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

  • Fifteenth Day

    Forgetting the dead

    – It denotes a great insensitivity –

    The Bible speaks of a man called Lazarus who was covered in ulcers, dressed in rags and lay on the doorstep of a wealthy man. He asked for very little: the mere crumbs, which fell from the rich man’s table. He was refused even that.

    What insensitivity! What hardness of heart! Are we to be surprised then if after the rich man’s death, he went to Hell while Lazarous rose to the bosom of Abraham?

    The memory of our deceased parents is present in our mind and our heart. The house we lived in, the name we bore, the wealth we enjoyed, everything reminds us of them. Yet they do not shout, their grave is silent. But the Church, our Mother, teaches us:

    Have mercy on the deceased. Allow a few crumbs to fall from your table to appease their hunger, a few drops to quench their thirst. Misguided servant, you must have pity on your brother!

    During his lifetime he laboured to feed you, to dress you, to raise you. Now that he asks you for a few crumbs of the inheritance he left you, why do you refuse?

    If, like the rich man, we are insensitive to the cries of our distressed brethren, God will be insensitive to ours. How could he welcome us in his bosom?

    – It reveals a dark ingratitude –

    One of the Pharaoh’s officers was thrown in jail with Joseph. Mild and compassionate, Joseph struck up a friendship with his partner of misfortune, soothed his grief, interpreted his dreams, and assured him of a prompt liberation. The only reward he asked of the officer was to be remembered when called by Pharaoh. Alas! That ungrateful officer, inebriated by his new prosperity, completely forgot his benefactor and Joseph had to languish two more years in chains.

    Is that cruel selfishness not revolting? Then how can you forget so many relatives, so many benefactors from whom you received life, whose wealth you inherited and to whom you owe so much? When they were dying and begging you to pray for them, you answered with tears. Yet, time has dried your tears and you have abandoned them. You have for them, no regret, no tenderness, no gratitude. You satiate yourselves, as did Pharaoh’s officer with wealth you have acquired and you let them languish, like Joseph in the prison in Purgatory. Where then is your faith, your conscience, your heart, your memory? Lord, Lord, heal this strange forgetfulness and give our suffering and abandoned brethren rest and eternal glory.

    – Example –

    Chaganus, having put Maurice’s army to flight, exacted a considerable sum of money from the emperor as a ransom for the many soldiers he held prisoner. Maurice refused. The conqueror reduced his demand, which was again refused. After having reduced to a mere pittance the amount claimed and being yet denied satisfaction, the irritated barbarian had all of the prisoners decapitated. A few days later, Maurice saw a terrible apparition: a multitude of slaves in chains. They cried out in vengeance to him. A sovereign judge appeared amongst them and cried out, You wretch. You must be punished. Do you prefer being punished in this world or the next? The stunned emperor replied, I prefer that it be in this world, Lord! The judge told him, As punishment for your cruelty toward these poor soliders whose lives you could have saved at such little cost, one of them will remove your crown, your reputation, your life and that of your entire family. A few days later, the army revolted and proclaimed Phocas emperor. Maurice tried to escape on a small ship, but in vain. Phocas’ partisans seized him and cast him in chains. That miserable father saw his five sons slain before his very eyes and was shamefully put to death. 

    Christian souls who are reading this work, think about it! These are not mere soldiers we are talking about. They are your very children, your brothers and sisters, your parents. They are weeping prisoners of God’s Divine Justice. Our merciful God asks us to ransom them with prayer, Holy Communion, charity. Would you be hard-hearted and insensitive enough to refuse?

    Let Us Pray

    Lord how could I refuse those souls that were bonded to mine through friendship and kinship? How could I abandon to cruel suffering those loved ones who gave me so much love, devotion and affection during their lifetime? Every day of my life and to my dying breath, I will pray for them. Oh Jesus, be their Conciliator. Call your children and our brethren to your holy City! May they rest in eternal peace!

    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.