Fulton Sheen, St. Thérèse, and the Help of the Holy Souls

Blessed Fulton Sheen suggested that the faithful may spend excessive time praying for the deceased while not spending enough time praying to them. During a retreat in Ireland regarding St. Thérèse, Sheen noted that deceased relatives, such as parents, spouses, and children, can act as intercessors. He suggested that people might limit the influence of these souls in heaven by failing to invoke their help.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 958, states that prayers for the dead can help those souls and also make their intercession for the living effective. Sheen emphasized this reciprocal relationship, noting that while prayers help the departed, the departed can also pray for the living.