I stumbled onto a documentary on Bob Hope, focused on his very long service visiting troops at the front. There were even times that shows had to be stopped because of air raids or artillery barrages. He continued to visit men even when he had pretty much retired from Hollywood. He would also made a point of stopping in hospitals – and his costars said he literally had to go to a private spot to cry when a badly burned soldier raised his hand and thanked him for stopping by.

General William Westmoreland actually said that if he were an enemy, he would sacrifice 10,000 men to get him. This was how important Bob Hope’s visits were. If you wonder why I beat the snot out of praying for the dead, that is what your prayers are to the people in purgatory. You are a gift of love through your prayers on their behalf that help these men and women get through their period of purgation and move them along to Heaven.

A more Biblical analogy: you are the Lazarus who dips your finger into water to refresh those men and women who are undergoing their cleansing. You are a gift of love through your prayers on their behalf that help these men and women get through their period of purgation and move them along to Heaven. I was reminded on Tuesday by a kind young teen of the prayer of St. Gertrude for the good of the dead.

    Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. 

    Absolve, O Lord, the souls of Your servants [and the souls of all the faithful departed] from every bond of sin, that in the glory of the resurrection, they may be revived and refreshed among Your saints and elect through Christ our Lord. Amen.