Thursday, November 04, 2010

Church Suffering: Purgatory

O Lady of heaven, sweet Mother of God, with Your Divine Son and the Angels of which you are Queen, descend into purgatory and release souls from the fires of mercy and Divine justice. While the souls suffer in justice, it is by the mercy of God that, even though they are imperfect upon leaving this world, they are permitted a time of purgation after the death of their bodies so that they may become undefiled and enter into everlasting glory.

It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, as Your Divine Word has revealed, Almighty God (2Mc. 12:43:46). I offer the precious Blood of Jesus present at this moment in all the chalices of the world where the Sacrifice of the Mass is being offered in reparation for the temporal punishment still due to the suffering souls in purgatory. Accept the infinite Sacrifice of Your Son being perpetuated on our altars throughout the world.

O Saints of heaven, pray for the souls in purgatory that they may soon enter into glory with you. Unite your prayers to mine as I offer my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for I live yet in the time of merit, now deprived the souls in purgatory.

O Queen of the Angels, grant to the souls who are not yet ready and worthy of heavenly glory, relief from some of their miseries, and speed the day of their deliverance.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

- Prayerbook for Catholics by Father Robert J. Fox

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