ST Suppl., q. 71

Of the Suffrages for the Dead

Supplement — compiled posthumously from Aquinas's early Sentences commentary

We must now consider the suffrages for the dead. Under this head there are fourteen points of inquiry:

(1) Whether suffrages performed by one person can profit others?

(2) Whether the dead can be assisted by the works of the living?

(3) Whether the suffrages of sinners profit the dead?

(4) Whether suffrages for the dead profit those who perform them?

(5) Whether suffrages profit those who are in hell?

(6) Whether they profit those who are in purgatory?

(7) Whether they avail the children in limbo?

(8) Whether in any way they profit those who are heaven?

(9) Whether the prayer of the Church, the Sacrament of the altar, and almsgiving profit the departed?

(10) Whether indulgences granted by the Church profit them?

(11) Whether the burial service profits the departed?

(12) Whether suffrages for one dead person profit that person more than others?

(13) Whether suffrages for many avail each one as much as if they were offered for each individual?

(14) Whether general suffrages avail those for whom special suffrages are not offered, as much as special and general suffrages together avail those for whom they are offered?

Articles

  1. a. 1Whether the suffrages of one person can profit others?
  2. a. 2Whether the dead can be assisted by the works of the living?
  3. a. 3Whether suffrages performed by sinners profit the dead?
  4. a. 4Whether suffrages offered by the living for the dead profit those who offer them?
  5. a. 5Whether suffrages profit those who are in hell?
  6. a. 6Whether suffrages profit those who are in purgatory?
  7. a. 7Whether suffrages avail the children who are in limbo?
  8. a. 8Whether suffrages profit the saints in heaven?
  9. a. 9Whether the prayers of the Church, the sacrifice of the altar and alms profit the departed?
  10. a. 10Whether the indulgences of the Church profit the dead?
  11. a. 11Whether the burial service profits the dead?
  12. a. 12Whether suffrages offered for one deceased person profit the person for whom they are offered more than others?
  13. a. 13Whether suffrages offered for several are of as much value to each one as if they had been offered for each in particular?
  14. a. 14Whether general suffrages avail those for whom special suffrages are not offered, as much as special suffrages avail those for whom they are offered in addition to general suffrages?

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