Some people say: why must we enumerate the names of the living and the deceased when praying for them? God, being omniscient, knows these names Himself, knows each one’s need. But those who say this forget or do not understand the importance of prayer, forget that God’s justice and mercy are obtained by our heartfelt prayer, which the Lord, in accordance with His goodness, imputes to the living and the deceased who are mentioned, since we are all members of a single Church body. They do not realize that the heavenly Church, in its great love, constantly prays to God for us, - and specifically mentions before God the names of those people who pray to the heavenly denizens - equal measure for equal measure. We commemorate them and they commemorate us. And whoever does not commemorate his brethren in his prayers, will himself be unworthy of commemoration. Of great significance is even a single word of faith and love during prayer. The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).
Saint John of Kronstadt