92 The Theological Aspect of the Assistance for the Dead The work of helping the dead is a part of the great cause of the Church’s salvifi c intercession, regardless of the character assigned to it: more prayerful (All Souls’ related) or apostolic and formative (towards the eschatology of hope). Thus, it is a value to live by and to practice within the framework of the salvifi c service of the entire Church. In addition, it may become a specifi c charism and task of some communities of the Church. Let us dedicate a little more attention to the theology of this effort. Let us also notice the theological sense of assisting the dead. For its very name narrows the importance of the cause to merely an instrumental and transitory function needed only up to the moment of release from Purgatory. The following are the essential signs and features of the work of helping the dead, described briefl y. Firstly, this cause belongs to the basic profession of the Christian faith as an important part of this profession: “I believe in.... the fellowship of the saints” or as the new Catechism has it: “I believe in.... the communion of saints.”51 It is not only a question of the act of the profession itself or a conscious recognition of this reality, but it is a matter of having a true and living unity and bond with them, which is called communio sanctorum or communio ecclesialis in theological language. The prayers for the deceased emerged out of praying together with them for the grace of heaven and the glory of God.52 In brief, it is a matter of a devotional mysterium Ecclesiae and not only of the work of mercy and transitory help. A purely human, natural commiseration for the dead cannot dominate our attitude towards them. Our motivation for staying in touch with them must come out of the level of supernatural ecclesial faith. Professing a belief in the “fellowship of the saints” and advocating for the deceased belongs to the ancient and general practice of the Church.53 Ascribing to them the character of charisms in the spirituality and mission of a specifi c religious community is a singular incident in the history of the Church. Aside from the Marians, only the Dominicans of the Observance from the Congregation of St. Louis Bertrand (founded in 1671) were obligated particularly to pray for the dead. They were supposed to be called ad devotionem pro animabus 51 Katechizm Kościoła Katolickiego, 2nd ed. Poznań, 2002, No. 946, 954-959. 52 There are publications about prayers practiced in unity with the saints and the deceased in the name of the ecclesial community; see: G.L. Meuller, Gemeinschaft und Verherung der Heiligen, Freiburg 1986; B. Nadolski, Liturgika, t. 2, Poznań, 1991, pp. 174-175. Also worthy of attention are the commentaries to the Mass Prefaces (the motif of giving honor to God along with the angels and the saints) and to Part Seven of the Constitution Lumen Gentium (about the union between the Pilgrim Church and the Church in heaven). 53 Katechizm Kościoła Katolickiego, No. 958; see No. 2635.
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