by According to St. Alphonsus Liguori The holy souls suffering in the prison of purgatory are incapable of helping themselves. Out of the depths of torturing flame they call to us "Miseremini!" "Have pity on us!" We have it in our power to help these suffering friends of God. We can do so by prayer, alms-deeds, works of mercy, holy communion, the Holy Mass, and indulgences, and to do so is certainly an act of charity. Understanding this full well, the saints, without exception, have been most earnest and constant in their efforts to help them. Some of them have made this devotion one of the strong characteristics of their sanctity, and we venture to say that no truly devout or sincere Catholic neglects this spiritual work of mercy. Even the very poor, in Ireland for instance, and also in this country, make many sacrifices in order to secure for their departed relatives and others the special benefits of the Holy Mass. May the same enlightened piety ever remain firmly rooted in the hearts of our people, and may the day never come when they will cease to follow beyond the grave with tender solicitude the souls of those they loved in life.
In praying for the dead and gaining indulgences for them, let us remember that every prayer we say, every sacrifice we make, every alms we give for the repose of the dear departed ones, will all return upon ourselves in hundredfold blessings. They are God's friends, dear to His sacred Heart, living in His grace, and in constant communion with Him; and though they may not alleviate their own sufferings, their prayers in our behalf always avail. They can aid us most efficaciously. God will not turn a deaf ear to their intercession. Being holy souls, they are grateful souls. The friends that aid them, they in turn will also aid. We need not fear praying to them in all faith and confidence. They will obtain for us the graces that we ask for the good of our souls. They will watch over us and protect us in the dangers of life and they will intercede with God for our eternal salvation.
Merciful Lord Jesus, grant them eternal rest. Amen (Indulgence: 300 days)
Prayer for the Poor Souls
My God! I recommend to Thee the souls of my relations, my benefactors, my friends, and my enemies, and of those who are in purgatory on my account. I recommend to Thee the souls of evangelical laborers, of Religious and priests, and especially of those who had charge of my soul. I recommend to Thee the souls of those who were most devout to the passion of Our Lord, to the Blessed Sacrament, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the souls who are most abandoned, those who suffer most, and those who are nearest to the entrance into paradise.
Eternal rest give to 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. And may the divine assistance always remain with us and bring us to life everlasting. Amen.
By Purgatory we mean a place where souls suffer for a time after death on account of their sins, 1 Cor. iii. 15 : " Some shall be saved, yet so as by fire.'' We are In communion with the souls in Purgatory by helping them with our prayers and good works.--Catechism. An Intercessory Prayer of the Church Militant for the Church Suffering in Purgatory.
"It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins (2 Mach. xii. 46)."
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 the 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; 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.
(For a man deceased)
Incline Thine ear, O Lord, unto our prayers, wherein we humbly pray Thee to show Thy mercy upon the soul of Thy servant N,. whom Thou hast commanded to pass out of this world, that Thou wouldst place him in the region of peace and light, and bid him be a partaker with Thy Saints. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Indulgence of 500 days.) (For a woman deceased)
We beseech Thee, O Lord, according to Thy loving kindness, have mercy upon the soul of Thy handmaiden N., and, now that she is set free from the defilements of this mortal flesh, restore her to her heritage of everlasting salvation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen (Roman Missal)
The soul who during life has honoured the Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ and has offered them to the Eternal Father for the souls in Purgatory, will be accompanied at the moment of death by the Holy Virgin and the angels; and Our Lord on the Cross, all brilliant in glory, will receive her and crown her.
The Faithful who devoutly recite the 129th Psalm or who say the Our Father, Hail Mary and the versicle Eternal rest, in supplication for the Faithful departed, may gain: (Indulgence of 3 years.) Psalm 129 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, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall abide it. …More
The Faithful who devoutly recite the 129th Psalm or who say the Our Father, Hail Mary and the versicle Eternal rest, in supplication for the Faithful departed, may gain:
(Indulgence of 3 years.)
Psalm 129
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, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall abide it. For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and 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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The faithful who recite prayers or perform other devout exercises in supplication for the faithful departed during the month of November, may gain:
(Indulgence of 3 years.)
The Faithful who devoutly recite the 50th Psalm, Miserere for the souls detained in purgatory, may gain:
(Indulgence of 3 years.)
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies: blot out my iniquity. Wash me more yet from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done evil in Thy sight: that Thou mayst be justified in Thy words, and mayst overcome when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities: and in sins did my mother conceive me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of Thy wisdom Thou hast made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: and the bones that were humbled shall rejoice.
Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bosom. Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit. I will teach the unjust Thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol Thy justice. Thou wilt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would surely have given it: with burnt offerings Thou wilt not be delighted.
The sacrifice of God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Deal favourably, O Lord, in Thy good-will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then shalt Thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon Thine altars.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Eternal Father! I offer Thee the most precious blood of Jesus Christ in atonement for my sins and in supplication for the holy souls in purgatory and for the needs of holy Church. (Indulgence of 500 days, each time.-- Pius VII, Sept. 22, 1817)More
Eternal Father! I offer Thee the most precious blood of Jesus Christ in atonement for my sins and in supplication for the holy souls in purgatory and for the needs of holy Church.
(Indulgence of 500 days, each time.-- Pius VII, Sept. 22, 1817)
My God, pour forth Thy blessings and thy mercies upon all persons and upon all souls in purgatory for whom, by reason of charity, gratitude or friendship, I am bound or desire to pray. Amen (Indulgence of 300 days.)More
My God, pour forth Thy blessings and thy mercies upon all persons and upon all souls in purgatory for whom, by reason of charity, gratitude or friendship, I am bound or desire to pray. Amen
