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

  • Fourth Day

    The Existence of Purgatory, Part II

    – Witnessing of our reason –

    Along with faith, our reasoning also proclaims the existence of Purgatory: its voice speaks to us as do the Church and Scriptures. It tells us firstly that God, being perfect Holiness, cannot allow anything impure to enter Heaven. There is an eternal invincible repulsion between the slightest evil and perfect Goodness. A soul marked by the smallest stain, is unworthy of being united to God until it has been purified. It would otherwise introduce sin into Heaven. Lord, cried out the prophet, who may dwell in your tabernacle, on your holy mountain? Only those without sin who possess the perfection of Justice.

    Our reasoning also tells us that God, being infinite Justice, requires reparation. He cannot leave the slightest sin without purification, just as He cannot leave the slightest virtuous action without reward. Thus, those who have not made reparation for their sins in this world will without fail make reparation for them in the next. The satisfaction we neglected to render to the Justice of God during our lifetime, God will render unto himself following our death. Where will it be rendered? In Purgatory.

    Let us prove our faith in the dogma of Purgatory by having a tender charity for the souls who are subjected to rigorous purification and by avoiding the sins that will send us there. May those who are just become even more just and those who are holy become even more holy!

    – Witnessing of the heart –

    There is no Catholic dogma that does not have its roots deeply imbedded in the human heart, said Monsieur de Maistre. That is why we are inclined to embrace certain revealed truths. Purgatory is among these truths.

    Many self-proclaimed atheists who have renounced every belief or religious sentiment, have admitted that under grave circumstances, they could not refrain from secretly praying in the depths of their heart for loved ones who have died. Therein lies the proof of the sentiment printed by God on the heart of man. It is manifested in every country and in all the peoples of the world. Is there anything more comforting for the human heart than to know that we are still united to the memory and the suffering of the deceased? Truly, we need to believe that there exists beyond the barriers of time, a place of purification which is not Hell but the gateway to Heaven. We need to believe and we must believe that our friends and family members who are prisoners in Purgatory, are comforted by our prayers and good deeds, that they see and they hear us. We need to believe some day we ourselves will need to be relieved from our suffering. That thought is soothing and comforting. 

    – Example –

    A young Scottish Lutheran had an only brother whom he loved deeply. That young brother suddenly died from a ruptured aneurysm during a large family gathering. Devastated by the loss, the young man could not stop thinking of his brother and constantly worried as to the state of his soul. He feared he had not been pure enough to enter Heaven immediately and his Protestant faith did not teach him that there exists a place of purification between Heaven and Hell. He decided to go on a trip to France to try and relieve his sorrow. He met there a priest in whom he confided his grief. My friend, said the man of God, it is necessary for all people to expiate their sins, even in the hereafter. Our Catholic faith teaches us that there is a place between Heaven and Hell where souls finish their purification and from which we can help deliver them with our prayers and sacrifices. The young man accepted the teaching of the Catholic Church and began praying for his dead brother. It is true that belief in Purgatory is a necessity for the human heart!

    Let Us Pray

    My God, may my prayers, my sacrifices and my suffering serve to touch your Goodness and hasten the moment of deliverance for the souls of our loved ones! Be blessed, oh my Jesus, for your consolations! Call our brethren to your eternal kingdom! May they rest in 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.