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-Sixth Day

    Seventh means of relieving the souls in Purgatory – Indulgences 

    – How precious they are –

    Our sins are so serious and grievous, our reparations so slight, that we could not acquit the temporal debt of these sins in this world if the Church did not assist our weaknesses by opening up the treasure chest of indulgences.

    This is an immense, inexhaustible treasure, consisting of the abundant merits of Our Lord Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints of Heaven. The key is entrusted to the Pontiff of the Church.

    After Holy Mass and Holy Communion, there is nothing more admirable or valuable, for the living or for the dead. It is, in a sense, Divine Mercy’s last effort for the salvation of souls. 

    Through indulgences, which are so numerous, easily earned and within the reach of everyone, we have the means of appeasing Divine Justice. We can comfort souls who are dear to us and who expiate in terrible flames the faults of their past life.

    Consider that multitude of indulgences, which the Church grants so freely, as a marvelous mist which quenches those who are thirsty, as the consolation of those who weep, as the beatific joy of those in captivity. Eternal and paternal invention! What a treasure!

    Let us hasten to acquire those spiritual riches, more precious than gold, more abundant and diverse than ever. Let us earn many and often. What encouragement there is in this thought: they are for my dear relatives, for the most needy souls, for the souls that suffer the most! These merits will comfort those whom I love and whom I mourn!

    – How we must earn them –

    Three conditions are needed to earn indulgences.

    First we must be in a state of grace; before we aid others. God wants us to close the gates of Hell behind us. In fact, any deed accomplished in a state of sin is a dead deed, deprived of all merit.

    Next, it must be our intention, at least in general, to obtain indulgences. It is thus most important for us to renew every morning, the desire to earn indulgences, which are attached to the pious deeds of the day.

    Finally, we must accomplish the prescribed works completely. These are usually very easy to accomplish, take no time to complete and are accessible to all the faithful: a short prayer, a small offering, a mortification or a communion…

    Dear Christian souls do not neglect obtaining those easily earned treasures for the faithful departed. Could your neglect be excusable today, especially when you realise how numerous and easily obtainable they are? 

    Yes, it is your responsibility to help your suffering brethren and it costs so little.

    If you earn partial indulgences for them, you shorten their time of atonement; if you are so generous as to earn a plenary indulgence for them, the soul to whom you’ve applied it will probably be freed of all debt. Heaven will open up to that soul where it will rise radiantly, carrying eternal gratitude for its benefactor which it will lay at the Lord’s feet. St. Louis added this last recommendation in his testament, My son, remember to earn the Church’s indulgences.

    (It is possible for us, with the recommended conditions, to earn plenary indulgences during certain pilgrimages, such as at St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi, at Collevalenza, at La Scala Santa in Rome and during a holy year when the Pope grants such indulgences).

    – Example –

    A Franciscan priest had just finished  sermon on charity and had granted his congregation 10 days of indulgence, given with the authority granted him by the Pope.

    A high-society lady, who had lost everything except the fear of openly admitting her present misery, went to see the priest to expose her secret privately. That good shepherd used the same words that St. Peter had used on the crippled man in Jerusalem, I have neither gold nor silver but what I do have I give you. I repeat my assurance that you have earned ten days of indulgences by attending my homily this morning. Go and see the banker who, to date, does not give importance to gathering spiritual treasures and offer him the merit of the indulgences you’ve received in exchange for whatever alms he may offer. I am certain that he will help you out. 

    The poor woman went to the banker in all simplicity and full of faith. The man greeted her with kindness. He asked her with some amusement what she expected to receive for the ten days of indulgences. As much as they weigh on the scale, she told him.

    Here is a scale, he told her. Deposit the slip of paper with the intended indulgences and I will deposit a coin. 

    Surprise! The platter with the coin did not descend. It did not do so after two, ten, twenty, one hundred coins had been deposited. It did not do so until the exact sum the woman needed was deposited on the platter. At that moment, the two platters levelled off. It was a precious lesson for the banker on the value of celestial interests.

    The poor souls in Purgatory understand this even more: they would give everything they have for the slightest indulgence. It is up to us to give in their stead as much as possible!

    Let Us Pray

    You know of my need, Oh Jesus! In excess of Your Mercy, with the treasure of your merits and your satisfactions. You have willed for me to find the means of acquiring all that I am lacking. I will come every day to obtain from this treasure the precious indulgences, which will erase the debts of my deceased loved ones. Oh Jesus! Be their Conciliator! 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.