Introductory Prayer

Let us pray.

Lord, hear the prayers we will offer up to you every day of this month for the consolation of our deceased brothers and sisters and grant them a place of refreshing light and peace! Hear also the prayers which those souls will offer up to you for our intention that we might ultimately obtain, through their intercession, the graces for which we pray.

Daily Readings and Meditations

  • Twenty-First Day

    Second means of comforting the souls of Purgatory: Charity

    – Corporal charity –

    Charity is the virtue most often mentioned in the Gospels. St. Thomas maintains that its power of satisfaction is even greater than that of prayer. The angel said to Tobias, Charity saves one from death; it erases sins; it releases souls from darkness and brings them to God’s grace where they find eternal life.

    What more efficient means is there for comforting souls that are suffering in Purgatory? If in their name we practice charity, their grateful cries arise in triumph above all before God. It is a gentle dew which falls on the flames of Purgatory and which tempers its intensive heat. The mite, which feeds the hungry of this world may very well lead a soul to the banquet table of the Lord. So let us be as merciful as possible. If we possess much, let us give much. If we have little, let us give little but with great enthusiasm. Remember the psalmist’s words, Happy are they who understand the plight of the needy: God will assist them in difficult situations, will be by their side on their death-bed and will reward them eterntally.

    Let us therefore attend to the afflicted of this earth and thereby dry their tears. Place the widow’s mite in the hand of the poor. The souls in Purgatory will be liberated.

    – Spiritual charity –

    If we are not rich, if money does not abound, we still have spiritual charity which can soothe the soul of those in distress. St. Thomas tells us, It surpasses physical charity as the spirit surpasses the body. Spiritual miseries outnumber physical miseries and are much more deplorable. Divine Goodness allows our merits to be applied to our deceased brethren in Purgatory. In their name, let us attend to the sick and needy. In their name let us visit the dying and take care of orphans. In their name, let us console widows and wipe the tears of all those who are sad. Thus, our charity will diminish the suffering of this world, which is a Purgatory in the next life.

    What can still prevent us from comforting those dear souls?

    What excuse could we still invoke if we forget them? Who will come to our rescue if we do nothing for others?

    – Example –

    In Bologna Italy, a widow had an only child, a young boy who played in the public square with other children. One day, a stranger began harassing the children with evident malice.

    The young boy yelled at him, asking him to leave them alone. Irritated by the comment, the man drew a sword and killed the lad. Horrified and surprised at the violence of his own outburst, the man ran away with the blood on the sword still dripping from his hand. He ran down an alley and entered a house, hoping to hide from the law. It was the very home of the child he had just slain. When the widow saw the stranger standing there, sword drawn and covered in blood, she remained calm.

    When she heard the man beg for asylum In the name of God, she promised to hide him and not to reveal his whereabouts to anyone. When police officers were told that he had entered the widow’s home, they searched it but did not find him. As they were leaving, they asked the widow if she was aware that it was her son who had been killed. Stricken with horror, the widow collapsed. So severe was the shock that those present feared for her very life. She finally came to and asked everyone to leave her alone.

    Placing herself in the Divine Providence, she found the necessary courage and resolve to forgive her son’s killer and what’s more, to be charitable towards him. She went to his hideout, gave him a sum of money and showed him a back door through which he could escape. There he would find a horse tethered and ready. As he left, she fell on her knees and prayed for the soul of her son.

    She had scarcely begun, extending her arms like a cross, begging Jesus to have mercy on her son, when the boy appeared before her, shining like the sun. He said Dear mother, do not weep for me but envy my lot. The Christian Charity you demonstrated towards my assassin has liberated me from Purgatory. Divine Justice had condemned me to many years of purification; but your forgiveness brought an end to my torment instantly and I am with God with Whom I will remain for all eternity!

    He then disappeared, leaving his mother filled with joy inspite of her loss.

    Let Us Pray

    With confidence in Your Word, Oh Lord, I will never see but your adorable Person, hidden in the beggar who pleads for my compassion. I will practice charity with those who come to me as though they were you. But I will not limit my charity to the living; I want to extend it to the dead. May the charity I offer to the poor of the earth, serve to attract the effusion of Your Mercy on them. Sweet Jesus, grant them eternal rest!

    Let Us Pray

    Lord, hear the prayers we will offer up to you every day of this month for the consolation of our deceased brothers and sisters and grant them a place of refreshing light and peace! Hear also the prayers which those souls will offer up to you for our intention that we might ultimately obtain, through their intercession, the graces for which we pray for.

Prayers

Decade of the Rosary for the Deceased

– The Our Father

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

– x10 Hail Marys

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

– Glory Be

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.

Litany for the Faithful Departed

Lord have mercy.
Jesus Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Jesus Christ, hear us.
Father in Heaven, God Almighty,
have mercy on the faithful departed.
Son of God, Redeemer of the world, Almighty,
have mercy on the faithful departed.
Holy Spirit, Bread of life, Almighty God,
have mercy on the faithful departed.
Holy Trinity, the One True God,
have mercy on the faithful departed.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for the faithful departed.
St. Michael the Archangel,
pray for the faithful departed.
My Holy Angel and Angels of the faithful departed,
pray for the faithful departed.
Community of Blessed Spirits,
pray for the faithful departed.
St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist,
pray for the faithful departed.
Holy Patriarchs and Prophets,
pray for the faithful departed.
Holy Apostles and Evangelists,
pray for the faithful departed.
St. Stephen and St. Lawrence,
pray for the faithful departed.
Holy Martyrs,
pray for the faithful departed.
St. Gregory and St. Augustine,
pray for the faithful departed.
Holy Doctors, Popes, and Confessors,
pray for the faithful departed.
St. Ann and St. Mary Magdalene,
pray for the faithful departed.
St. Catherine, St. Ursula, and her companions,
pray for the faithful departed.
Holy Virgins and Widows,
pray for the faithful departed.
Holy Saints of God,
pray for the faithful departed.
Be their Conciliator
Lord, and forgive them.
Be their Conciliator
Lord, and save us.
By your holy and tender Name Lord,
have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
By Your great Mercy Lord,
have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
By Your bitter Passion and Your Sacred Wounds Lord,
have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
By Your Precious Blood and by Your Death Lord,
have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
We are poor sinners Lord,
hear our prayer.
Have mercy on all the faithful departed Lord,
hear our prayer.
Remit the sentence incurred by their sins Lord,
hear our prayer.
Take them to Your peace and eternal rest Lord,
hear our prayer.
Grant them Your paternal inheritance Lord,
hear our prayer.
Invite them to come and contemplate Your Divine Beauty Lord,
hear our prayer.
Fill them with Your unlimited bounty Lord,
hear our prayer.
Fulfill their total desire for salvation Lord,
hear our prayer.
Give eternal rest, especially to the souls of our relatives, friends and benefactors Lord,
hear our prayer.
Have mercy on the soul for whom no one prays Lord,
hear our prayer.
May the offering of the Holy Mass and Holy Communion be beneficial to them Lord,
hear our prayer.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
forgive them.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Sweet Jesus, 
hear them.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, 
grant them eternal rest.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Salve Regina

Hail holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hail our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate thine eyes of mercy towards us, and, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

Lord Jesus, have mercy on the souls detained in Purgatory. It was for their salvation that you took on our human nature and suffered a most painful death. Have mercy on their burning desire to see you, have mercy on their tears of repentance. Through the merits of your Passion remit the sentence they incurred by their sins. Dear, loving Jesus, may your Blood descend on those dear souls! May it shorten their time of atonement and may they soon be called to eternal happiness in your presence! Amen.

De Profundis

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord hear my voice! O Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading. If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord who would survive? But with you is found forgiveness: For this I revere you. My soul is waiting for the Lord more than a watchman for daybreak. Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord. Israel indeed will he redeem from all its iniquity. 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.