A visual picture can help us understand the spiritual need to help one another in the Mystical Body. Said Father Shea, "I hurt my foot, so my right hand helps my foot."
A major way to help that "hurt" is to have Masses said for the repose of the souls of those we know.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (958) states, "Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective."
Father Alar observed, "One of the reasons it's so charitable to pray for the dead is because the dead cannot help themselves. The founder of our congregation, St. Stanislaus Papczynski, said that the greatest act of charity is to pray for the souls in purgatory because they cannot pray for themselves."
Offering Masses and saying prayers for the holy souls in purgatory has two-way benefits.
"When they do get to heaven, they pray for me and will help release my soul, as I did for them," Father Alar explained. "That is guaranteed. That's the beauty of the Mystical Body of Christ: The souls we help release today become our biggest advocates."
In addition to single Masses offered, we can also enroll each person with one of the religious congregations' spiritual benefit societies, which offer remembrances, especially in Masses.
Father Shea said the enrollment cards at the Miraculous Medal Shrine have clear designations, such as remembering the deceased person for a year, or five years, or even perpetually, in daily Masses. Often the spiritual benefits include remembrance in the daily prayers and good works of each member of the congregation. It is the same with the Association of Marian Helpers, where Father Alar serves as director.
The Church teaches it is not selfish to want prayers and Masses said for us when we die. Take St. Monica's word for it. She told her son, St. Augustine: "Bury my body wherever you will; let not care of it cause you any concern. One thing only I ask you: that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be."
We can make sure we won't be forgotten in individual Masses and enrollments, too.
Recommended Father Shea, "Make a will and set aside money for that," indicating that so many Masses should be said for you.
"If you want to be prayed for specifically, join a spiritual association," suggested Father Alar. These groups, like the Association of Marian Helpers, offer many spiritual benefits. Anyone living or deceased may be enrolled in the association and receive the graces that normally include remembrances in daily Masses.
For the Marian Helpers enrolees, benefits include remembrance in a daily Mass celebrated for them, Mass offered for members on First Fridays and First Saturdays and for deceased members on All Souls' Day, a special Mass on each feast of our Savior and his Blessed Mother, the daily Divine Mercy Chaplet at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and daily prayers of all the Marian priests and brothers praying for them, their families and loved ones. Plus, members pray for each other.
If you enroll yourself perpetually now while you're living, what happens when you die? That enrollment would continue, said Father Alar. "None of the benefits stop when you die."
We can add another level by depositing merits into the Church's treasury of graces though our sacrifices and prayers, united to Christ and offered to God.
"It's like this beautiful big bank account of grace, like a retirement plan," explained Father Alar. "You put those graces in that treasury so that when you die you can receive the graces others have deposited."
Yet another way of helping ourselves, as well as others later, is by having Masses offered now.
On its website, Prince of Peace Church informs all parishioners that St. Anselm, a doctor of the Church, declared a single Mass offered for yourself during life "may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after your death. The merit of the Masses we have offered for ourselves during life will obtain for us a higher degree of glory in heaven, since we have made the meritorious sacrifice of offering the stipend for the Mass."
