Recently a parishioner emailed me with the question "why do we pray for the repose of the dead?" This is a great question to ask. The question about praying for the dead must be approached by reflecting on three doctrines of our faith:
- The Resurrection of the body;
- What do we mean by "death;"
- What is the mystery of the Church.
The Resurrection of the Body
First, lets consider our faith in the Resurrection of our human flesh. God does not abandon our soul at the time of death. He will assist us to see Him and enjoy His Presence after death. In the Old Testament Job believes:
"even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God..." (Job 19:26 and BCP 469).
We use this phrase in the Prayer Book Burial Office "
though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God."
Man is composed of both "body and spirit." By "spirit" is meant our immortal soul. The human soul is created directly by God. It is not a product of procreation, as our body is. These two aspects of "body and spirit" that make up man's "nature." On the bodily side, we are of the same nature as the ground on which we walk and the air we breath, but on the spirit side, we share in the nature of the angels. This is what it means being created in the "image and after the likeness" of God. (Gen 1:26)
This is all beautifully stated in the Burial liturgy:
Thou only art immortal, the Creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we return. For so Thou didst ordain when Thou createdst me, saying, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” All we go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (BCP 482)
Our body will lie in "dust" but our immortal soul will sing out of the victory of Christ: "Alleluia."
What is death?
Our second part is we must understand what the Bible means by "death?" Death occurs when our body and soul are separated. The soul gives life to our body. When separation of body and soul occurs this is death. Our body rests from worldly labor and turmoil awaiting the General Resurrection. Our soul rests "sleeping in Christ." (1 Cor 15:18, Col 3:3),
but our soul lives on, which means man lives on after death.
As we pray in the Proper Preface of the Burial liturgy: "life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared a place for us a dwelling place in the Heavens."
So death is not annihilation as many people (even some Christians) may assume. In fact no one can choose annihilation, if in fact that is what they want as their "eternal future." No matter what kind of life you now live, you shall live forever. Man continues to live forever, even after death. The question is
where shall one spend eternity? In Heaven or in Hell?
So why do we pray for the repose of the soul? We pray for them because, as we now understand, they are not annihilated or extinguished of life. They are alive! Just as you prayed for someone when they were still part of this world, so you still have reason to pray for them. Life has changed for them, but it has not ended, and it never will. So for those who have died they benefit from your prayers now and you benefit from their prayers!
So what is the Church?
Third, let us look at an important aspect of the Church's spiritual life in Christ. The Church is the communion of saints. We believe that the Church is a sacramental reality which may also be called the communion of saints.
The Church as a mystical reality
transcends time and space. This means we are united to all who live in Christ whether they are alive in this world (you and me) or they are asleep in Christ or have been fully received into Heaven as a Saint glorified. The Church of Jesus Christ, the communion of saints is united in one head who is Jesus Christ and in sharing one Holy Spirit who is the soul of the Mystical Body. The Church is a communion of saints that love and pray for one another and for the needs and the redemption of the world. Why let death stand in the way???
We are saddened to announce that the Rev. Canon Billie R. Boyd died Thursday afternoon at Baylor All Saints hospital in Fort Worth, just three weeks short of his 88th birthday His Requiem Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Iker on Saturday, March 5, at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Apostles, 3900 Longvue Avenue, Fort Worth. Interment will follow in his native Sulphur Springs. Canon Boyd became the first priest canonically resident in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth in 1983 when he was named Canon to the Ordinary by the founding bishop, the Rt. Rev. A. Donald Davies. He continued to serve as Canon to the Ordinary under Bishop Davies' successor, the Rt. Rev. Clarence C. Pope, until 1989. He served Bishop Iker as Business Administrator from 1997 to 2001 and was appointed interim rector at both All Saints' in Weatherford and St. John's in Fort Worth. In recent years he was chaplain to the retired clergy and clergy widows. He is remembered fondly by all the diocesan staff. Canon Boyd was a graduate of The Episcopal Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky. Born on Annunciation Day in 1923, he was ordained deacon on June 15, 1970, and priest on Dec. 20, 1970, in the Diocese of Dallas. Before his life as a priest, he served in the United States Army for 21 years, retiring with the rank of Major. During his parochial ministry, Fr. Boyd served for 11 years as rector of St. Luke's Church in Mineral Wells. His affection for that parish never waned. 
