NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH DEDICATED TO THE SOULS IN PURGATORY
The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The Church commemorates all her faithful children who have departed from this life, but have not yet attained the joys of heaven. November 2 is the Feast of All Souls. The Souls in Purgatory, who while they are assured of entering fully into God’s heavenly glory, are still in need of purification from selfishness and sin.
St. Paul warns us that we must not be ignorant concerning the dead, nor sorrowful, “even as others who have no hope … For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven … and the dead who are in Christ shall rise.
It was believed that “they who had fallen asleep with godliness had great grace laid up for them” and that “it is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” We know that a defiled soul cannot enter into heaven.
NOVEMBER: TRADITIONALLY DEDICATED TO PRAYING FOR THE DEAD.
November is the month traditionally dedicated to praying intentionally for the dead. This presents us with the opportunity to reflect on a beautiful Catholic teaching, the teaching on Purgatory, which is really the mercy of God in action. If there was no such thing as purgatory, there would be only two options for us after death: heaven and hell. And if you have to be perfect to enter the presence of God, we would all be in trouble! Thank God we have the possibility of Purgatory.
According to St Catherine of Genoa, who was a mystic who wrote about Purgatory extensively, Purgatory isn’t something to be afraid of. It’s not all that bad. St Catherine writes: “believe no happiness can be found worthy to be compared with that of a soul in Purgatory except that of the saints in Paradise. And day by day this happiness grows as God flows into these souls, more and more as the hindrance to His entrance is consumed. Sin’s rust is the hindrance, and the fire burns the rust away so that more and more the soul opens itself up to the divine inflowing.”
While it’s true that the souls in Purgatory are on their way to union with God, they depend on our prayers. There is suffering involved in their purification and this is why Catholics pray for the dead. We should assist the Holy Souls with our prayers. And we should all be interested in this because most likely we will be among those holy souls some day!
Pious tradition holds that Jesus promised St. Gertrude that a thousand souls would be released from purgatory each time the following prayer is said devoutly: “Eternal Father, I offer You the Most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.”
In His revelation to St. Gertrude, Jesus did not attach conditions to the recitation of this prayer, and He did not specify added requirements. In fulfillment of His promise, the mercy shown to sinners in response to this intercessory prayer is a direct gift from God.
An indulgence, on the other hand, is an action of the Church in fulfillment of the promise of Jesus in Matthew 18:18: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” An indulgence is remission of the temporal punishment due to sins. According to Pope Paul VI in Indulgentiarum Doctrina (an apostolic constitution discussing indulgences), indulgences are either plenary or partial.
There are four conditions for receiving a plenary indulgence: to have an interior disposition of complete detachment from sin; to have sacramentally confessed sins; to receive the holy Eucharist; and to have prayed for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
According to the Vatican’s Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, which has competence, or jurisdiction, regarding indulgences, these conditions must be met within a period of “about 20 days.”
Devout recitation of the above prayer does not convey an indulgence, but instead invokes the mercy of God directly, and therefore it does not require the fulfillment of conditions attached to an indulgence. The prayer, devoutly offered, is sufficient in itself.
On this occasion the Church not only multiplies the number of Masses on November 2, All Souls Day, but also encourages the faithful to honor their graves and to have Masses said for their deceased ones throughout this month. Indulgences are attached to these pious works.
SAINT AUGUSTINE: DUTIES TOWARD THE DEAD
The care taken in planning a funeral, the respectful conditions of the burial, the solemn funeral ceremonies, although they are above all a consolation for the living, are a homage justly paid to the bodies of the deceased, especially those of the just and of the faithful, which were like the instruments and the vessels which the soul made use of in a holy way for all sorts of good works.
If the clothing and the ring of a father, if any other souvenir of this sort remains all the more dear to his children, since their love for their parents is greater, by no means should we treat disrespectfully the body itself, which we wear more intimately and closely united to ourselves than any article of clothing. Indeed, our bodies are not mere ornaments or instruments placed externally at our disposal, but rather belong to the very nature of a human being.
Besides the funeral ceremonies, the respect with which we surround the bodies and the dignified burial that is given to them, the most important thing is still the love, the memories and the prayers, the suffrages that aid the souls of the faithful departed after their life: even if because of some necessity it is not possible to find a way either of interring their bodies or of burying them in a holy place, we still must not fail to offer supplications for the souls of the dead.
This is what the Church has undertaken to do on behalf of all deceased Christians in the communion of Christian society, even without mentioning their names, through a general commemoration, so that those who lack the prayers of parents, children, neighbors or friends might receive this help from this one pious Mother who is common to all the faithful.
We should also be convinced that, in those funeral ceremonies, we cannot bring any relief to the dead persons in whom we are interested unless we offer for them to the Lord the sacrifice of the altar, or the sacrifice of prayer or almsgiving.
It is true that these supplications are not useful to everyone for whom they are made, but only for those who, during their life, merited the application of them to themselves. But it is better to offer superfluous suffrages for the deceased whom they can neither harm nor benefit, than to leave in distress those for whom they are useful.
Let everyone however hasten to render fervently this tribute of prayers for his parents and friends, so that his dear ones might do the same for him. As for what we do for the body that must be interred, it offers no aid for the salvation of the deceased person, but is a human sign of respect or affection, in keeping with the idea that nobody hates his own flesh.
Therefore we must take as much care as possible of the wrapping of flesh left behind by one of our neighbors when the one who took care of it has departed from it. And if those who do not believe in the resurrection of the body act in this way, how much more should those who believe, so that the final respects are paid to this dead body—which however is destined to be revived and to remain eternally—in such a way that people should find in them, so to speak, a testimony of this faith.
For several decades now, especially in Western countries, the practice of cremating bodies has spread. This custom is opposed to Tradition and prohibited by Church law, to the point where ordinarily it is sufficient reason to refuse to celebrate the funerals of those who voluntarily have themselves cremated.
NOVENA PRAYER FOR THE POOR SOULS – St. Alphonsus Marie Liguori
O MOST SWEET JESUS, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O MOST SWEET JESUS, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O MOST SWEET JESUS, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O MOST SWEET JESUS, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O MOST SWEET JESUS, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O MOST SWEET JESUS, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O MOST SWEET JESUS, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
Amen.
PRAYER: Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.
There are many things we can do to get the souls in Purgatory to Heaven:
Above all, pray for them. The Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy can be especially effective. Have Masses said for them. It can be a Mass offered for a particular person who has died or a general Requiem Mass interceding for all of the faithful departed.
Offer up your daily trials and crosses for the souls of the faithful departed, even the small things, particularly during the month of November.
Whenever you pass a cemetery, say this prayer: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.” You can also do this whenever you first hear or read about the death of someone, whether from the news, social media, or someone in person.
Perhaps no Catholic doctrine has been more misunderstood by Catholics themselves than the doctrine of Purgatory. Consequently, some tend to downplay it, even seem a little embarrassed by it. But according to Catholic theology, it is the Holy Souls who suffer because of the living’s discomfort with the doctrine.
Purgatory is not, as many people think, one last trial. Catholics believe that all of those who make it to Purgatory will one day be in Heaven. Purgatory is where those who have died in grace, but who have not fully atoned for the temporal punishments resulting from their sins, go to finish their atonement before entering Heaven.
A soul in Purgatory may suffer, but they have the assurance that they will ultimately enter Heaven when their punishment is complete. Catholics believe Purgatory is an expression of God’s love, His desire to cleanse human souls of all that might keep them from experiencing the fullness of joy in Heaven.
Christians believe that they don’t travel through this world alone. Their salvation is wrapped up with the salvation of others, and charity requires them to go to their aid. The same is true of the Holy Souls. In their time in Purgatory, they can pray for the living, and the living should pray for the faithful departed that they may be freed from the punishment for their sins and enter into Heaven.
Catholics should pray for the dead throughout the year, especially on the anniversary of their death. In this Month of the Holy Souls, daily prayers should be said for the dead. Those that wish to participate should start with those closest to them—like their mother and father, for instance—but they should also offer prayers for all the souls, and especially for those most forsaken.
Christians believe that the Holy Souls for whom they pray will continue to pray for them after they have been released from Purgatory. Followers of the faith believe that they, too, will likely find themselves in Purgatory someday and that their acts of charity toward the Holy Souls there now will ensure that they remember them before the throne of God when they are most in need of prayers. It’s a comforting thought for many, and one that encourages many Catholics, especially during the month of November, to offer their prayers for the Holy Souls.
PRAYER FOR ETERNAL REST FOR SOULS:
One of the most commonly recited Catholic prayers in times past, this prayer, of eternal rest and peace for souls, has fallen into disuse in the last few decades. Prayer for the dead, however, is one of the greatest acts of charity Catholics can perform, to help souls during their time in Purgatory so that they can enter more quickly into the fullness of heaven.
Praying for the faithful departed is a wonderful act of spiritual and corporal mercy that not only merits graces for the living, but also relieves the suffering of those Holy Souls who are being purified in the cleansing fires of Purgatory.
Sadly, many souls who die in a state of grace find themselves in purgatory. Their temporal penances were not enough to fully wash away the stains of their forgiven sins.
Even worse, many of those souls find that few, if any at all, of the living are praying devoutly for their release from Purgatory. Some poor souls find themselves languishing in Purgatory for many, many years – even centuries, simply because there was no one on earth to pray for them, or the number was so low, that only through many years of purification will they finally be cleansed of the stain of sin and allowed to enter into the Beatific Vision of God.
It’s a terribly sad thought! Many of us will find ourselves in the same situation. Shortly after our death we may receive a great number of prayers. But all too quickly, we fade into the distant memory of those we left behind. When that happens, the prayers said for us shrink and we find ourselves relying upon the occasional prayers of family upon the anniversary of our death or on the charity of strangers praying for all the poor souls in general. It doesn’t have to be this way!
And, during the first eight days of November, which is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, we can merit plenary indulgences for our loved ones in Purgatory.
Three easy methods to gain a plenary indulgence for the Poor Souls
1. Visit a Catholic cemetery
From November 1-8, visit a Catholic cemetery and pray for the Holy Souls, even if only mental prayers.
2. Pray the Novena for the Holy Souls.
3. Pray Saint Gertrude’s Prayer for Holy Souls.
NOVEMBER DEVOTIONALS ~
~ INDULGENCED PRAYERS FOR EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY:
SUNDAY
O Lord God almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the Precious Blood which
Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in the garden,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and especially that one which is the most forsaken of all;
and bring it to Thy glory,
there to praise and bless Thee forever.
Amen.
DeProfundis (Psalm 130)
Out of the depths I have cried to Thee O Lord! Lord, hear my voice. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord! shall mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it? For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of Thy law I have waited for Thee, O Lord! My soul hath relied on His word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch even until night.
Let Israel hope in the Lord. For with the Lord there is mercy; and with Him plentiful Redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord! And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
Amen.
MONDAY
O Lord God almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood which
Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and among them all,
especially that soul which is nearest
to its entrance into Thy glory;
that, so it may soon begin to praise Thee and bless Thee forever.
Amen.
DeProfundis (Psalm 130)
TUESDAY
O Lord God almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood which
Thy Divine Son Jesus that was shed
in His bitter crowning with thorns,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and among them all,
particularly that soul which is in the greatest need of our prayers
in order that it may not long be delayed
in praising Thee in Thy glory,
and blessing Thee forever.
Amen.
DeProfundis (Psalm 130)
WEDNESDAY
O Lord God almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood of
Thy Divine Son Jesus that was shed
in the streets of Jerusalem
while He carried on His sacred shoulders,
the heavy burden of the cross
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and especially that one which is the richest in merits in thy sight;
so that having soon obtained the high place in glory to which it is destined,
it may praise Thee triumphantly and bless Thee forever.
Amen.
DeProfundis (Psalm 130)
THURSDAY
O Lord God almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious body and blood of
Thy Divine Son Jesus,
which He himself
on the night before His passion
gave as meat and drink to His beloved apostles,
and He bequeathed His Holy Church
be a perpetual sacrifice and life-giving nourishment
of His faithful people,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and but most of all that soul
which was most devoted to this mystery of infinite love;
in order that it may praise thee, therefore
together with Thy Divine Son,
and The Holy Spirit,
in Thy glory forever.
Amen.
DeProfundis (Psalm 130)
FRIDAY
O Lord God almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood which
Thy Divine Son, Jesus, did shed on this day,
upon the tree of the cross,
especially from His sacred hands and feet,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray;
in order that I may not be the cause which hinders Thee
from admitting it quickly into the possession of Thy glory
where it may praise and bless Thee forever more.
Amen.
DeProfundis (Psalm 130)
SATURDAY
O Lord God almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood
which gushed forth from the sacred side
of Thy Divine Son Jesus
in the presence of and and to the great sorrow
of His most holy Mother
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and among them all especially that soul
which has been most devout to this noble Lady;
that it may come quickly into Thy glory,
there to praise Thee in her,
and her in Thee,
through all the ages.
Amen.
DeProfundis (Psalm 130)
(Ind. of 300 days once a day.)
(For a seven days exercise of prayer for the souls in Purgatory a plenary indulgence on the usual conditions at the end of seven or nine days.)
And, during the first eight days of November, which is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, we can merit plenary indulgences for our loved ones in Purgatory. That means, for an entire week we can offer prayers for our loved ones that will immediately release them from Purgatory and they will finally enter heaven for eternity!
And, many of these prayers have indulgences attached to them and can merit us partial and even plenary indulgences for ourselves, which remit some or all the temporal punishments of our own sins!
In order to gain a plenary indulgence, we must meet certain conditions:
✔ Be in a state of grace.
✔ Receive communion.
✔ Go to confession.
✔ Prayers for the good intentions of our Holy Father.
✔ Have no attachment to sin, even venial.
✔ Typically, fulfill these conditions within eight days of completing the devotion.
~ Requiem aeternam ~
Eternal Rest Grant unto Them
This prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours is graced with a partial indulgence for souls in purgatory.
Recite this prayer each time you pass by a Catholic cemetery to obtain an indulgence of 300 days.
ETERNAL rest grant unto him/her (them), O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him/her (them). May he/she (they) rest in peace. Amen.
REQUIEM aeternam dona ei (eis), Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei (eis). Requiescat (-ant) in pace. Amen.
DAILY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD. LAUDS FOR THE DEAD:
“Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, for the hand of the Lord hath touched me.” (Job 19:21)
“When we love, we remember; and this memory, the effect of love, is not a barren thought. It resolves itself into DEEDS for the loved one. Why, when sorrow is united with faith, should not our sad memories resolve themselves into sentiments sweet and precious to the soul? To recall the features, the accents, the manners and the sentiments of the loved one is still to hear him, to see him, to touch him, and to associate him with the joys and sorrows which he formerly shared.” (Gergeres)
First Day
Sin is the great evil that holds back the advance of human progress. True progress is man’s ascent to God. Only sin blocks his path. Vice and iniquity cast human beings down to the level of animals, when it is our destiny to be mounting toward the Angels.
Death in mortal sin results in the utter and eternal failure that is Hell. It thrusts a soul, who was destined for eternal happiness, into eternal ruin and incomprehensible pain.
Death in venial sin, or with the soul still stained with the punishment due to forgiven mortal sin, places a formidable obstacle in the path of a soul’s progress toward Heaven. That poor soul-poor indeed in his privation of God, the Supreme Good-must linger in God’s prison house, where the agonizing and painful delay only intensifies his longing for Heaven.
This is the sad land of Purgatory. It is a place of anxious, almost impatient waiting, although the souls there desire nothing more than the expiation of those stains which stand in the way of their possession of God.
Since there are in Purgatory relatives we loved and friends we knew, and untold thousands of others who call to us for help, we fervently pray:
Dear Souls in Purgatory, during this month our foremost thought will be to recall to our minds our beloved dead. We shall think of you and pray for you; we shall give to the poor for the repose of your souls; we shall offer our daily labors as an expiation for your sufferings, and we shall hope thereby to obtain your special friendship and intercession for us.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of the faithful departed, the full remission of all their sins, that through the help of pious supplications, they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired, Who livest and reignest forever, unto ages of ages. Amen.
Second Day
The memory of our dear faithful departed is sweet and consoling to our heart. United still in the Mystical Body of Christ, we know that they have gone before us into eternity, and it remains in our power to console and relieve them by our alms, prayers, and sacrifices.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most compassionate Jesus, have mercy upon the souls in Purgatory, for whose Redemption Thou didst take upon Thyself the nature of mankind and die an ignominious Death. Mercifully hear their pleadings. Look with pity on the tears which they now shed before Thee, and by virtue of Thy Passion, alleviate the suffering due to their sins. Most merciful Jesus, let some drops of Thy most Precious Blood flow down into Purgatory and refresh and revive the captive souls suffering there. Stretch out unto them Thy strong right hand, and lead them to a place of refreshment, light, and peace. Amen.
Third Day
The souls of the just do not leave us; they remain our brethren in Christ’s Mystical Body. If we would but pray and sacrifice for them, they have the means of affording us a very effective solace through the power of their intercession. Let us recall them frequently by our prayers, by our aspirations, and by our good works, which will console them, and help us to gain Heaven.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most compassionate Jesus! Thou art our salvation, our life, and our resurrection. We implore Thee, therefore, do not forsake us in our needs and afflictions, but by the agony of Thy Most Sacred Heart, and by the Sorrows of Thy Immaculate Mother, assist Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy most Precious Blood. Amen.
Fourth Day
Death separates us; it breaks the earthly tie which binds us one to another, but it cannot break the spiritual tie which unites one soul to another–one heart to another.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus Christ, by the merits of Thy Precious Blood, deign to assist and console the Poor Souls in Purgatory, particularly the soul that is most abandoned. If it be in accord with Thy holy Will, place it today in Heaven, that in union with the Angels and Thy Blessed Mother, it may praise Thee forever and ever. Amen.
Fifth Day
Almost nothing else is humanly harder to bear than painful waiting. All of the souls in Purgatory are certain that, one day, they will indeed reach Heaven. They know how wonderful Heaven is, and how infinitely desirable is God. But they are prevented from following the powerful impulse that urges them toward their supreme happiness. They must hunger for God, and yet, still be withheld from the possession of Him.
In Hell, there is only bleak and hopeless despair. In Purgatory there is hope and certainty, and love and eagerness-and long periods of waiting.… waiting…. waiting.
There is suffering too in Purgatory, the excruciating torment which is essential to wash away in flame the stains of guilt, and to cleanse as with fire the soul that will eventually enter into the Presence of the most high and infinitely holy God. But the real pain of Purgatory is that violent yearning for God, Who is just out of reach, and that longing to go home to Heaven, which is almost seen, but as yet unattainable.
Nothing defiled can enter Heaven; that we know by faith. So Purgatory is the place where the defilement of sin is removed, where the souls that are destined for glory are prepared by punishment and tedious delay for their glorious entrance into their eternal Home.
For the love we bear our friends in Purgatory, let us humbly and fervently pray:
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O my God, I offer Thee the Precious Blood shed by Thine only-begotten Son on Calvary, and the Sorrows of His Blessed Mother, for the remission of our sins, the deliverance of the souls in Purgatory, for our Holy Mother Church, and for the conversion of sinners. Amen.
Sixth Day
The souls in Purgatory are powerless to help themselves. They cannot do penance, nor offer satisfaction, nor gain indulgences, nor receive the Sacraments. They cannot pray for themselves. We, who are still on earth, can share with them the graces which God so generously and abundantly lavishes upon us.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most beloved Jesus, by the merits of Thy Five Holy Wounds, hear the pleas and hasten the release from the torments of Purgatory the faithful soul that did the most good on earth. If it be in accord with Thy holy Will, place it today at Thy heavenly throne that it may join the Angels in adoration. There may this holy soul intercede for me, that I may faithfully live according to Thy holy Will. Amen.
Seventh Day
The souls in Purgatory are able to appreciate the things of God more fully than we. Enlightened by Divine grace, they understand the respect and obedience which God merited from them on earth, and the ingratitude and baseness of their sins.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Whose adorable Heart sighs for the love and happiness of Thy banished children, we beseech Thee to remember the souls of Thy servants for whom we pray. Allow them, we beseech Thee, to be received by Thy holy Angels, and with them enjoy eternal happiness and glory in Heaven. Amen.
Eighth Day
This life on earth is, as we have heard many times, the only opportunity for gaining grace and merit for Heaven. When through the Church’s indulgences we avail ourselves of the merits of Christ and of the Saints, we can wipe away the guilt of forgiven mortal sins, and eliminate the punishment due to venial sins, as we can also do through acts of penance and deeds of charity.
But once the soul enters Purgatory, the time for that soul to gain merit is ended. When we suffer on earth, we can offer our suffering to God, increasing thereby our future happiness in Heaven, and swiftly decreasing the pains we would otherwise have to suffer in Purgatory. But when a soul suffers in Purgatory, the debts of his sins are slowly and tediously expiated; and he gains no further merit for Heaven. Furthermore, there are no indulgences to be gained in Purgatory, nor fresh use of the merits of Christ, of His Mother, and of the Saints.
Thanks, however, to our union in the Mystical Body of Christ, thanks to the Communion of Saints, we can gain merit for the poor, suffering souls in Purgatory. As members of the Church on earth, we can earn indulgences and apply them to the punishments due to these souls, members of the Church Suffering. By whatever good that we offer for them on earth, we can decrease their sufferings and hasten their entry into Heaven.
With great charity for these Poor Souls who depend so fervently upon us, we pray:
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O God, Who hast commanded us to honor our father and our mother, in Thy loving kindness have mercy upon the souls of our parents. Forgive them their sins, and grant that we may see them face to face amid the joys of life everlasting; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ninth Day
The just die as members of the Church, and so they continue. They remain united with us as well as with God by faith, hope, and charity. Therefore we should assist them as one member assists another.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus Christ, by Thy terrible agony in the Garden, we beseech Thee to have pity upon the souls in Purgatory, particularly the soul who has the most to suffer through our bad example. Vouchsafe to deliver it soon from torments, that it may join the heavenly host in glorifying Thee forever. Amen.
Tenth Day
When we aid a poor soul in its release from Purgatory, that soul is under a particular obligation to us, both because of the singular benefit it receives from entering all the sooner into glory, and also because of the terrible sufferings from which it is delivered. Thus it is bound to obtain for its benefactors singular graces and blessings.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus, by the merits of the Sorrows of Thy Virgin Mother, we implore Thee to release from Purgatory the soul that is dearest to Thee. Vouchsafe to place it today in Heaven, that in union with the Angels and Thy Blessed Mother it may sing Thy praises forever. Amen.
Eleventh Day
St. Francis de Sales tells us: “Devotion to the Poor Souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which, supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, will assist us mightily in meriting Heaven.”
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus Christ, deliver the souls of the faithful departed from the flames of Hell, and let Thine Angels bring them into the holy light. We offer Thee, O Lord, our sacrifices of prayer and praise; accept them in behalf of all the Poor Souls in Purgatory, that they may pass from death to life everlasting with Thee in Heaven. Amen.
Twelfth Day
Despite the sorrowful farewells and vows of undying remembrance, the dead are all too soon universally forgotten. “Forgotten is all my life, which never a word recalls; forgotten is my name, which no one utters; forgotten is my tomb, which no one visits; forgotten is my death, which no one mourns.” How swiftly the memory of the dead seems to pass from human minds, even those who are most dear to us in life. Like the tears falling upon the coffin, our fond memories swiftly evaporate. The rush of the days fills the minds and hands of the living. The distractions of our life and work, and the encountering of new friends helps to banish to the dusty corners of our minds the friends now hidden in God’s Penitentiary.
But these suffering prisoners do not forget us.
In the slow, painful passage of the days they have time to remember. Their longing for God is so intense that they have little heart for new distractions and companions, as we do. They are made sensitive-as pain always makes us sensitive-to memory, to neglect, to hope for deliverance, to the knowledge that those who once cried aloud their love, have so swiftly forgotten them.
With gratitude, they think of those who do remember. With sadness they regard those who have so swiftly deserted them.
They pray to God, Who loves them tenderly, even in their exile, and Who listens attentively to their holy supplications. They pray for all those who alleviate their sufferings through prayer and sacrifice. They beg that those who have forsaken them for the sake of earthly attachments, will relent, and offer for them a thought, a prayer, or a good deed as a ransom for their sins.
Remembering our own dear dead, we humbly pray for them:
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus Christ, have compassion on Thy Church suffering. Vouchsafe to temper Thy justice with mercy, and open the gates of Heaven for the Poor Souls in Purgatory, that they may praise and glorify Thee forever. Amen.
Thirteenth Day
St. Ambrose tells us: “All that we give through charity toward the Poor Souls in Purgatory is changed into grace for us, and after our death, we shall find the merit of this heavenly coin will have increased a hundredfold.”
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus Christ, grant soon to the souls of the faithful departed the full remission of their sins. Be mindful, most merciful Savior, of that soul in Purgatory who was most devoted to Thee in the Holy Eucharist. Hasten the moment of his deliverance, that he may glorify Thee in Heaven, and intercede for me in my journey toward eternity. Amen.
Fourteenth Day
Prayers for the faithful departed are greatly acceptable to God, for the suffering souls are in the most dire need of relief, and yet cannot help themselves.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus Christ, we implore Thee to shower down upon us Thy Divine graces and blessings. Unite our wills to Thine, that our prayers may be more acceptable to Thee, and thus more beneficial to the Poor Souls in Purgatory, who cry out, “Have pity on me, have pity on me, for the hand of the Lord hath touched me.” Amen.
Fifteenth Day
They are not strangers who implore our help–they are our own; our parents, brothers, and friends. They are the devoted hearts who loved us so tenderly, and for us so earnestly toiled and suffered. Now that they are gone from our midst, does not our heart reproach us for not having sufficiently shown our affection in the past?
Yet, the Poor Souls in Purgatory are the friends of God. These are the souls who will be, in a short time, glorious and powerful Saints in Heaven. They have saved their immortal souls; their crowns await them. Their thrones are prepared, and their mansions are ready. The good God loves them tenderly, as He loves all those faithful sons and daughters who fought the good fight, who have finished the course, who have kept the Faith.
The prayers offered for others by these cherished souls go directly to His Eternal Throne. They can no longer pray for themselves; their time to merit is over. But they can and do pray for their friends and loved ones on earth.
There is a loving mother in Purgatory, who is interceding for her children, some of whom, perhaps, have forgotten her…. There is a devoted father who is now even more devoted to his family, and pleads for their spiritual and temporal welfare.… There are relatives in Purgatory, now bound to us with ties much closer than blood…. There are friends who have not forgotten the value of friendship, and seek to obtain the mercy of God for those they love.
Death cannot destroy the affection our loved ones bore for us in life; that affection is now sweeter, purer, and more constant. United with God in Heaven, or offering atonement to Him in Purgatory, they love us with a deeper, everlasting love.
But most of all, the Poor Souls pray for their benefactors, those few who do not desert them in their exile. The slightest remembrance which we offer for them, wins for us a great measure of intercession from their ardent charity.
Our prayers are perhaps thoughtlessly said, but our friends in Purgatory pray with the burning intensity of souls who are advancing ever closer to the possession of God. For every time we ask their deliverance and relief, they beseech God for a thousand blessings for us. In sheer spiritual wisdom, and to our own eternal advantage, let us humbly pray:
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus Christ, mercifully hearken to the voice of the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Vouchsafe in Thy goodness to grant unto them remission of their sins because of the burning love which they bear to Thee, and deign to bring them with Thee to Heaven, that they may praise Thee forever and ever. Amen.
Sixteenth Day
St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 11:13-15), tells us: “Every man’s work shall be manifest, for the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire. And the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If a man’s work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.”
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus, have mercy upon the souls in Purgatory who suffer because of some slight human frailty. Vouchsafe to deliver them from their agonies, that they may forevermore praise and glorify Thee in Heaven. Amen.
Seventeenth Day
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” When we stand before God in the hour of judgment, if we have shown ourselves merciful and compassionate toward the Poor Souls in their hour of need, we will then rejoice in the presence of those Holy Souls, who will gather about His throne to plead our cause.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus Christ, mercifully relieve the sufferings of Thy departed servants, that they may not languish in Purgatory because of our neglect and thoughtlessness. Vouchsafe to hasten their deliverance from their pains, that they may praise Thee forever in Heaven, and intercede for us when the hour of death draws near. Amen.
Eighteenth Day
Our souls yearn for God with far greater intensity than ever a starving body hungers for food. Yet, here in this world, we are often distracted from that Divine invitation by the pressures of daily life.
But in Purgatory there are no distractions.
Their eyes fixed on the closed gates of Heaven, the Poor Souls long for God, yearn for God, hunger and thirst for God.
The terms of their sentence still ring in their ears: “Thus and thus long shall you remain separated from your joy, until these sins, and these misdeeds, and these blemishes and these stains have been atoned for.”
Balanced against their consuming hunger for God is their certainty that they would not dare enter into His Presence with the slightest stain upon them. They almost wish that the fires burned more fiercely, so that the pain could be more intense and more cleansing. Thus do they aspire to don the wedding garment of Heaven.
Imagine, then, their gratitude for every prayer or good deed by which we help them to cleanse their souls and hasten their pilgrimage to their eternal Home.
Imagine the leaping joy with which they welcome any and every prayer and sacrifice by which we curtail their sufferings, shorten their sentence in Purgatory, and hasten their entrance into Heaven.
At this very moment, we can give unutterable joy to these Poor Souls as we humbly pray:
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Mother of Mercy, thy power is so great that thy Divine Son can refuse thee nothing. Implore Him, therefore, to soon release from the pains of Purgatory, our parents, friends, and benefactors, that they may join the heavenly chorus in praising Him, and in interceding for us. Amen.
Nineteenth Day
“We have loved her during life, let us not abandon her until we have conducted her by our prayers into the House of the Lord.” –St. Ambrose
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O Lord Jesus, graciously hear the pleas of the Poor Souls. By the merits of Thy Passion and Death, hasten to release them from their expiatory pains in Purgatory, particularly the soul most devoted to Thy Virgin Mother, that he may evermore praise Thee in Heaven, and intercede for me. Amen.
Twentieth Day
What food would be to the man starving of hunger.
What drink would be to the parched sailor, drifting the seas on a raft.
What light would be to the man long blind.
What restored health would be to the bed-ridden patient.
What freedom would be to the prisoner of many years.
All this, and far, far more is release from Purgatory to a poor soul. And when food, the quenching of terrible thirst, light, health, and freedom come suddenly, unexpectedly, the human heart leaps and bounds, and the soul knows the sharp ecstasy of joy.
So it is with each prayer that we say for our suffering brethren in Purgatory. Our prayer for them is like food and water, light and health; it is a consoling reprieve and release. It is the cutting of bonds, the lessening of weary waiting, the hastening of the end of exile. It is a sudden and glorious liberation that raises them up, and impels them even more urgently toward the center of their joy, God Himself.
For us, that prayer may almost seem to be an insignificant gesture, a routine act of charity… a silent prayer, an alms, a bit of fasting, a good deed done… almost forgotten in the doing. But for our dearly departed friends, it is something beyond price and measure, a gift for which they can repay us only in the immortal coin of eternity.
Such a gift we offer them now as we humbly pray:
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most merciful Jesus, by the merits of Thy five holy wounds, hear our prayers in behalf of the faithful departed, now awaiting Thy word in Purgatory. Grant, O Lord, to show particular mercy to the soul that did most to propagate the devotion to Thy Sacred Heart while on earth. Vouchsafe to hasten his journey to Heaven, that he may join Thy Angels in praising Thee forever. Amen.
Twenty-first Day
To find ourselves forgotten on earth by those whom we love, and who have loved us, is a cruel trial–but to find ourselves in Purgatory–forgotten by all whom we loved and helped on earth, must be a far more painful sorrow.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
O my God, infinitely just, hear our prayers in reparation for the souls suffering in Purgatory for want of charity. Mercifully deign to alleviate their pains that they may evermore praise Thee, and intercede at Thy Judgment Seat for us at the hour of our death. Amen.
Twenty-second Day
Let us never cease our prayers for the faithful departed. St. Francis de Sales often said: “I fear the good opinion which my friends have formed of me: they will believe me in Heaven, and leave me to suffer in Purgatory.”
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most merciful Jesus, have mercy upon the souls in Purgatory. For us, Thou didst become Man, and suffer Thy bitter Passion and ignominious Death. By the merits of Thy Agony and Crucifixion, mercifully release the faithful departed from their pains, that they may enjoy everlasting bliss in Heaven. Amen.
Twenty-third Day
When, by our prayers, we assist in the release of a soul from Purgatory, we have not only won his gratitude, but the gratitude of his Guardian Angel, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom his soul was consecrated, and of God Himself, Who is enabled, through our act of charity, to sooner shower His blessings upon it.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most beloved Jesus, if I could but say, “There is a soul in Heaven at this time that owes to me its release from Purgatory, a soul that speaks to God of me, that glorifies God for me, that loves Thy Blessed Mother for me. If it were thus, how happy I should be.” Mercifully deign to release from the pains of Purgatory that soul who was careless and hurried in prayer. Take him to the joys of Heaven, that he may evermore praise Thee, and intercede for me in my hour of need. Amen.
Twenty-fourth Day
If we help to deliver a soul from Purgatory by our prayers and sacrifices, what a joy it is to be able to say to oneself: “There is a Holy Soul who truly loves God for me, and in my name.” We create protectors in all the souls for whom we pray, even though we have not yet obtained their deliverance.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most merciful Jesus, Whose loving Heart was ever burdened with the sorrows of others, look down with pity on the souls of our beloved ones in Purgatory. Hear their cries, and grant that they may soon enjoy everlasting rest with Thee in Heaven. Amen.
Twenty-fifth Day
One of the saddest facts of life is that the living so soon forget the dead. We forget when we live: we are forgotten when we die. St. Monica, on her deathbed, pleaded with her son, St. Augustine: “Lay my body anywhere, only this I beg of you: remember me at the Altar of God.”
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most merciful Jesus, Lover of souls, we pray Thee, by the agony of Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thy Immaculate Mother, cleanse with Thy Blood the souls in Purgatory. Graciously deign to deliver them from their pains, that they may join the heavenly chorus in praising Thee, and interceding for us in the hour of need. Amen.
Twenty-sixth Day
It costs us very little to help the faithful departed. We are obliged to pray, to assist at Mass, to receive the Sacraments, to give alms, and to fast on the days appointed. If we are in the state of grace and offer these works for the Poor Souls, they are acceptable to God and will hasten the end of their painful exile.
Finally, the inexpressibly joyful day of their deliverance comes. Perhaps for souls whose friends on earth forgot about them, and for whom, because of valid reasons, God showed no special consideration, that release comes only at the end of long and bitter centuries. But perhaps it comes far sooner than they have dared to hope. Their friends have remembered them. Prayers have poured in upon them. God has accepted these in part–or in full–payment of their debt.
But sooner or later, their liberation is at hand, the sentence is finished, and the grim gates of Purgatory swing open. Ahead are the white and shining portals of the Eternal City.
More swiftly than a beam of light, the blessed soul sweeps upward toward God. No power on earth can equal the vehement intensity of this final flight of a soul from exile to the happiness for which God destined it from all eternity.
Then, in the awesome Presence of God, there is the moment of triumph, the embrace of the Eternal Father, the entrance into the heavenly mansion… the enthronement of another Saint. At that moment, there shall begin for that Holy Soul, an eternity of bliss and incomparable happiness that shall be without flaw, never to be marred by uncertainty or disillusionment. Then, the soul shall possess God for all eternity.
We can have a truly enviable part in that wonderful moment, if only we would more fervently pray:
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most merciful Jesus, deign to hasten the release of the Poor Souls in Purgatory from the punishments due to their sins, especially the soul suffering there through my bad example. If it is in accord with Thy holy Will, take him today to Thy Heavenly Throne, that he may join the Saints in praise of Thee, and to intercede for me in my hour of need. Amen.
Twenty-seventh Day
Every morning let us commend the faithful departed to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Poor Souls in Purgatory. As her slaves of love, let us then strive to accept without a murmur of complaint whatever crosses and contradictions that God sends to us. We must also faithfully offer through her all of our prayers and good works. Thus, we will enable this gracious Queen to magnify the effect of our humble offerings in behalf of the Poor Souls suffering in Purgatory.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most merciful Jesus, by the merits of Thy Holy Childhood, hasten to deliver from the pains of Purgatory the souls suffering there, particularly the soul longest in paying the debt exacted for his earthly transgressions. Graciously take him today to Paradise that he may join the heavenly choir in praising Thee, and will intercede for me in the hour of need. Amen.
Twenty-eighth Day
In Purgatory, the just and loving soul loses sight of everything but the purity of God, which it loves, and the necessity of making itself worthy of this purity. This suffering is so intense because it is uncertain of the length of its exile from the sight of the most high God.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, hear our prayers in behalf of the souls suffering in Purgatory, particularly those paying the debt exacted for pride. We humbly implore Thee to hasten their release from pain, that they may evermore glorify Thee in Heaven, and intercede for us in the hour of need. Amen.
Twenty-ninth Day
We must never cease to interest ourselves in the welfare of the Poor Souls in Purgatory. The honor and glory of God and our own salvation is bound up in this important work of mercy. Let us remember that prayers offered for the intentions of the Poor Souls in Purgatory, are the petitions of a child beseeching the Heavenly Father to be merciful to those whom He loves. Could such a prayer, humbly offered from our heart, fail to touch the Heart of the good God?
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most merciful Jesus, by Thy Nativity and Holy Childhood, hasten to deliver from Purgatory the Poor Souls confined there, particularly the soul of the youngest to incur Thy displeasure, because of youthful carelessness. Graciously take him today to Thy Heavenly Throne, that he may evermore praise and glorify Thee, and will intercede for me in the hour of need. Amen.
Thirtieth Day
The unspeakable joy of the souls in Heaven does not cause them to forget. On the contrary, their supreme happiness makes them more alive to the memories of those they have left on earth.
The soul that has entered into bliss does not, even for a second, forget the generous friends who have succored him in his exile, and have aided him to attain to the possession of God and celestial glory.
Now a Saint in Heaven, he uses to the full his power of intercession. He prays God to be merciful and generous to those who were merciful and generous to him. By name he mentions to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Mary, the Immaculate Queen of the Universe, those who mentioned his name when he was helpless to help himself. He lays the supplications of his friends before the Throne of the Most High God.
He becomes, in effect, a mighty benefactor, persuasively beseeching God to extend mercy, and to grant special graces and favors to those who remembered him in Purgatory.
The blessed soul prays with the fervor of new-found joy that their passage through life will be safe, their stay in Purgatory brief, and their entrance into Heaven swift and triumphant. He prays that those whom he has left on earth, may one day also behold the Beatific Vision, and see God face to face throughout the endlessness of Eternity. Let us fervently join with them in that prayer, that we may be happily reunited with them, in the unending bliss of our heavenly fatherland.
Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
Most gentle Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor, captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed. Be not severe in Thy judgments, but let some drops of Thy Most Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames, and do Thou, O merciful Savior, send Thy Angels to conduct them into a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.
Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on us! And help the suffering souls in Purgatory.
De Profundis — Psalm 129
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
For there is forgiveness with Thee: because of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath waited on His word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him plenteous redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
O Lord, grant them eternal rest,
And let the everlasting light shine upon them.
Prayer for Mercy for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Daily throughout November
Have mercy, O gentle Jesus! on the souls detained in Purgatory. Thou Who for their ransom didst take upon Thyself our human nature and suffer the most cruel death, pity their sighs and the tears shed when they raise their longing eyes toward Thee; and by virtue of Thy Passion, alleviate the penalty due to their sins. May Thy Blood, O tender Jesus, Thy Precious Blood, descend into Purgatory to solace and refresh those who there languish in captivity. Reach forth Thy hand to them, and lead them into the realms of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.
Divine Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying,
set free the Poor Souls in Purgatory.
Prayer to Our Lady of Heede,
Queen of the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Daily throughout November
Dear Lady of Heede, Queen of the Poor Souls in Purgatory, hear thou our fervent pleas for the relief of those suffering souls. As thou art truly the loving Mother of Mercy, let the graces of thy Immaculate Heart pierce that dark prison of purification and fall as a refreshing dew upon those languishing there. And do thou, dearest Advocate, implore thy Divine Son to allow the infinite merits of His Precious Blood to penetrate the darkness as a ray of hope and light upon the Poor Souls, especially those enrolled in the Purgatorian League, and the souls of (insert names), through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
During the month of November devoted by the Church to the commemoration of the faithful departed and to pray for them, it is worth recalling that some of the promises that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave to Elizabeth Kindelmann are for the souls of the faithful departed who are in Purgatory.
What does it mean to remember the deceased? We recall first of all that we are the Body of Christ and that our family also includes those who have gone before us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that through the Communion of Saints, “a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those expiating their sins in Purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is an abundant exchange of all good things.”
The Blessed Mother said to Elizabeth: “Whenever My Flame of Love is invoked and three Hail Mary’s are recited in My honor, a soul is released from Purgatory. During November, the month of the deceased, ten souls will be released from Purgatory for each Hail Mary recited. Suffering souls must also feel the effect of grace of the Flame of Love of My maternal Heart.” (October 13, 1962)
“My Flame of Love which from My Heart I wish to spread on you in an increasingly large measure also extends to the souls in Purgatory. Pay good attention to what I am saying, write My words down and hand them over to the concerned persons: Families doing the hour of atonement on Thursdays or Fridays will received the special grace of delivering from Purgatory, within eight days, one deceased member of their family after one single day of severe fasting.” [on bread and water] (September 24, 1963)
The Lord Jesus: “Whoever fasts on Monday on bread and water while referring to the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary delivers the soul of a priest from Purgatory. Also, he who follows that prescription will receive the grace, during the octave following his death, to be delivered from Purgatory by My Mother” (Agenda of Monday). The Blessed Virgin added: “For all those who observe absolute fasting regularly on Monday, they can cease it at 6.00 p.m. But instead, they must pray on the same day a five-decade Rosary for the souls in Purgatory.”
The Blessed Virgin: “The priests who observe the fasting on Monday release during each Holy Mass they celebrate during that week, at the moment of consecration, innumerable souls from Purgatory. The religious and the laity who observe absolute fasting on Monday will deliver during that week, every time they receive Communion and at the time they receive the Sacred Body of the Lord, a host of souls from Purgatory.” (August 15, 1980)
“You see, My daughter, when the Flame of Love of My Heart is inflamed upon the earth, its outpouring of graces flows out to the dying as well. Satan is blinded and with the help of your fervent prayers, Satan’s fight against the dying will cease. Under the serene beam of My Flame of Love, even the most hardened sinners are converted for I do not want any soul to be lost… Make sure that not a single minute goes by during the night without prayer. As long as there is someone awake and praying in honour of My Flame of Love, I promise you that not a single dying person in their surroundings will be damned.
The more fervently you pray, the more thoroughly will Satan be blinded, and the dying soul will find renewed strength to decide wisely as to her future destiny.”
In this month of November dedicated to them, let us take advantage of this great privilege the Flame of Love offers us and put its power to work for the souls in Purgatory, which in turn, help us in our struggles.
Over the centuries, countless Saints have called on the faithful to pray for these Holy Souls as a supreme act of charity towards our loved ones who have passed from this life or that multitude of unknown souls who have no-one to pray for them.
Upon death, the souls who are not perfect choose a final purification before they enter Heaven. St Catherine of Genoa explained that “the soul presents itself to God still bound to the desires and suffering that derive from sin and this makes it impossible for it to enjoy the beatific vision of God.” (Vita Mirabile, 177r) Therefore, the soul voluntarily undertakes a purification so that they can attain the beatific vision in the Communion of Saints. The place of this purification is known as purgatory. St Catherine taught that in purgatory the souls have the immense joy of knowing that they will one day be with the Lord whilst at the same time they suffer the pains of their purification.
A sweet exchange between heaven and earth!
The holy souls, unable to help themselves, rely on the prayers of the Church – our prayers and sufferings – to shorten their time of purification or their journey to eternal beatitude. St Thomas Aquinas wrote that, “the prayers for the dead are most acceptable to God because the dead have need of them and cannot help themselves as the living can.” On the one hand there is the dependence of the Holy Souls on our prayers. This builds up the Kingdom of God in heaven as greater numbers of souls enter eternal beatitude. The ‘Keys to the Kingdom’ are in the hands of the faithful members of the Church who can open paradise by praying for these souls. We should continue to pray for them even though we do not know if they are still in purgatory or have ascended into heaven knowing that, in the economy of Salvation, the Lord will distribute the benefits of our prayers..
On the other hand, St Thomas teaches us that the holy souls can pray for their loved ones on earth whilst, unless God permits it, not knowing their concrete needs. (cfr. St Thomas, Summa Theologiae, 1, q.89) In fact, the souls in purgatory are very effective in assisting us in our needs and intentions. St Teresa of Avila said, “I never asked graces from the souls in purgatory without being heard. In fact, the graces I could not gain from other heavenly spirits, I obtained from the souls in purgatory.” There is a sweet exchange of charity between heaven and earth with each part helping the other to attain Salvation! Indeed, thought of in this way we can see that the members of the Church are called to participate in Christ’s mission of Salvation and to take on His sentiments towards these Holy Souls.
Do not forget to pray for the dead
In the fifth century, St John Chrysostom highlighted the importance of prayers for deceased loved ones above the usual funeral considerations. He made the point that “external shows are a relief for the family where as the spiritual works (like prayers) are for the help of the souls who need and desire them.” More recently, Blessed Catherine Emerick said that “unfortunately, the poor souls in Purgatory suffer much because of our neglect, comfortable devotion, lack of enthusiasm for God and for the salvation of our neighbours […] The saints in heaven cannot fulfil the penitence that is required for disciples and the Militant Church on earth. It is enough to dedicate some prayers or serious thoughts to these souls to help them.”
A spiritual work: Remembering the Holy Souls:
In the month of November, the Church reminds us to pray for the dead. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the most effective way of helping the Holy Souls into paradise. In the 12th century, St Bernard of Clairvaux had a vision in a Church in Rome known today as Santa Maria Scala Coeli of the Holy Souls ascending a ladder into paradise whilst he was celebrating the Holy Mass. This vision highlights the great power of the Holy Mass in giving relief to the souls in purgatory.
During the month of November may we pray particularly for our loved ones who have died and ask to Our Lady of Mercy to deliver them swiftly into eternal happiness.
GOD’S PROMISES FOR NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER 1 – PROMISE #305
I am tenderhearted towards all that I have made.
Psalm 145:9
NOVEMBER 2 – PROMISE #306
My love stretches to the heavens and My faithfulness extends above the clouds.
Psalm 36:5
NOVEMBER 3 – PROMISE #307
I have chosen you to be My own precious possession.
Deuteronomy 7:6
NOVEMBER 4 – PROMISE #308
I know everything about you and am mindful of all your ways.
Psalm 139:1-3
NOVEMBER 5 – PROMISE #309
The Spirit of life in Christ has set you free from sin and death.
Romans 8:2
NOVEMBER 6 – PROMISE #310
Jesus bore your sins on the cross so you would be healed.
1 Peter 2:24
NOVEMBER 7 – PROMISE #311
Draw near to Me and I will cleanse you from an evil conscience.
Hebrews 10:22
NOVEMBER 8 – PROMISE #312
My love is patient and kind, and does not keep track of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
NOVEMBER 9 – PROMISE #313
I am your light and your salvation, the strength of your life.
Psalm 27:1
NOVEMBER 10 – PROMISE #314
I have given you the Spirit of adoption so you can call Me Father.
Romans 8:15
NOVEMBER 11 – PROMISE #315
Come boldly to My throne when you need to find mercy and grace.
Hebrews 4:16
NOVEMBER 12 – PROMISE #316
Taste and you will see that I am a good God.
Psalm 34:8
NOVEMBER 13 – PROMISE #317
I wait for opportunities to show you My compassion.
Isaiah 30:18
NOVEMBER 14 – PROMISE #318
I will shower My Spirit and My blessings on your offspring.
Isaiah 44:3
NOVEMBER 15 – PROMISE #319
I will comfort you with My everlasting encouragement.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
NOVEMBER 16 – PROMISE #320
Delight in Me and I will give you the longings of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
NOVEMBER 17 – PROMISE #321
Just ask and you will receive.
Matthew 7:7
NOVEMBER 18 – PROMISE #322
I look throughout the earth to strengthen those who belong to me.
2 Chronicles 16:9
NOVEMBER 19 – PROMISE #323
I will be your safe place in difficult times.
Nahum 1:7
NOVEMBER 20 – PROMISE #324
I will give you power over the enemy and nothing will hurt you.
Luke 10:19
NOVEMBER 21 – PROMISE #325
If you love Me with all your heart, I will provide all you need.
Deuteronomy 11:13-14
NOVEMBER 22 – PROMISE #326
My children will overcome the world through their faith.
1 John 5:4
NOVEMBER 23 – PROMISE #327
I will root your heart in the depths of My love.
Ephesians 3:17
NOVEMBER 24 – PROMISE #328
I will come to you as certainly as the sun rises and spring rains fall.
Hosea 6:3
NOVEMBER 25 – PROMISE #329
I will bless the poor in spirit with My kingdom.
Matthew 5:3
NOVEMBER 26 – PROMISE #330
I will give you beauty to replace your ashes.
Isaiah 61:3
NOVEMBER 27 – PROMISE #331
I will be your light and you shall reign with Me forever.
Revelation 22:5
NOVEMBER 28 – PROMISE #332
The eternal glory that is in store for you far surpasses your present troubles.
2 Corinthians 4:17
NOVEMBER 29 – PROMISE #333
An everlasting city awaits you, for I am not ashamed to be called your God.
Hebrews 11:16
NOVEMBER 30 – PROMISE #334
Every word of every promise that I have made will come to pass.
1 Kings 8:56
LITANY FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY
O Jesus, You suffered and died that all mankind might be saved and brought to eternal happiness. Hear our pleas for further mercy on the souls of:
For my dear parents and grandparents, Jesus, have mercy!
My brothers and sisters and other near relatives, Jesus, have mercy!
My godparents and sponsors of confirmation, Jesus, have mercy!
My spiritual and temporal benefactors, Jesus, have mercy!
My friends and neighbors, Jesus, have mercy!
All for whom love or duty calls me to pray, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who have suffered disadvantages or harm through me, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who are especially beloved by you, Jesus, have mercy!
Those whose release is near at hand, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who desire most to be united with you, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who endure the greatest sufferings, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who are least remembered, Jesus, have mercy!
Those whose release is most remote, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who are most deserving because of their services to the Church, Jesus, have mercy!
The rich, who now are the most destitute, Jesus, have mercy!
The mighty, who now are powerless, Jesus, have mercy!
The once spiritually blind, who now see their folly, Jesus, have mercy!
The frivolous, who spent their time in idleness, Jesus, have mercy!
The poor who did not seek the treasures of heaven, Jesus, have mercy!
The tepid, who devoted little time to prayer, Jesus, have mercy!
The indolent, who neglected to perform good works, Jesus, have mercy!
Those of little faith, who neglected the frequent reception of the sacraments, Jesus, have mercy!
The habitual sinners, who owe their salvation to a miracle of grace, Jesus, have mercy!
Parents who failed to watch over their children, Jesus, have mercy!
Superiors who were not solicitous for the salvation of those entrusted to them, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who strove for worldly riches and pleasures, Jesus, have mercy!
The worldly-minded, who failed to use their wealth and talents in the service of God, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who witnessed the death of others, but would not think of their own, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who did not provide for the life hereafter, Jesus, have mercy!
Those whose sentence is severe because of the great things entrusted to them, Jesus, have mercy!
The popes, kings, and rulers, Jesus, have mercy!
The bishops and their counselors, Jesus, have mercy!
My teachers and spiritual advisers, Jesus, have mercy!
The priests and religious of the Catholic Church, Jesus, have mercy!
The defenders of the holy faith, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who died on the battlefield, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who fought for their country, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who were buried in the sea, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who died of strokes, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who died of heart attacks, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who suffered and died of cancer or AIDS, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who died suddenly in accidents, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who died without the last rites of the Church, Jesus, have mercy!
Those who shall die within the next 24 hours, Jesus, have mercy!
My own poor soul when I shall have to appear before your judgment seat. Jesus, have mercy!
Closing Prayers
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
Let perpetual light shine upon them forever more
with your saints in heaven because you are so gracious.
LEADER: The Lord be with you.
RESPONSE: And with your Spirit.
May the prayer of your suppliant people, we beseech you, O Lord,
benefit the souls of your departed servants and handmaids.
Deliver them from all their sins and make them partakers of your redemption. Amen.
DEVOTION FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
Efficacy of the Rosary for the Suffering Souls
(from the Manual of the Purgatorial Society 1907)
St. Dominic declared that the redemption of the holy souls from Purgatory is one of the principal effects of the Rosary. The venerable Alanus writes that many of the brethren had assured him that numerous souls had appeared to them whilst reciting the Rosary, and had declared that next to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass there was no more powerful means of helping the suffering souls than the Rosary. And numerous souls were daily released thereby, who otherwise would have been obliged to remain there for years. St. Alphonsus Liguori, therefore, says: ” If we wish to be of assistance to the souls in Purgatory, we must always remember them in our prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and especially offer the holy Rosary for them.”
Let us then frequently and with devotion recite the Rosary, which is so pleasing to our Blessed Mother, recommended most especially by Holy Church, discloses to us a rich source of grace, and is so efficacious in relieving the suffering souls and opening Heaven to them. Should our labor prevent us from reciting the entire Rosary every day, let us, at least, say a part of it. This simple homage to the Queen of Heaven will draw great blessing down upon us. And the holy souls will be wonderfully consoled and relieved if this devotion be offered in their behalf.
PRAYER:
Graciously hear, O Lord, the prayer we offer Thee in the holy Rosary in honor of Mary, Thy Virgin Mother, for the relief of the souls in Purgatory, while in devout meditation upon Thy holy life and suffering we implore Thy Divine assistance. Thou, who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
Special Intercession: Pray for the souls who were most devoted to the holy Rosary. Lord grant them eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. (Three times.)
Practice: Recite the Rosary for the suffering souls.
Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!
(Source: Saint Augustine, “Des devoirs à rendre aux morts”, in Oeuvres complètes [Bar-le-Duc], vol. XII, pp. 280-293. – DICI no. 378, November 2018), Rev. Msgr. William J. King, of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Catholic Culture, salve maria regina)
