Wednesday Prayer for the Holy Souls

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood of Thy divine Son Jesus that was shed in the streets of Jerusalem whilst He carried on His sacred shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross,
deliver the souls in purgatory and especially that one which is richest in merits in Thy sight, so that, having soon attained the high place n glory to which it is destined, it may praise Thee triumphantly and bless Thee for ever.  Amen.

from The Raccolta, 594-595

PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY

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Shared by Mary Jane.

After each invocation say:
My Jesus, mercy

O JESUS, Thou didst suffer and die that all mankind

might be saved and brought to eternal happiness.

Through the Agony of Thine Crown of Thorns

 I offer it to Thy Eternal Father that Thou wilt

hear our pleas for further mercy on the souls of:

My dear parents and grandparents,


My brothers and sisters and other near relatives,


My godparents and sponsors of Confirmation,


My spiritual and temporal benefactors,


My friends and neighbors,


All for whom love or duty bids me pray,


Those who have offended me,


Those who have suffered disadvantage of harm through me,


Those who are especially beloved by Thee,


Those whose release is near at hand,


Those who desire most to be united to Thee,


Those who endure the greatest suffering,


Those whose release is most remote,


Those who are least remembered,


Those who are most deserving on

account of their services to the Church,


The rich who are now the most destitute,


The mighty who are now powerless, 


The once spiritually blind, who now see their folly,



The frivolous, who spent their time in idleness, 


The poor, who did not seek the treasures of Heaven, 


The tepid, who devoted little time to prayer,


The indolent, who neglected to perform good works,


Those of little faith, who neglected

 the frequent reception of the Sacraments,


The habitual sinners, who owe

 their salvation to a miracle of grace,


Parents who failed to watch over their children,


Superiors who were not solicitous

for the salvation of those entrusted to them,


Those who strove for worldly riches and pleasures,


The worldly minded, who failed to

 use their wealth and talents in the service of God,


Those who witnessed the death of others,

but would not think of their own,


Those who blasphemed and committed

 sacrilege without due reparation,


Those who violated the dignity of the human body

 and mind through impurity,


Those who are Purgatory because of me,


Those who did not provide for the life hereafter,


Those whose sentence is severe because

of the great things entrusted to them,

The popes, kings and rulers,


The bishops and their counselors,


My teachers and spiritual advisors,


The deceased priests of this diocese,


The priests and religious of the Catholic Church,


The defenders of the holy Catholic Faith,


Those who died on the battlefield,


Those who fought for their country,


Those who were buried in the sea,



Those who died suddenly in accidents

 and from other causes,


Those who died of sudden illness,


Those who suffered and died of lingering illnesses,



Those who died without the last rites of the Church,


Those who shall die within the next twenty-four hours,


For those who procured abortions or aborted their children,


For those who promoted or practiced contraception,


For those who gave scandal, especially to children,


My own poor soul when I shall have to

 appear before Thy judgment seat.

PRAYER
Eternal rest grant unto all of these,

O Lord; and let the perpetual light of 

Thine countenance shine upon them soon. Amen.

Poor Souls Novena Prayers for Every Day - Day Seven

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SATURDAY

O Lord God omnipotent,

I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood

which gushed forth from the sacred Side of Thy divine Son jesus

in the presence and to the great sorrow of His most holy Mother,

deliver the souls in purgatory and amng them all especially

that soul which has been most devout to this noble Lady,

taht it may come quickly into Thy glory,

there to praise Thee in her, 

and her in Thee 

through all the ages.  

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest, etc.

EVERY DAY FOR THE NOVENA

O Lord, Hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto Thee.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful;

grant unto the souls of Thy servants and handmaids

the remission of all their sins:  that through

our devout supplications they may obtain

the pardon they have always desired.

Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Eternal rest, etc.

Novena for the Poor Souls - Day Six

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FRIDAY

O Lord God omnipotent,

I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which

Jesus Thy divine Son 

did shed 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 to the

possession of Thy glory where it may praise Thee

and bless Thee for evermore.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest, etc.

EVERY DAY FOR THE NOVENA

O Lord, Hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto Thee.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful;

grant unto the souls of Thy servants and handmaids

the remission of all their sins:  that through

our devout supplications they may obtain

the pardon they have always desired.

Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Eternal rest, etc.

Novena for the Poor Souls - Day Five

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THURSDAY

O Lord God omnipotent,

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 bequeathed

to His holy Church 

to be the perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment

of His faithful people,

deliver the souls in purgatory,

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.

Our Father, Hail Mary

Eternal rest...

EVERY DAY FOR THE NOVENA

O Lord, Hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto Thee.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful;

grant unto the souls of Thy servants and handmaids

the remission of all their sins:  that through

our devout supplications they may obtain

the pardon they have always desired.

Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Eternal rest, etc.

Novena for the Poor Souls - Day Four

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WEDNESDAY

O Lord God omnipotent,

I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood of 

Thy divine Son Jesus

that was shed in the streets of Jerusalem whilst He

carried on His sacred shoulders the heavy

burden of the Cross,

deliver the souls in purgatory and 

especially that one 

which is richest in merits in Thy sights,

so that,

having soon attained the high place in glory

to which it is destines, it may

praise Thee

triumphantly and 

bless Thee for ever.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest...

EVERY DAY FOR THE NOVENA

O Lord, Hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto Thee.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful;

grant unto the souls of Thy servants and handmaids

the remission of all their sins:  that through

our devout supplications they may obtain

the pardon they have always desired.

Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Eternal rest, etc.

Poor Souls Novena Prayers for Every Day - Day Three

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TUESDAY

O Lord God omnipotent,

I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood of 

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 for ever.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest, etc.

EVERY DAY FOR THE NOVENA

O Lord, Hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto Thee.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful;

grant unto the souls of Thy servants and handmaids

the remission of all their sins:  that through

our devout supplications they may obtain

the pardon they have always desired.

Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Eternal rest, etc.

Poor Souls Novena Prayers for Every Day - Day Two

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MONDAY

O Lord God omnipotent, 

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 it may soon begin to praise Thee and bless

Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest..., etc.

EVERY DAY FOR THE NOVENA

O Lord, Hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto Thee.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful;
grant unto the souls of Thy servants and handmaids
the remission of all their sins:  that through
our devout supplications they may obtain
the pardon they have always desired.
Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Eternal rest, etc.

Poor Souls Novena Prayers for Every Day - FIRST DAY

Source of this beautiful image of a Mass being offered for the souls in Purgatory is from Mystics of the Church.

The following novena is from an old Catholic booklet distributed by Mr. and Ms. Frank M. Foran, 7306 West Archer Avenue, Summit, IL.

(Prayers from the The Raccolta, 594-595)

SUNDAY

O Lord God omnipotent,

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

into Thy glory, where it may praise and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest, etc.

EVERY DAY FOR THE NOVENA

O Lord, Hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto Thee.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful;
grant unto the souls of Thy servants and handmaids
the remission of all their sins:  that through
our devout supplications they may obtain
the pardon they have always desired.
Who livest and reignest world without end. Amend.

Eternal rest, etc.

How to help the souls in Purgatory

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls.  As the photo above reminds us, we can pray for them while visiting a cemetery the first week of November and we can earn plenary indulgence.  This indulgence can be applied to ourselves or to a soul in purgatory.  At other times, it is a partial indulgence.


The following are other ways to help the souls:

1.  When a loved one or a friend dies, arrange and request Gregorian masses.  This would be 30 consecutive Masses, usually 10.00 a mass as a donation.  There are many Religious orders of priests who would be happy to arrange this and can be found online.  e.g.
The friars at Seraphic Mass and The priests Marians of the Immaculate Conception to name two.

2.  Request 3 consecutive masses for the repose of the newly departed loved one or friend.
 Saint Padre Pio's order would do this for the friars that died.  They believed it was the most efficacious way to relieve their sufferings.

3.  Those who cannot afford to have masses said for the holy souls should assist at as many masses as possible for their intention.

4.  Meditate on Jesus' Passion and Death while doing the Stations of the Cross.

5.  Pray and meditate on the Holy Rosary.

5.  Offer up our sufferings for the intentions of the Holy Souls.

7.  Offer up a prayer for the Holy Souls every day.

A Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

O most gentle Heart of Jesus,

ever present i the Blessed Sacrament,

ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory,

have mercy on the souls of Thy departed servants.  

Be not severe in Thy judgments, but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames.

And do Thou, 

O Merciful Saviour, send Thy holy angels to 

conduct them to a place of refreshment, light and peace.

Amen.

8.  Offer all good works, prayers and sufferings and indulgences one day a week, (preferably Sunday) for them.  There is no necessity to do anything new or extraordinary but just offer what one is accustomed to do on that day.

Basic conditions to offer good works for the holy souls:

- It must be carried out in a reverential manner and without any ulterior motives.
- It must be carried out in a state of grace.
- It must apply to them in a general or specific way.

9.  By saying as many aspirations as possible throughout the day.

e.g. "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee."  Or, simply: "Jesus!"

10.  Love our lady and pray constantly for the release of the souls from purgatory, (following Saint Padre Pio's example).

11.  Our indulgences can be offered for the intentions of the souls in purgatory, Plenary indulgences can be applied to a holy soul ONCE a day.  Partial indulgences can be applied to the souls several times a day.

The conditions for plenary indulgence to be gained:

- sacramental confession (you must
- Holy Communion
- pray for the Pope's intentions

12.  Continue praying for our beloved dead because even if they are in heaven and no longer need our prayers, they are applied to other souls.

13.  Give alms to the poor (the intentions must be there first).

14.  Fast.

15.  Mortify our bodies.

Lastly, "what you do for the dead, you do in a most excellent manner for yourself.  The reason of this is, that this work of mercy will be returned to you a hundredfold, in the day when you yourself shall be in distress..." - Fr. Paul O'Sullivan

References:
The Holy Souls - Viva Padre Pio by Father Alessio Parente, OFM Cap.
Purgatory by Fr. F. X. Schouppe, S.J.
Read Me or Rue it/How to Avoid Purgatory - Father Paul O'Sullivan, O.P.

Christmas and the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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Shared by Mary Jane:

Please pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, especially your loved ones and those whom you've known - many are released on Christmas.

[Footnote: account from Maronite website:

Pat Murnahan was coming back from a business trip to New York during the month of November, 1996.  He felt his presentations had gone very well and he felt relaxed as he sank back into his seat ready for the flight to London and then on to Dublin.  He had chosen a window seat so that he could sleep and not be disturbed by people coming and going.  As more passengers entered the plane and it began to fill up, he could hear the hum of continuous conversation up and down the aisles, mixed with the sound of bags being stowed in the overhead lockers.

 After ten minutes Pat was beginning to snooze and the rhythmic sound finally lulled him to sleep.  But just minutes after he fell asleep he found himself sitting up fully awake.  He heard nothing and wondered what had woken him, then he realized there was complete silence in the plane.

He sat fully upright wondering what had caused the silence, he felt a slight tinge of terror, the first thing coming to mind was that terrorists were taking over the plane.

Pat turned hi s head to see what was happening and his mouth dropped open when he recognized the slight bent figure and smiling face that had caused the complete silence as she moved quietly up the aisle; it was Mother Teresa of Calcutta, with another slight bent figure in similar dress following behind her.

Both nuns were dressed in simple white habits edged in blue.  The familiar face, the wrinkled skin and the warm smiling eyes were instantly recognizable by everyone, from the youngest back packers to the eldest on board.  The plane was full of American tourists who had never been so close to this world renowned figure before in their lives.  An image they had seen on hundreds of television newscasts and on the covers of Time Magazine, on more than one occasion.

The two nuns stopped and Pat realized with a start, that the designated seats of this most extraordinary person and her companion were the seats beside him and he felt strangely unworthy as Mother Teresa herself was the one beside him.  As the last few passengers settled in and the flight prepared to take off, Mother Teresa and her companions took out their Rosary beads.   He noticed as they unfolded the beads that each decade was a different color.

They both closed their eyes as they immersed themselves in prayer and Pat stole a closer look at the unusual Rosary beads.  He noticed that the decades at the beginning were totally black but as the beads went on they got lighter until, at the end of the rosary, they were completely white.

After about three Rosaries Mother Teresa and her companion put away the beads and she took out a little red prayer book.  But before she opened the book she turned to Pat and asked him where was going.  When he told her Ireland and then having replied to her next question to confirm the ‘yes, he was Irish,’ he raised himself up in his seat more, no longer eager to sleep as he suddenly felt elated and privileged to be taking part in a conversation with probably not only the most famous person on the planet but also probably the holiest.  He was not ready for her next comment which showed that her knowledge of the Irish was from another era.

She said, “Well, you being Irish you must of course be Catholic and very prayerful.”

Pat felt embarrassed and didn’t respond.  Then he felt even more embarrassed, if that was possible, as she put away her little red book and took out her Rosary again, saying “As you are Irish we will say another rosary for you and the wonderful country you come from.”  Pat knew if he could see himself then in a mirror his face would have turned a very crimson red.

She told him, “Is there anyone in particular you wish to keep in prayer?”  Pat thought for a minute and he suddenly thought of his elderly grandmother who was bedridden and just clinging to life.  He knew she would really be taken with the thought of Mother Teresa praying specially for her, so he mentioned his grandmother’s name to Mother Teresa.

As she took out the Rosary he ventured to ask about the differing colors of the beads.  She explained they were called Holy Souls Beads and the changing colors signify coming from darkness into light.  We know as we pray a Rosary for the holy souls, Jesus brings many of them out of darkness into the light.  Mother Teresa asked Pat to take out his Rosary and they would begin.

Pat fumbled around in his pockets feeling extremely embarrassed as this saint in waiting expected hi to take out a Rosary, which she undoubtedly thought every Irish person carried around with them.  After a short interval Mother Teresa handed him her Rosary, which he was relieved about as he did not want to tell even half lie to this saint, as he was about to, saying, “I don’t seem to have one on me,” somehow implying that he normally did.

She produced another one for herself and he was also glad that they said all the prayers very quietly, so his mumbling was accepted as discreet prayer in unison with them.  He did, however, notice their petitions in between decades were for the souls in purgatory and did not include the name of his grandmother.

Afterwards, he asked the Reverend Mother why his grandmother’s name wasn’t mentioned in the petitions.  Her answer surprised him.

“When you pray for the souls in purgatory God will be so pleased with your unselfish prayers for those you don’t even know, that he will grant you your dearest wish, without even asking and sometimes maybe without you even knowing what your dearest wish is.”

Though Pat considered himself not very religious, knowing when he did go to church he went mostly just out of habit with his family and hardly ever prayed outside a church, he found these prayers extremely uplifting and he was in explicably happy afterwards, as he returned the Rosary to Mother Teresa.

As she smiled again at him Pat understood for the first time in his life what people meant when they spoke of a person possessing an ‘aura’ and, as his eyes connected with hers, a sense of peace overwhelmed him; he felt like when he was a little boy sitting by the river, with a warm summer breeze blowing through his hair, completely at peace with the world.

As they landed at Heathrow and alighted from the plane Mother Teresa was just ahead of him.  She turned back to him and asked, “Do you say the Rosary often?”  “No, not really,” he admitted. She took his hand, looked straight at him with her extraordinary gentle loving eyes and said, “Well, you will now,” and she pressed her Rosary into his hands.

Two hours later Pat entered the waiting area at Dublin airport where he was met by his wife, Alice.  “What in the world?” she asked, when she noticed a Rosary inhis hand.  They kissed and Pat explained the Rosary and described his encounter with Mother Teresa in the plane as being like a visit to heaven.  Driving home he said, “I really feel as if I have met a living Saint.”

The next day he heard his grandmother was up out of bed and seemed to have found a whole new lease of life.

Six months later Pat and Alice visited a close friend of theirs who they had just heard had cancer, with a short time left to live.  The friend told them that many prayers had been offered for her.  Then, after reaching into his pocket and taking out the special beads, Pat gently entwined Mother Teresa’s Rosary around the friend’s fingers.  He told her the story and said, “Pray for the Holy Souls, it may help you.”  Although the friend wasn’t Catholic, her hand closed willingly around the black and white beads.

Between one thing and another, Pat did not meet the friend again for a month.  This time her face was simply glowing, she hurried toward him and handed him the Rosary.

“I have carried it with me ever since and prayed for the Holy Souls whenever I got the change,” she said, and you won’t be surprised to hear that just this week I had another check up, the doctors could find nothing, the tumor was gone.  Pat, I am completely healed!”

Pat Murnahan vowed that day to get some more of these special Rosary beads, he knew they were not special in themselves but special in what they inspired people to do.  To help Jesus bring souls into the Kingdom would be reciprocated by that person receiving great graces from God.

With this particular friend of Pat’s not only did it bring physical healing to her but spiritual healing as well, for two years later she joined the Catholic Church.

Pat now promotes this Rosary telling people it can save lives and souls.

Help the Holy Souls and they will help you.

"Meeting Between Dante and Beatrice in Purgatory" by Andrea Pierini

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"Now who can be in more urgent need of our charity than the souls in Purgatory?  What hunger, or thirst, or dire sufferings on Earth can compare to their dreadful torments?  Neither the poor, nor the sick, nor the suffering, we see around us, have such an urgent need of our help.  Yet we find many goodhearted people who interest themselves in every other type of suffering, but alas, scarcely one who works for the Holy Souls.

Who can have more claim on us?  Among them too, there may be our mothers and fathers, our friends and near of kin.

When they are finally released from their pains and enjoy the beatitude of Heaven, far from forgetting their friends on earth  their gratitude knows no bounds.  Prostrate before the throne of God, they never cease to pray for those who help them.  By their prayers they shield their friends from many dangers and protect them from the evils that threaten them."

Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great

"Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great, that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said."

O Eternal Father,

I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood

of Thy 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,

for those in my own home and within my family.

Amen

Source:  Our Lady of the Rosary Library

Our Lady of Intercession for Poor Souls

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Shared by a friend.

   Most holy Mary, Our Lady of Intercession, your motherly

tenderness gathers in one embrace all the souls redeemed by the

Precious Blood of your Son Jesus. We come before your royal

throne with sadness in our hearts, but also with boundless

confidence in your intercession, as we remember those who have

gone before us. Death, which tore apart the bonds of earth, has

not destroyed the love that binds us to those who lived in the

same faith as we do.

       Mary, countless souls in that place of expiation await with

unspeakable anxiety the help of our prayers, and the merits of

our good works. Urged by the charity of Jesus Christ, we raise

our face and heart in prayer to you, merciful Mother of all the

faithful, in favor of those suffering souls. Make our prayers

effective, O Mary. Through your motherly intercession obtain

for them the power to move the Heart of Jesus, our Redeemer.

Let your matchless holiness supply the defects of our misery,

your love make good our weak affection, your power strengthen

our helplessness.

       Queen of heaven, grant that the burning desire of the souls

of the departed to be admitted to the Beatific Vision may soon

be satisfied. Mother, we pray to you especially for the souls of

our relatives, of priests, of those who were zealous in honoring

you, of those who did good to the souls of others, of those who

wept with them and for them and, finally, for the souls of those

who are forgotten. Grant that one day, when we are all reunited

in heaven, we may be able to rejoice in the possession of God, in

the happiness of your dear presence, in the company of all the

saints, thanking you forever for all the blessings you have

obtained for us, O Mother, our unfailing consolation. Amen.

Hail Mary (3 times).

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine

upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed through the

mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Mary, Mother of God and Mother of mercy, pray for us and for all

who have died in the embrace of the Lord. Holy Mary, our Lady

of Deliverance, pray for us and for the holy souls in purgatory.

FOR THE DYING

Most Merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray You, by the agony of

Your most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Your Immaculate

Mother, to wash in Your Most Precious Blood, the sinners of

the world who are now in their agony, and who will die today.

Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the dying.   Amen.

__._,_.___

All Soul's Day

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From the Pieta prayer book:

Pray for the Souls in Purgatory

The Holy Souls in purgatory are incapable of helping themselves. They depend on the works of mercy by the living and the mercy of Jesus and Mary to shorten their time in purgatory. Their souls are very dear to God's Heart. He is most generous to those who offer every good act, suffering, prayers, or Holy Mass for these souls. In gratitude they intercede for us.

(St. John Vianney once said: "The good God will render us back the good we do for them - poor souls - a hundredfold."

On August 16, 1969 in San Damiano, Italy, Our Lady asked that we pray very much for the poor souls and that if we pray these prayers, we'll "deliver so many souls, so many souls!" Note: The Pieta prayer book may have been referring to this.

"Pray: 5 Apostle's Cred; 1 Hail Holy Queen; 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary; 1 Glory be; 1 Requiem: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, and may they rest in peace. Amen."

Requiem Indulgenced by Pope Leo XIII, March 22, 1902.

Visiting a Cemetery - Plenary Indulgence

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From Pieta Prayer Book:

"An indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only momentarily, for the dead. This indulgence is applicable only to the souls in purgatory. This indulgence is a plenary one from November 1 through November 8 and can be gained on each one of these days. On the other days of the year this indulgence is a partial one."

"It is, there, a holy and wholesome though to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sin." - (2 Mach.12:46).

Intercessory Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

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Ye souls of the faithful! who sleep in the Lord;
But as yet are shut out, from your final reward!
Oh! would I could lend you, assistance to fly;
From your prison below, to your palace on high.

O Father of mercies! Thine anger withhold;
These works of Thy hand in Thy mercy behold;
Too oft from Thy path, they have wandered aside:
But Thee, their Creator, they never denied.

O tender Redeemer! Their misery see;
Deliver those souls that were ransomed by Thee;
Behold how they love Thee, despite of their pain:
Restore them, restore them to favour again.

O Spirit of grace! O Consoler divine!
See how for Thy presence they longingly pine;
Ah, then, to enliven their sadness, descend;
And fill them with peace, and with joy in the end.

O Mother of mercy! Dear soother in grief!
Lend thou to their torments a balmy relief;
And temper the rigour of justice severe;
And soften their flames with a pitying tear.

All ye who would honour the Saints and their Head,
Remember, remember, to pray for the dead;
And they, in return, from their misery freed,
To you will be friends in the hour of need.

Shared by Sue Cifelli

Can the souls in purgatory pray for us?

Masses for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

The Father of the Church tell us that the sufferings endured by the souls in Purgatory are terrible to the extreme. According to St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, it would be preferable to suffer all imaginable anguish to the End of Time than to pass one day in Purgatory.

There are many different ways of helping the suffering souls and delivering them from Purgatory, but none of these is so sure and so effectual as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Church, speaking by the Council of Trent, declares this to be the case: "This Ecumenical Synod teaches that the souls detained in Purgatory are helped by the suffrages f the Faithful, but principally by the acceptable Sacrifice of the Altar." (Sess. xxv). This is laid down as an article of faith, which no man can gainsay. The same was asserted two centuries previously by the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas: "By no other oblation can the souls in Purgatory be more speedily released than by the Sacrifice of the Mass."

- The Incredible Catholic Mass by Fr. Martin von Cochem

Nocturnal Adoration Society Letter November 2010

Prayer for all the Deceased

By Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, death no longer hath dominion over those who die in holiness. So, we beseech Thee, give rest to Thy servants in Thy sanctuary and in Abraham's bosom. Grant it to those, who from Adam until now have adored Thee with purity, to our fathers and brothers, to our kinsmen and friends, to all men who have lived by faith and passed on their road to Thee, by a thousand ways, and in all conditions, and make them worthy of the heavenly kingdom.

- Byzantine Liturgy
The Prayer Book, Catholic Press

Prayer For the Souls of Our Family and Friends in Purgatory

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord

Lord Jesus,
lovingly welcome into Your
presence my deceased family,
relatives and friends who have
completed their journey on this
earth, and have gone to their rest
in the hope of rejoicing
with You forever in heaven.

Source of all life and love,
in Your infinite mercy,
look favorably upon their goodness,
and forgive any sins they may have
committed, so they may enjoy
for all eternity the great rewards
You have promises to those who
believe in You. Amen.

- Oblate Missions