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

  • Twelfth Day

    State of the souls in Purgatory in relation to us

    – They are united to us by the bonds of charity –

    Remember that we are bonded to those holy souls by a Divine spiritual chain. Just like us, they were created in the image of God, bought by the Precious Blood of Jesus, regenerated by the water of baptism. They have been carried by the same bosom as us, that of the Church: we are children of the same mother. Like us, and perhaps at our very side, they sat at the holy Table where they received that sacred promise of eternal life. They brought with them into the next life the same hopes, which appease our own sorrow during our pilgrimage here on earth. Members of the same Body, inheritors of the same Kingdom, they shall one day be our eternal companions. But between them and us, there is that difference in that they are sad, captive, prisoners, martyrs, and powerless at relieving their own suffering. They now must wait for our help and consolation. We must assist them.

    Do they not have the right then to expect our love and compassion? If the children of one family love each other tenderly, if the pains of one become the suffering of another, wouldn’t it be the same for the members of the Church? Where would our charity be if we didn’t love those poor souls, abandoned in their torment? Is it possible for us as humans and Christians to be insensitive to their plight? Let us love them as ourselves! Let us love them as Jesus has loved us. We will thus bring them relief and liberation.

    My dear children, wrote the apostle John shortly before his death, let us not only love by our words but truly, by our actions.

    – They are united to us by the bonds of brotherhood –

    Among the voices calling us, do you not hear the voice of a brother, of a sister, of a child, a spouse whom love had united and death had separated, the voice of a mother, a father whose blood courses in your veins? That blood, that family, what do they say? Come to my aid: I have been calling you for so long. You are all I have and yet you do not come. Come then with your heart, with your prayer, with your charity, with your devotion. Come and remove me from this flaming pit. Come and give me Heaven, God, Eternity. Come!

    How can we resist that distress call, that urgent plea? Is it possible that we might have contributed to the increase of time spent in Purgatory of those who have loved us so much?

    – Example –

    In 1864 a Jewish artist converted during a homily on the Holy Eucharist. After being baptized he retired to a very austere monastery where he finally died. He spent many hours every day before the Blessed Sacrament and in his effusions of fervour, he asked Our Lord especially for his mother’s conversion. He did not obtain it and his mother finally died. Pierced by a sharp and bitter dagger of remorse, that faithful son went and knelt before the tabernacle and giving way to his grief, said, Lord, it is true, I owe you everything, but what have I refused you? My youth, my hopes, my well being, family ties, a legitimate retreat. I sacrificed everything when you called me. I would have given even my blood had you asked. Now You, Lord, You eternal Goodness who promised to give back one hundred-fold. You have refused my mother’s soul! My God, I am dying to that martyrdom, my breath escapes me.

    Tears were strangling that poor heart. Suddenly, a mysterious voice struck the man’s ear. It said, Man of little faith, your mother is saved. Know that prayer has all power over me. I gathered all those you offered for your mother and my Providence held an account of it in her final hour. As she was breathing her last, she saw me and cried out, ‘My Lord and My God!’ So gather up your courage: your mother has avoided damnation and your prayers and fervent supplications will soon free her soul from the prison of Purgatory”.

    Father Hermann learned soon after in another vision that his mother was now in Heaven. Let us pray for our deceased parents!

    Let Us Pray

    Have mercy, Lord, on the souls you have united to mine by such close and tender bonds and by whom you commanded me to love and to honour. Yes Lord, have mercy on the souls of my parents, my benefactors and friends. Lord allow us to bend your mercy for them with our prayers and our tears. Oh Jesus! Oh Mary! Be their Conciliators! Call your children and our brethren to that land of refreshing light and 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.