---
title: "Summa Theologica, Second Half"
author: "Thomas Aquinas"
translator: "Fathers of the English Dominican Province"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Medieval"
section: 815 of 935
url: https://scriptura.si/works/thomas-aquinas-summa-theologica-second-half/815/
cite: "Thomas Aquinas, tr. Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Summa Theologica, Second Half, section 815. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/thomas-aquinas-summa-theologica-second-half/815/"
---

# Summa Theologica, Second Half

*Thomas Aquinas, tr. Fathers of the English Dominican Province*

Courage and temperance, the states of life, then Christ, the sacraments and the last things.

## 815. Supp. · Question 71: Of the Suffrages for the Dead (fourteen Articles)

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/thomas-aquinas-summa-theologica-second-half/815/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/thomas-aquinas-summa-theologica-second-half/815/#p-N

[¶0] OF THE SUFFRAGES FOR THE DEAD (FOURTEEN ARTICLES)

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

[¶2] (1) Whether suffrages performed by one person can profit others?

[¶3] (2) Whether the dead can be assisted by the works of the living?

[¶4] (3) Whether the suffrages of sinners profit the dead?

[¶5] (4) Whether suffrages for the dead profit those who perform them?

[¶6] (5) Whether suffrages profit those who are in hell?

[¶7] (6) Whether they profit those who are in purgatory?

[¶8] (7) Whether they avail the children in limbo?

[¶9] (8) Whether in any way they profit those who are heaven?

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

[¶11] (10) Whether indulgences granted by the Church profit them?

[¶12] (11) Whether the burial service profits the departed?

[¶13] (12) Whether suffrages for one dead person profit that person more than others?

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

[¶15] (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?