creator, easing the longing and sending them messages of peace and gratitude. It was not long before I felt that they are still alive because the dead do not die! I often say: When we pray, the Soul breathes, nourishing both spiritual and human existence. Saying a prayer is essential to uncloud the horizon of the heart.”

So, how about we pray together for our loved ones who have already departed? Pray to Jesus with all your heart. Take this moment to think about the people you love who have disincarnated and now reside in the Spiritual World. Visualize and feel the loving presence of each one of them.

A loving mother, whose tenderness and care still warm your heart; a dedicated father, whose example and strength continue to inspire you to carry on; a beloved child, whose memory brings a smile and a sense of longing; an affectionate grandparent, whose wisdom and kindness left a deep mark on your life; etc.

We invite you to elevate your thoughts and cherish the love these people brought into your life. May this prayer be a moment of refreshment for your Soul, providing comfort and inner peace while sending vibrations of love and light to them in the Spiritual Realm.

We emphasize that Life actively continues in the Spiritual World, on its journey of evolution. Therefore, prayer is important for everyone, whether on Earth or in the other rooms of the Heavenly Father, as it channels the vibrations of Love and support from Jesus to those in need. So, let us pray, whenever possible, for our deceased brothers and sisters.