Catholics Pray for Dead people?

Catholics don't think heaven is a "dead" place. Catholics believe people in heaven are alive. (Mat 19:29, 25:46, Mat 10:17-22, Mk 10:30, Lk 10:25-30, Lk 18:18-30, Jn 3:15-16). We see Lazarus alive by Abraham's side (Lk 16:22). And at the transfiguration we see Moses and Elijah alive beside Jesus. (Mat 17:3) There seems to be a lot of conversing in Heaven in Revelation (i.e. Rev 4:10). The Church thinks heaven is a lively place with lots of singing etc.


Jesus opened the gates to Heaven. "Graves of the dead were opened and they went into town to preach the Gospel." (Mat 27:52). Jesus said "Now he is a God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." (Lk 20:39-40)

The Catholic Church believes that Deuteronomy 18:10-12 speaks about the occult, soothsayers, sorcerers, spells, ghosts and spirits. It is not about heaven, angels and Jesus. Ghosts have not entered into heaven so it would displease God to talk with them. Also this passage occurs before Jesus was on the scene so no one was in heaven. Samuel was in the ground (1 Sam 28:8-25). They were all in Sheol (dead) so the passage makes sense.

Supporting verses are:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions?it is by grace you have been saved.?Ephesians 2:4-5

Jn 3:15,16, ...that believe in Him may not die but have life everlasting.

Jn 5:25, ...the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of GOD; and they that hear SHALL LIVE

Rom 6:8, Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.

Rom 8:11, ...the Spirit shall quicken your mortal bodies.

1Cor 15:52, ...the dead shall be raised incorruptible.

Eph 5:14, ...awake from your sleep and rise from the dead...