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The organization Prison Fellowship helps people who have gone to prison and helps them find God

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Prison Fellowship: Remember Those In Prison

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Prison Fellowship works to bring hope and restoration to prisoners, families and communities impacted by crime and incarceration.

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The worldwide forgiveness alliance helps teach others to forgive.

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The Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to evoking the healing power of forgiveness worldwide and establishing International Forgiveness Day as a globally celebrated holiday on the first Sunday in August. IN 2010 we honor Eileen Borris Ph.D, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Logan and Noah Miller and Abelina Magana

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The organization A.A, or Alcoholics Anonymous, helps correct people who have gone down a path of sin and helps get them back on the path towards God.

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Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem.

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The people at Dynamic Catholic encourage others to pray for the living and the dead.

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Reflection

By Msgr. Charles Pope

What is the value of one prayer? I suspect it is far greater than any of us imagine. Prayer changes things, sometimes in obvious ways, more often in subtle and even paradoxical ways. But prayer is surely important, even when we don't experience its immediate effects. Perhaps this is why Jesus taught us to pray always and never to lose heart (see Luke 18:1). Saint Paul echoed this with the simple exhortation "Pray constantly" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Saint James also warned, "You do not have, because you do not ask" (James 4:2).

Perhaps one of the greatest joys of heaven will be seeing how much of a difference our prayers made, even the distracted and perfunctory ones. Perhaps our simple utterance at the end of a decade of the rosary to "save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven" will reach the heart of one lost soul, prompting him to answer the gentle call of God to return. Imagine if someday in heaven that very sinner comes up to you and says, "Though we never met, your prayer reached me and God applied his power to me." Imagine the joy of many such meetings in heaven. Imagine, too, whom you will joyfully thank for their prayers, people you know and some you never met. But they prayed, and the power of their prayers reached you.

Praying for the dead, however, is a spiritual work of mercy that has suffered in recent decades. Too many Catholics today "miss a step" when loved ones die. There are often immediate declarations that the deceased are "in heaven" or are "in a better place." But Scripture doesn't say that we go right to heaven when we die. No, indeed, there is a brief stopover at the judgment seat of Christ.

Purgation and purification are necessary before entering heaven, of which Scripture says, "Nothing unclean shall enter it" (Revelation 21:27). Again, this is worth praying about. It is a great work of mercy we can extend to our deceased loved ones, to remember them with love and to pray, in the words of Saint Paul, "[May God] who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion" (Philippians 1:6). Pray often for the souls in purgatory. Surely there are joys there for them, knowing that they are on their way to heaven. But surely, too, there are sufferings that purgation must cause.

Excerpt taken from Chapter 14 of Beautiful Mercy. Get your free copy of the book (just pay shipping).

QUESTION
How have you seen the power of prayer?
MORE REFLECTIONS

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Pray For The Living And The Dead | Beautiful Mercy Program | Dynamic Catholic

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By Msgr. Charles Pope What is the value of one prayer? I suspect it is far greater than any of us imagine. Prayer changes things, sometimes in obvious ways, more often in subtle and even paradoxical ways. But prayer is surely important, even when we don't experience its immediate effects.

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The comfort club is an organization that provides a weighted teddy bear to mothers who have lost a baby. The bear is supposed to bear therapeutic in that the weight of the bear would replicate the feeling of holding an infant.

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The Comfort Cub is a weighted therapeutic teddy bear designed to help alleviate grief and to help mend broken hearts. Hope you can hold. The Comfort Cub.

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The Catholic Church prays for the living and the dead during their prayer times. During mass services, there are intentions for the living and deceased people of the world.

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The organization Teach Beyond goes around the world giving unprivileged children an education and teaching them about Christ.

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Transforming lives and societies through education - TeachBeyond

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We believe that education is an effective catalyst bringing hope to individuals and positive transformation to societies.

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Capsula Mundi is an organization that allows the bodies of the dead to be buried along with a tree so new life can come from a death.

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WHAT IS CAPSULA MUNDI?

Capsula Mundi is a cultural and broad-based project, which envisions a different approach to the way we think about death. It's an egg-shaped pod, an ancient and perfect form, made of biodegradable material, where our departed loved ones are placed for burial. Ashes will be held in small egg-shaped urns while bodies will be laid down in a fetal position in larger pods. The Capsula will then be buried as a seed in the earth. A tree, chosen in life by the deceased, will be planted on top of it and serve as a memorial for the departed and as a legacy for posterity and the future of our planet. Family and friends will continue to care for the tree as it grows. Cemeteries will acquire a new look and, instead of the cold grey landscape we see today, they will grow into vibrant woodlands, sacred forests.

HOW CAPSULA MUNDI CAME ABOUT

The Capsula Mundi project roses from a deep examination of the role of designers in our society.
In a culture far removed from nature, overloaded with objects for the needs of daily life and focused on youth, death is often dealt with as a taboo.
We believe that this unavoidable passage, so meaningful, is not the end, but the beginning of a way back to nature.
Inspired by these reflections, we decided to redesign the coffin - an object entirely left out of the design world - using ecological materials, and laic and universal life symbols, such as the egg and the tree.

A UNIVERSAL MESSAGE

The biological life cycle and its transformations are the same for every living being. It is time for humans to realize our integrated part in nature. Capsula Mundi wants to emphasize that we are a part of Nature's cycle of transformation. This universal concept goes beyond cultural and religious traditions. Only a tree, a symbol of the connection between the sky and the earth, will mark the resting place of the deceased. As tree after tree is planted, the cemetery will become a forest, free of the architectural motifs that mark today's memorial grounds. The cemetery will be transformed into a place of nature, one where families can stroll and learn about the natural world, where communities will come together to tend and care for trees. In short, it will become a sacred forest.

LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Presently, to make a coffin, a tree must be cut down.
The coffin has a short life cycle and a strong environmental impact.
A tree takes between 10 and 40 years to reach maturity and the coffin is of use for just three days!
We want to plant trees instead of cutting them down! Furthermore, Capsula Mundi urns are made from biodegradable material and come from seasonal plants.

CAPSULA MUNDI URN

The Capsula Mundi urn is now available online on our e-commerce and it can be bought from all over the world.
The Capsula Mundi urn is a biodegradable urn. The ashes are put in through a hole, closed with a cone shaped screw top. After the burial, a tree, chosen in life by the deceased, in consideration of the local ecosystem, will be planted in top of it. Capsula Mundi biodegradable urn turns the ashes into a tree.
Capsula Mundi urns are made in Italy. Each urn is unique, thanks to handcrafted interventions during production. And it comes in two versions: Sand and White.
www.capsulamundi.it/shop

WHERE WE ARE

Capsula Mundi for the body is still in a start-up phase.This kind of burial is legal in many countries but not everywhere. In Italy, where this project was born, only the Capsula Mundi urn is permitted. However, "green cemeteries" are popular in many other countries, especially in the English speaking countries.Since 2003, when Capsula Mundi was exhibited for the first time at the "Salone del Mobile" (an international furniture exhibition in Milan, Italy) our team has been working to raise awareness and to promote the idea, fully convinced that before changing laws, we need to challenge the way people think.

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Capsula Mundi is a cultural and broad-based project, which envisions a different approach to the way we think about death. It's an egg-shaped pod, an ancient and perfect form, made of biodegradable material, where our departed loved ones are placed for burial.

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The Church, St. James the Apostle Catholic Church in McDonough, Georgia has regular visits to the sick and in need.

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St. James the Apostle Catholic Church - Hospital & Sick Visits

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The organization Prisoner Visitation and Support visits those who are in prison.  Their mission statement: Our purpose is to provide prisoners with regular, face-to-face, contact from the world outside of prison to help them cope with prison life and prepare for a successful re-entry into society.

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Prisoner Visitation and Support (PVS) is a volunteer visitation program to federal and military prisoners throughout the United States.

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The organization Goodwill provides clothes and other basic needs to those who need it.  Their mission statement is: Goodwill works to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.

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The organization HELP pregnancy crisis aid helps council the doubtful by helping pregnant women carry their babies by offering support and giving them different options instead of abortion.

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HELP Pregnancy Crisis Aid - Grand Rapids, MI

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Help Pregnancy Crisis Aid serves as an abortion alternative for unplanned pregnancies and offers support services in the Grand Rapids and surrounding areas.

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Homeless Connections helps end homelessness. This is their mission statement:  Ending homelessness by connecting individuals and families to resources that promote self-sufficiency and prevent future homeless episodes.

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Who We are. Our mission.

Established in 1981, we have adapted to meet the needs of people both homeless, and at-risk of homelessness in the Fox Valley community.

Our mission is to end homelessness by connecting individuals and families to resources that promote self-sufficiency and prevent future homeless episodes.

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Homeless Connections - Help & Resources - Appleton, WI

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Established in 1981, we have adapted to meet the needs of people both homeless, and at-risk of homelessness in the Fox Valley community. Our mission is to end homelessness by connecting individuals and families to resources that promote self-sufficiency and prevent future homeless episodes.

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The organization Feeding America gives food to the poor and needy.

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Our team believes that by working together we can solve hunger! We believe that access to healthy, nutritious food is a right for all and we are investing in innovative solutions to address the root causes of hunger. Join Us >

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Our Story Our story began in 1982 with a bushel of apples and a commitment from the Rotary Club of Milwaukee to help those facing hunger. Today, we serve nearly 400,000 people in 36 counties, including 124,000 children and 41,000 seniors. We are also working to develop

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The organization Water For People gives drink to the thirsty. On their website, they state: Water For People empowers local governments, community members, and service providers to invest in the long-term solutions and systems that are right for them. This means listening to them and establishing trust from the very beginning. We want every community, household, school, and clinic to have lasting access to safe water and sanitation for generations to come – we call this impact model Everyone Forever.

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We believe that everyone deserves lasting access to safe water and sanitation.