We reach the last of the Spiritual Works of Mercy with this article by looking at the work of “praying for the living and the dead.” This spiritual work of mercy has obvious history in our traditions. Prayers of petition have been a common form of Christian and pre-Christian devotion for centuries. This is not only due to the fact that one of the central types of prayer in our tradition is petition but also that prayers of remembrance are very important to Jewish and Christian prayer practices. Consider 1 Samuel 12:19, 23, “The people said to Samuel, ‘Pray to the Lord, your God, for us…’’ Samuel answered them, ‘As for me, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you…’” Look at the words of Psalm 122:9, “Because of the house of the Lord, our God, I will pray for your good.” Read the words of James 5:16, “Hence, declare your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may find healing. The fervent petition of a holy man is powerful indeed.” Look at the model of petition in the prayer of Jesus in John 17. For example verse 9, “For these I pray — not for the world but for these you have given me.”

Praying on behalf of others is not only an act of charity; it is an unselfish expression of hope for others whom we love and people for whom we intercede to God. As people of faith and prayer, let us never cease to pray for those who have asked for our prayers and those that need our prayers, both living and dead.