Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year

O sacred and adorable Trinity,

hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy,

and for all that are in authority over us.

Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church;

convert heretics and unbelievers;

soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship;

give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world;

pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances,

and upon our enemies, if we have any;

assist the poor and the sick;

have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us;

and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year

will be summoned before Thy judgment seat.

May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance,

so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee,

may likewise be ended through Thee. Amen.

~ Prayer found here. ~

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Purgatory Project: Masses for Souls in Purgatory

"The Purgatory Project exists to aid the souls in purgatory. Anyone can register the names of people who have died. Registering them here will help them. It is not hard to help these souls, it costs you no money and it is a very good and important thing to do.

"The goal is to get all registered souls released from purgatory as quickly as possible. Those souls which are not released immediately will still be helped because they will be elevated to a greater degree of purification and will have to endure less suffering in purgatory.

"The main benefit the souls will receive is the priceless value of hundreds of Masses being said each year for "all souls registered in the Purgatory Project". You are invited to join in with fasting and Mass intentions to the extent you are able - but you don't have too. However your own prayers and offerings are very important to the success of the prayers we are offering for your registered souls. The more prayer power we can gather the better !!

"Please register as many souls as you wish. There is no limit. Many people register one soul. A few people have single handedly registered several thousand souls. But the main thing is that Any and All Souls are welcome here !!

"We are equally thankful to each of you who register souls, whether it is one special soul or hundreds of special souls, they are all infinitely valuable and worthwhile to Our Lord who shed His Precious Blood for each of them.There is a firm and holy intention of continuing the Purgatory Project for many years to come. This is not a flash in the pan. Please come back often - and fast and pray with us as you are able - this is very holy and important work and we are totally committed to it. "

~ From the Purgatory Project: Register deceased souls here. ~

Father Paul of Moll: Helper of Souls in Purgatory

Father Paul of Moll
A Flemish Benedictine and Wonder - Worker of the 19th Century
By: Edward Van Speybrouck

Father Paul of Moll's remarkable life included numerous predictions. miracles. intercessions. prophecies and holy sayings. His body was found incorrupt.

Excerpts from the book:

He also said that a great number of suffering souls continually came to him to ask his prayers for their deliverance, and that at night, his bed was surrounded by suffering souls.

"The souls in purgatory are aware of the discord of the members of their families on earth, and this knowledge increases their sufferings."

Speaking of the soul of a lady deceased, Father Paul said, "She remained only one hour in purgatory, and she did not stay there any longer because she brought up her children so well." He added that by a special privilege, this lady had undergone the hour of her purgatory on the chair in which she had expired.

A lady having died after a long and painful sickness her daughter went to Steenbrugge and asked Father Paul if he thought that her mother went straight to heaven, after so many sufferings.

"Madam," he replied, "your mother would be already in heaven, if she had not spoiled her children so much. She is still in purgatory pray hard for her."

A young girl from the country asked Father Paul to say a Mass for the success of a certain affair. Rather have that Mass said for the repose of the soul of your mother who is deep down in purgatory," he replied.

Prayer to the Heart of Jesus for the Souls in Purgatory

O gentle Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on them. Be not severe in Your judgments, but let some drops of Your Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames. And, Merciful Savior, send Your angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.

Cento Requiem Prayer for Souls in Purgatory

For the Suffering Poor Souls

This prayer was known as "Cento Requiem" in Italy. Our Lord made known to Bl. Ted. that whoever for a certain period would say "Eternal Rest etc." for 100 times would obtain that for which he prayed, if it was good for his soul and according to the will of God.

Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, and may they rest in peace. (50 times.)

O Wounds of our most holy Jesus, which cost Him so much sorrow and blood. O wounds most honorable, which were the source of His endless love for us, please have mercy on the poor suffering souls in Purgatory, and also have mercy on me, a wretched sinner. (Say Eternal Rest etc. 50 times)

O Holy Souls, which have passed from this world into Purgatory, and who are awaited eagerly in Heaven, pray for me and ask for all the graces I need, and for which I beg the Divine Majesty.

(Taken from a book published in Warsaw ... "Devotion for Poor Souls." Warsaw, Jan. 5, 1903.)

De Profundis for the Faithful Departed (Psalm 129)

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee,

O Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark iniquities, Lord, who shall stand?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness;

and by reason of Thy law I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on His word;

my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even unto night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy; and with Him plentiful redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
B. Amen.

St. Padre Pio: Pray Always for Dear Departed Souls

"Do as I have done.

Pray, pray always for the souls of the dear departed.

Even if your loved ones are in heaven,

we must always pray.

If they no longer need prayers,

they are applied to other souls."

~ St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina ~

Morning Offering for Souls in Purgatory

A short offering which may be made each morning for the souls in Purgatory:

O my God, deign to accept my every thought, word, and action as a loving petition to Thy mercy on behalf of the suffering souls in Purgatory, particularly _____. I unite to Thy Sacred Passion the trials and contradictions of this day, which I purpose to bear with patience, in expiation for the sins and infidelities which retain Thy children in the purifying flames of Purgatory. Amen.

~ From Tan Publishers, Stories About Purgatory ~

The Perfecting of a Soul

"January 1880. On Christmas night, thousands of souls leave their place of expiation for Heaven, but many remain, and I am of their number. You sometimes say to me that the perfecting of a soul is a long process and you are also astonished that after so many prayers, I am so long deprived of the sight of God. Alas, the perfecting of a soul does not take any less time in Purgatory than upon earth. There are a number of souls, but they are very few, who have only a few venial sins to expiate. These do not stay long in Purgatory. A few well-said prayers, a few sacrifices soon deliver them. But when there are souls like mine — and that is nearly all whose lives have been so empty and who paid little or no attention to their salvation — then their whole life has to be begun over again in this place of expiation. The soul has to perfect itself all over again, and love and desire Him, whom it did not love sufficiently on earth. This is the reason why the deliverance of some souls is delayed. God has given me a very great grace in allowing me to ask for prayers. I did not deserve it, but without this I would have remained like most of those here, for years and years more."

~ From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

Love Reaches Souls in Purgatory

The Holy Souls in Purgatory are unutterably dear to God, because of all the graces and merits they have won and can never lose, and because of the keen sufferings which they are bearing with such heavenly patience in their love of Him, and their desire to be more worthy of Him. The Virgin Mother watches with a mother’s holy anxiety while the last faint traces and shades of sin fade off from each beautiful soul, longing for the moment when all shall be paid, and these her dear children received into their long-expected happiness. St. Joseph, the particular patron of these patient holy ones, is eagerly looking forward to the moment when he may bear his charges into the Father’s bosom.

And think you that God and Our Lady and St. Joseph will not love and bless those who by their holy liberality shall hasten that moment which they all so earnestly desire? And when those benefactors shall send their petitions through Purgatory and some dear sufferer shall cry to Heaven, “Grant them what they ask for, for they have done great things for us,” can you think the prayer will be unheard? See what St. Catherine of Bologna used to say on this subject. “When I wish,” she said, “to obtain some favor from the Eternal Father, I invoke the souls in their place of expiation, and charge them with the petition I have to make to Him, and I feel I am heard through their means.” This ought to be a great encouragement to us, and doubtless it will be. It is such an easy way of pleasing God and winning blessings for ourselves to make little compacts with the suffering souls that we will daily perform some indulgenced exercise for their relief, and that they in return will forward our particular intentions.

Prayer for the Holy Souls is a most fruitful devotion for all, but especially for those who have lost some dear relation, some friend, or someone in whom they took an intense interest, and who they conjecture may still be detained in the purifying fire. Let me give a few words from the third of Lady Georgiana Fullerton’s letters about the “Helpers of the Holy Souls,” which relate to this subject: “Amongst the Helpers of the Holy Souls,” she writes, “several have made great sacrifices to God in order to obtain mercy for souls long ago called away from this world. We can all imitate their example. ‘Oh, if it were not too late!’ is the cry of many a heart tortured by anxiety regarding the fate of some loved one who died apparently out of the Church, or not in the state of grace. We answer: It is never too late. Pray, work, suffer. The Lord foresaw your efforts. The Lord knew what was to come, and may have given to that soul at its last hour some extraordinary graces which snatched it from destruction and placed it in safety, where your love may still reach it, your prayers relieve, your sacrifices avail.”

~ Excerpts from Stories About Purgatory, Tan Publishers ~

Pope Paul VI: Eternal Life and the Communion of Saints

"We believe in the life eternal. We believe that the souls of all those who die in the grace of Christ -- whether they must still be purified in purgatory, or whether from the moment they leave their bodies Jesus takes them to paradise as He did for the Good Thief -- are the People of God in the eternity beyond death, which will be finally conquered on the day of the Resurrection when these souls will be reunited with their bodies.

"We believe that the multitude of those gathered around Jesus and Mary in paradise forms the Church of Heaven, where in eternal beatitude they see God as He is,[38] and where they also, in different degrees, are associated with the holy angels in the divine rule exercised by Christ in glory, interceding for us and helping our weakness by their brotherly care.[39]

"We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are attaining their purification, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion the merciful love of God and His saints is ever listening to our prayers, as Jesus told us: Ask and you will receive.[40] Thus it is with faith and in hope that we look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

"Blessed be God Thrice Holy. Amen."

~ Pope Paul VI, from Credo of the People of God, 6-30-68 ~

Blessed Pope John XXIII, All Souls Day

... this devotion to the memory of our dead “who are gone before us with the sign of faith” is particularly worthy. It is above all a meditation on eternal truths, enabling us to perceive what it is that passes away and what is destined to survive. Today, we have come to pay our respects to the memory of the dead, and a tribute of prayers to the Lord for their souls, in the hope that divine mercy may finally receive them in the glory of heaven. But the memory of those who have gone before us, to whom we are linked by bonds of fidelity and gratitude, must also accompany us in all the acts of our daily life. For this is the memorial that they deserve: this redounds to their honour; this is the spirit of Christian prayer for the dead, which is inseparable from Christian life and practice.

~ Prayers and Devotions from Pope John XXIII,

his personal thoughts for every day of the year ~

St. Josemaria Escriva: Remember Souls in Purgatory Often

"The Holy Souls in Purgatory. Out of charity, out of justice, and out of excusable selfishness — they have such power with God! — remember them often in your sacrifices and in your prayers.

May you be able to say when you speak of them, “My good friends the souls in purgatory.”

~ St, Josemaria Escriva, The Way, 571 ~

Gratitude of Souls in Purgatory

"In Purgatory the souls are not entirely occupied by their sufferings. They pray for all the interests of God and for those who shorten their sufferings. They pray and thank God for His infinite mercies in their regard, because the space between Purgatory and Hell for some of them was very narrow and they barely escaped falling into Hell. Judge then what the gratitude of those souls is who were barely rescued from Satan."

~From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

Novena for Souls in Purgatory

Marino Restrepo Testimony About Eucharist, Confession, Purgatory

In the midst of intense suffering, Marino Restrepo received the greatest gift from God. During an eight hour mystical experience, he was shown the disastrous state of his soul and given the grace of repentance and conversion. His powerful testimony can be a benefit to anyone who cares to listen and take the lessons he learned to heart.

"He enjoys a very strong support from the authorities of the Catholic Church at home and abroad. He will not do any thing without the consent of the church first."

"About Me: Marino Restrepo is a Catholic lay missionary from Colombia who travels the world sharing his testimony. Marino was born a Catholic but disregarded his faith at an early age and embraced all the self-seeking illusions of the world. He chose to experience a life of drugs, unhealthy relationships and New Age philosophies. His acting/musical career led him to Hollywood where he was a producer and musician. Marino thought he had it all until a visit home to Columbia in 1997 for Christmas. His sister encouraged him to pray a novena prayer to the baby Jesus. He accepted thinking it would give him an extra ounce of 'good luck'. Following the novena, Marino went on his way to visit his uncle. His visit was short-lived as Marino was kidnapped by guerrilla rebels of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and held captive in the jungle for six months. They told him they would kill him once they had received ransom for his kidnap. For 15 days he lay in a cave full of bats and infested with numerous insects and bugs. It was here, in his complete isolation and despair, that Marino had a mystical experience of God. His life changed forever.

"Five and a half months later, Marino was miraculously released from captivity after a miracle of God, and after his release he went back to his Catholic faith. Eighteen months later he became a full time missionary for the Catholic Church leaving all of his past, and his worldly possessions behind."

In the first video of the following three, Marino's testimony begins at 2:22 minutes, following a song. He gives POWERFUL and VALUABLE testimony!

3/11 videos: The other 8 videos of Marino Restrepo's testimony can be viewed here,

and his official website is here.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the Greatest Gift for Faithful Departed Souls

"All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God.
Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God;
but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man."
~ Saint Jean Vianney ~

The greatest gift that anyone can give their faithful departed loved ones is the gift of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Even though they are no longer with us, we can have Masses said for them to show our love. If they are in Purgatory, they will be greatly helped by having Masses offered for them. If they are in Heaven and not in need of the Masses, they will know of the offering made out of love on their behalf.

The Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska shares this information:

Since we do not know when a soul is released from purgatory, when should we stop having Masses and prayers said for a deceased person?

Unless God were to give us a special revelation, which He generally never does, or a person is canonized by the Church, we do not know if the soul of a particular person is in heaven, hell or purgatory. We know that it is very useful and even important to pray for the souls in purgatory. It is considered the general consensus of saints and theologians that if we are praying for a soul already in heaven or one that has been damned to hell, our prayers will be of value to ourselves and our own salvation, even though prayers for souls in heaven and hell have no value to them. God will give us personally the benefit of our prayers for them. No prayer is ever "wasted." Therefore, there is really no time limit for our prayers and Masses for the deceased. (For more information about Purgatory from the Diocese of Lincoln, click here.)

The Gregorian Masses are thirty consecutive days of Masses said for one individual. The souls receive the benefit of the Masses quickly instead of being spread out over months or years. They are what I would want for myself or loved ones. However, any single Mass or number of Masses would be most welcome if we were in Purgatory waiting for relief and hoping our loved ones will not forget to help us! Tears and fond memories will not help us when we are in Purgatory. What are needed are Masses, prayers, sacrifices, and acts of charity.

The sooner the Masses are said the better. At Catholic funerals, usually there are donations made in memory of the deceased that can be used for Masses. Arrangements should be made to have Masses said as soon as possible. After arrangements are made for those first Masses, that does not relieve families of the obligation to continue helping their departed loved ones. I wonder how often family members enjoy their monetary inheritance without a thought of the neediness of their departed loved ones.

Unfortunately, in this day and age many Catholics do not believe in Purgatory or do not take it seriously; so there might be little thought of making reparation for their own sins or helping souls in Purgatory. Probably many younger Catholics know very little about Purgatory, and older Catholics might not like to think about the reality of a not so far in the future day of reckoning.

We need to do for others what we would want done for ourselves if we were in Purgatory; and we need to make reparation for our own sins while we can, so we hopefully will not need to be purified in Purgatory when our time comes to leave this world for the next. Since none of us know when God will call us home, we need to take advantage of the time we still have now to help others and to help ourselves by making reparation for our sins.

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL; FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY. (Matt. 5:7)

Intercession of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

"If one knew what we may obtain from God by the intercession of the Holy Souls,

they would not be so much abandoned.

Let us pray a great deal for them,

they will pray for us. "

~ St. John Vianney ~

The Evil of Sin

"When the soul leaves the body it is as if it were lost in or, if I may say so, surrounded by God. It finds itself in such a bewildering light that in the twinkling of an eye it sees its whole life spread out, and at this sight, it sees what it deserves, and this same light pronounces its sentence. The soul does not see God but is annihilated in His presence. If the soul is guilty as I was and, therefore, deserves to go to Purgatory, it is so crushed by the weight of the faults that still remain to be blotted out, that it hurls itself into Purgatory. It is only then that one understands God and His love for souls and what a terrible evil sin is in the eyes of the Divine Majesty. St. Michael is present when the soul leaves the body. I saw him only, and he is the only one that every soul sees."

~From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

Pray for Those Who Have Died

" If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice (Job 1:5),

why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them."

~ St. John Chrysostom ~

When Blessed Mother and St. Michael Come to Purgatory

"1879, Retreat in September. We see St. Michael as we see the angels. He has no body. He comes to get the souls that have finished their purification. It is he who conducts them to Heaven. He is among the Seraphim as Monsignor said. He is the highest angel in Heaven. Our own Guardian Angels come to see us but St. Michael is far more beautiful than they are. As to the Blessed Virgin, we see her in the body. She comes to Purgatory on her feasts and she goes back to Heaven with many souls. While she is with us we do not suffer. St. Michael accompanies her. When he comes alone, we suffer as usual. When I spoke to you of the great and the second Purgatory, it was to try and make you understand that there are different stages in Purgatory. Thus I call that stage of Purgatory great or worst where the most guilty souls are, and where I stayed for two years without being able to give a sign of the torments I was suffering. The year you heard me groaning, when I began to speak to you, I was still in the same place.

"In the second Purgatory, which is still Purgatory but very different from the first, one suffers a great deal, but less than in the great place of expiation. Then there is the third stage, which is the Purgatory of desire, where their is no fire. The souls who did not desire Heaven ardently enough, who did not love God sufficiently are there. It is there that I am at this moment. Further, in these three parts of purgatory, there are many degrees of variation. Little by little, as the soul becomes purified, her sufferings are changed."

~ From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

St. Padre Pio and Souls in Purgatory

"I see so many souls from Purgatory that they don't frighten me any more. "

"More souls of the dead than the living climb this mountain to attend my Masses and seek my prayers."

"The Holy Souls are eager for the prayers of the faithful which can gain indulgences for them. Their intercession is powerful. Pray unceasingly. We must empty Purgatory!"

~ Saint Padre Pio ~

Blessed Fr. Francis Xavier Seelos: Communion of Saints

"What does it mean to believe in a Communion of Saints? Simply stated, it means that, as Christians, we believe that we are still in communion with those who have died. Among other things, this says that we can relate to them, speak to them, and be spoken by them. The bond of love offamily still exists between those who have died and ourselves, and we can still be present to each other and influence each other's lives...There is a rich mysticism, not to mention an immense fountain of grace and consolation, lying untapped here."

~ Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI ~

Blessed Francis Seelos Official Website

Family claims cancer cure through intercession of Blessed Seelos.

Revelations of Jesus to St. Gertrude About Purgatory

"When anything is offered to Me for the faithful departed, I immediately use it for them, according to My natural inclination to show mercy and pardon, either for the remission of their sins for their consolation or for the increase of their eternal felicity, according to the condition of those for whom the offering is made."

"I take particular pleasure in prayers for the dead, when they are addressed to Me from a natural compassion, united to a good will; thus a good work becomes perfected."

~ Jesus to St. Gertrude the Great ~

PRAYER OF ST. GERTRUDE THE GREAT

Given by Our Lord to St. Gertrude,

to release many souls from Purgatory each time it is said.

Eternal Father,

I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,

in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,

for all the holy souls in Purgatory.

(The following words were added later by an unknown source.)

for sinners everywhere,

for sinners in the universal Church,

those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque: Daily Pilgrimage to Purgatory

“In union with the divine Heart of Jesus make a short pilgrimage to Purgatory at night. Offer Him all your activities of the day and ask Him to apply His merits to the suffering souls. At the same time implore them to obtain for you the grace to live and die in the love and friendship of this divine Heart. May He never find in you any resistance to His holy will, nor any wish to thwart His designs in your regard. Fortunate will you be, if you succeed in obtaining deliverance for some of these imprisoned souls, for you will gain as many friends in heaven.”

~ St. Margaret Mary Alacoque ~

DAILY PILGRIMAGE TO PURGATORY PRAYERS: Click here.

Great Mercy of Purgatory

"I will say furthermore: I see that as far as God is concerned, paradise has no gates, but he who will may enter. For God is all mercy, and his open arms are ever extended to receive us into his glory. But I see that the divine essence is so pure - purer than the imagination can conceive--that the soul, finding in itself the slightest imperfection, would rather cast itself into a thousand hells than appear, so stained, in the presence of the divine majesty. Knowing, then, that purgatory was intended for her cleaning, she throws herself therein, and finds there that great mercy, the removal of her stains.

"The great importance of purgatory, neither mind can conceive nor tongue describe. I see only that its pains are as great as those of hell; and yet I see that a soul, stained with the slightest fault, receiving this mercy, counts its pains as naught in comparison with this hindrance to her love. And I know that the greatest misery of the souls in purgatory is to behold in themselves aught that displeases God, and to discover that, in spite of his goodness, they had consented to it. And this is because, being in the state of grace, they see the reality and the importance of the impediments which hinder their approach to God."

~ St. Catherine of Genoa ~

Pope John Paul II: We Must Be Perfect to Enter God's Kingdom

"Sacred Scripture teaches us that we must be purified if we are to enter into perfect and complete union with God. Jesus Christ, who became the perfect expiation for our sins and took upon himself the punishment that was our due, brings us God's mercy and love. But before we enter into God's Kingdom every trace of sin within us must be eliminated, every imperfection in our soul must be corrected. This is exactly what takes place in Purgatory. Those who live in this state of purification after death are not separated from God but are immersed in the love of Christ. Neither are they separated from the saints in heaven - who already enjoy the fullness of eternal life - nor from us on earth - who continue on our pilgrim journey to the Father's house. We all remain united in the Mystical Body of Christ, and we can therefore offer up prayers and good works on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Purgatory. "

~ Pope John Paul II, General Audience, August 4, 1999 ~

Prayer to Our Lady of Montligeon

Our Lady Liberatrix,

have mercy on all our deceased loved ones,
especially those who are most in need of the Lord’s mercy.
Intercede for those who have left us,

and may the purifying love of God
lead them to full deliverance.
May our prayer, united with the prayer of the whole Church,

obtain for them joy beyond all their desires,

and bring consolation and relief to our loved ones in their suffering and distress.
Mother of the Church, help us, pilgrims on earth,
to make of our lives a time for our interior libreration
through our journey towards the Resurrection.
Heal the wounds of the heart and soul.
Help us to become witnesses to the Invisible,
seeking what the eye cannot see.
Grant us the grace of becoming apostles of Hope,
like watchmen awaiting the dawn.
Refuge of sinners and Queen of all saints,
gather us all, one day, in our Father’s house
for the eternal Easter. Amen

Our Lady of Montligeon, pray for our dear departed. Amen.

~ Prayer from Our Lady of Montligeon Shrine ~

For an easy to read and interesting short history of the Shrine click here.

St. Faustina: Greatest Torment of Souls in Purgatory

"[The next night] I saw my Guardian Angel, who ordered me to follow him. In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid. The flames which were burning them did not touch me at all. My Guardian Angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God. I saw Our Lady visiting the souls in Purgatory. The souls call her 'The Star of the Sea.' She brings them refreshment. I wanted to talk with them some more, but my Guardian Angel beckoned me to leave. We went out of that prison of suffering. [I heard an interior voice] which said, My mercy does not want this, but justice demands it. Since that time, I am in closer communion with the suffering souls." (20)

~ St. Faustina, from her Diary ~

A Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

O most gentle Heart of Jesus,

ever present in the Blessed Sacrament,

ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory,

have mercy on the souls of Thy departed servants.

Be not severe in Thy judgments,

but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames.

And do Thou, O merciful Saviour,

send Thy holy angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light and peace.

Amen.

~ From Purgatory Explained By The Lives And Legends Of The Saints ~

By Fr. F. X. Schoupe, S.J., Tan Books and Publishers

Purgatory is Hope

Purgatory Makes Sense

Pope Benedict XVI discusses the fact that some people "have suppressed all love within themselves" and others "are utterly pure", but most people will live their lives somewhere in between:

"46. Yet we know from experience that neither case is normal in human life. For the great majority of people—we may suppose—there remains in the depths of their being an ultimate interior openness to truth, to love, to God. In the concrete choices of life, however, it is covered over by ever new compromises with evil—much filth covers purity, but the thirst for purity remains and it still constantly re-emerges from all that is base and remains present in the soul. What happens to such individuals when they appear before the Judge? Will all the impurity they have amassed through life suddenly cease to matter? What else might occur? Saint Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, gives us an idea of the differing impact of God's judgement according to each person's particular circumstances. He does this using images which in some way try to express the invisible, without it being possible for us to conceptualize these images—simply because we can neither see into the world beyond death nor do we have any experience of it. Paul begins by saying that Christian life is built upon a common foundation: Jesus Christ. This foundation endures. If we have stood firm on this foundation and built our life upon it, we know that it cannot be taken away from us even in death. Then Paul continues: “Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Cor 3:12-15). In this text, it is in any case evident that our salvation can take different forms, that some of what is built may be burned down, that in order to be saved we personally have to pass through “fire” so as to become fully open to receiving God and able to take our place at the table of the eternal marriage-feast."

ENCYCLICAL LETTER SPE SALVI OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF BENEDICT XVI

Importance of Motivation to Please God

December 8th - 2:00 o'clock - The Immaculate Conception - Alas, how many lives seem to be filled with good works and at the death are found empty. This is because all those actions that appeared to be good, all those showy works, all that conduct that seemed irreproachable - all these were not done for Jesus alone. Some will have their eyes opened when they come here to this life (in Purgatory). On earth they wanted to be made much of, to shine, to be thought very exact in religious observances, to be esteemed as perfect religious. This is the mainspring of so many lives. If you only knew how few people work for God and act for Him alone. Alas, at death, when they are no longer blinded, what regrets they will have. If only sometimes they would think of eternity. What is life compared to that day which will have no evening for the elect, or to that night which will have no dawning for the damned? On earth, people attach themselves to everything and everyone except to Him, who alone ought to have our love and to whom we refuse it. Jesus in the Tabernacle waits for souls to love Him and He finds none. Hardly one soul in a thousand loves Him as it should. You love Him and make up to Him for this guilty indifference which exists all over this world.

~ From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

Spiritual Connection With Deceased Souls

Remembering the Souls in Purgatory

"When Saint Paul tells us that God dwells in inaccessible light,

we must remember the poor souls in purgatory,

who, with eyes still dim from the dust of this world,

are too weak to be able to gaze like the eagle on that dazzling brightness."

~ Blessed Ildefonso Schuster ~

Prayer to Mary for Souls in Purgatory

LANGUENTIBUS IN PURGATORIO

Those languishing in Purgatory,

who are purified in a fire beyond measure,

and are tormented in grevious suffering,

may your compassion relieve: O Mary!

You are the clear fountain that washes sins away,

you assist all and reject none;

extend your hand to the dead,

who languish under continual pains: O Mary!

The dead piously sigh unto you,

longing to be delivered from their pains,

and to be present in your sight,

and fully to enjoy eternal joys: O Mary!

Hasten, O Mother, to those lamenting,

show your Heart of mercy;

obtain that Jesus by his wounds

may vouchsafe to heal them: O Mary!

You the true hope of those crying out to you;

the multitude of members cry out to you

for their brethren, that you may appease your Son,

and he may give them the heavenly reward: O Mary!

Impart those tears that you consider good things,

which we pour out at the feet of the Judge;

may they now extinguish the might of the avenging fire,

that (the dead) may be joined to the angelic choirs: O Mary!

And when the just examination shall take place,

at the awesome judgment of God,

entreat your Son judging,

that our portion may be with the saints: O Mary!

From Magnificat, November 2007

Translated from Latin hymn by James Monti

Jesus Says to Offer His Holy Wounds for Souls in Purgatory

"My Holy Wounds sanctify souls and insure their spiritual advancement... Offer Me your actions united to My Sacred Wounds, and even the smallest will have an incomprehensible value."

"Offer them often to Me for sinners because I thirst for souls. At each word of the invocation that you utter, I will let a drop of My Blood fall upon the soul of a sinner."

"When you offer My Holy Wounds for sinners, you must not forget to do so for the souls in Purgatory, as there are but few who think of their relief. The Holy Wounds are the treasure of treasures for the souls in Purgatory."

~ Jesus to Sr. Mary Martha Chambon ~

For the promises Jesus gave to Sr. Mary Martha Chambon for those who practice devotion to His Holy Wounds and for the prayers requested by Him, go to Eucharistic Adoration for Priests.

A Reminder to Pray for Souls in Purgatory

"Do we forget to pray for souls in Purgatory? Perhaps a handy reminder such as the one found in the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo, often made use of by Padre Pio, should have a place in our homes. Located on a landing in the cloister is a list of one hundred sins, many of which souls in purgation suffer to be cleansed of, titled 'A Short and Easy Way to Pray for Souls in Purgatory'. Below this is a box containing numbered disks corresponding to the list of sins. Padre Pio would, when passing by, select a disk and recite an 'Eternal Rest' for those souls being purged of the indicated sin. Then, much happier, he would proceed on his painful way."

~ Fr. Alessio Parente O.F.M. Cap., from The Holy Souls ~

Museum of the Souls in Purgatory

For more information about the musem click here.

St. Odilo Church: USA Shrine of the Poor Souls

Did you ever hear of Saint Odilo? I hadn't until very recently. Among his other accomplishments, he established All Souls Day (November 2nd) in monasteries, and from there it spread throughout the rest of the Church. I was happy to hear that the USA has a parish, St. Odilo Church in Berwyn, illinois, dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

St. Odilo Church is the only parish in the United States dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. It was founded and sanctioned as the Shrine of the Poor Souls by His Eminence, George Cardinal Mundelein, in 1928, with a special indulgence of 200 days granted upon each visit to the shrine.

Who Was St. Odilo?

Fr. Anthony Brankin, pastor of the Shrine of the Poor Souls, teaches how and why we pray for the dead. He wrote:

"If every sin is an act of selfishness, then it must be compensated for by an act of love. Now the act of love, can be a prayer or a sacrifice done out of love. To offer up a sacrifice means that if we offer up our sufferings out of love for Jesus, we are taking our place on the cross with Him."

"Every Mass is our chance to be joined with Jesus in His sacrifice. And every prayer—every suffering—every pain—every inconvenience that we offer up to God in love is also our being on the Cross with Him."

For the rest of Father Brankin's words, written in the parish bulletin, read: Ramblings - Fr. Brankin

Morning Offering for Souls in Purgatory

A short offering which may be made each morning for the souls in Purgatory:

O my God, deign to accept my every thought, word, and action as a loving petition to Thy mercy on behalf of the suffering souls in Purgatory, particularly _____. I unite to Thy Sacred Passion the trials and contradictions of this day, which I purpose to bear with patience, in expiation for the sins and infidelities which retain Thy children in the purifying flames of Purgatory. Amen.

~ Taken from Stories About Purgatory And What They Reveal, Tan Publishers ~

Prayer to Avoid Purgatory

"... while we need to certainly pray for the dead,

we must pray for a good death, too.

We need to pray for a good death

not just for ourselves but for everyone,

especially those whom we know and love."

~ Fr S, Clerical Reform blog ~

PRAYER TO AVOID PURGATORY

O merciful Jesus,

by Your sorrowful passion and by that love which you have for me,

I beg You to cancel the punishments I deserve

in this life or the next because of my many sins.

Grant me, O Lord, a spirit of penance and purity of conscience.

Strengthen me to avoid every deliberate venial sin

and grant me the dispositions necessary to gain indulgences.

I resolve to help the Holy Souls in Purgatory with suffrages as much as I can.

And You, O infinite Goodness,

infuse into my soul ever greater fervor,

so that when my soul is separated from the bonds of my body,

it may be admitted into heaven to contemplate you forever. Amen.

What St. Thomas Aquinas Said About Purgatory

There is a purgatory after this life...

those who deny purgatory speak against the justice of God."

~ Saint Thomas Aquinas ~

Pope John Paul II Encourages Fervent Prayer for the Dead

"During the Eucharist, through the general intercessions and the Memento for the dead, the assembled community presents to the Father of all mercies those who have died, so that through the trial of purgatory they will be purified, if necessary, and attain eternal joy. In entrusting them to the Lord we recognize our solidarity with them and share in their salvation in this wondrous mystery of the Communion of Saints. The Church believes that the souls detained in purgatory "are helped by the prayers of the faithful and most of all by the acceptable Sacrifice of the Altar" (Council of Trent, Decree on Purgatory), as well as by "alms and other works of piety" (Eugene IV, Bull Laetantur Coeli)."

"I encourage Catholics to pray fervently for the dead, for their family members and for all our brothers and sisters who have died, that they may obtain the remission of the punishments due to their sins and may hear the Lord's call: 'Come, O my dear soul, to eternal repose in the arms of my goodness, which has prepared eternal delights for you"'.

~ Pope John Paul II ~

Thank God for the Communion of Saints!

For the Souls in Purgatory:

"Today we intercede for the members of the Church Expectant, those who have kept the faith, those who have fought the good fight and have finished their course. They enjoy the friendship of God and now they are waiting then, for their purification and preparation to be complete.

Let us pray that God, Our Father, will continue to have mercy on these faithful souls, and that they may quickly be purified and strengthened.

Eternal Rest grant unto them Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. "

A prayer for the Church Militant:

"Oh my Lord and Saviour,

support me in the hour of my death in the strong arms of Thy Sacraments,

and by the fresh fragrance of Thy Consolations.

Let the absolving words be said over me,

and the holy oil sign and seal me,

and Thy own Body be my food, and Thy Blood my sprinkling;

and let my sweet Mother, Mary, breathe on me,
and my Angel whisper peace to me,

and my glorious Saints smile upon me;

that in them all, and through them all,

I may receive the gift of perseverance, and die, as I desire to live,

in Thy faith, in Thy Church, in Thy service, and in Thy love. Amen"

The above quotes and prayer are from a blog I discovered today written by Fr. Ronald Check and with the beautiful title Seek His Face.

All Souls Mass for Faithful Departed Souls

"From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God."

~ Catechism of the Catholic Church 1032 ~

Avoiding Purgatory: "Love Covers a Multitude of Sins"

"While you are still on earth, it is impossible to understand what God demands of a soul expiating its sins in Purgatory. You are under the impression that many prayers, well said, will place a soul almost at once in possession of eternal happiness. It is nothing of the kind. Who can fathom the judgments of God? Who can understand how pure a soul must be before He admits it to share His eternal happiness? Alas, if people only knew, if they would only consider it while on earth, what different lives they would lead!

"Seriously reflect how many venial sins one who is careless about her eternal salvation commits in one day. How many minutes does she offer up to God? Does she think of Him seriously at all? Well, there are 365 days in one year, and if there are many such years, that person dies charged with a multitude of venial sins which have not been blotted out because she has not even thought of them.

"When such a soul appears before God to be judged there is scarcely a spark of love left in that soul when she comes to render an account of her life to Him who demands it back from her. Such all but sterile lives have to be begun all over again, when they reach the place of expiation. Lives lived without love for God will have to be atoned for here in Purgatory with intense sufferings. Whilst on earth, they did not profit by the mercy of God, but lived merely for the sake of the body. Now to regain their first splendor, they have to make satisfaction to the last farthing. That is what happens to indifferent souls. For souls of greater guilt, it is far worse.

"Try to love God now so much that you will not have to come here in order to learn how to love Him through sufferings which are without merit. The sufferings and trials of life are meritorious, therefore, do not lose one of them--but above all, love. Love wipes out many faults and makes one avoid them so as not to give pain to the One we love. That is why a soul that really loves Jesus is constantly on its guard to avoid everything that would grieve His divine Heart. There are many souls depending on you to deliver them from this place of suffering. Pray with all your heart for them."

~ From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

St. Michael's Mission Toward the Souls in Purgatory

"The best and most efficacious way of glorifying him (St. Michael) in Heaven and honoring him on earth is to spread devotion to the souls in Purgatory, and to make known the great mission he fulfills towards these suffering souls. It is he who is entrusted by God to lead the souls to the place of expiation and to lead them to their eternal home after purification. Each time a soul arrives to increase the number of the elect, God is glorified, and this glory in some way communicates itself also to the celestial minister. It is an honor for him to present to Our Lord the souls that will sing their thanks and His mercies through all eternity. I could never make you understand the intense love which the Heavenly Archangel has for his Divine Master, and the love which God in His turn has for St. Michael. Neither can I convey to you a true idea of the love and pity St. Michael has for us. He encourages us in our sufferings by speaking to us of Heaven.

Tell the Father that if he wishes to please St. Michael, he will most earnestly recommend devotion to the souls in Purgatory. People in the world do not think of it. When they have lost their relatives or friends, they say a few prayers, weep for a few days and that is the end of it. The souls are henceforth abandoned. It is true that they merit this, for while they were on earth they neglected the dead. The Divine Judge deals with us in this world according to our actions in the former. Those who have forgotten the holy souls are forgotten in their turn. This is only fair. Perhaps if they had been reminded to pray for the dead and had been told a little about Purgatory, they might have acted differently."

~ From An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory ~

(Revelation of a Nun Soul in Purgatory to a Nun on Earth)

Catholic Priest Preaches About Purgatory

A good Catholic priest has written a thought provoking post about praying for faithful departed souls. God bless him for preaching what the Church teaches!

Father has also posted his Sunday homily for today--excellent food for thought.

St. Mechtilde's "Our Father" for Souls In Purgatory

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, I beseech You, O Heavenly Father, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not love You sufficiently, nor render to You all the honor which is Your due, due to You their Lord and Father, Who, by pure grace, have adopted them as Your children. By their sins, rather, have they driven You from their souls, where You none the less wished always to live. In reparation for these faults, I offer You the love and veneration which Your Incarnate Son showed You all during His earthly life, and I offer all the acts of penance and satisfaction which He performed and by which He effaced and atoned for the sins of men.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME, I beg You, O Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not honor, always and fittingly, Your Holy Name, but often they took It in vain and proved unworthy of the name "Christian", by their lives of sin. In reparation for their faults, I offer to You all the honor which Your Well-Beloved Son rendered to Your Name by His words and deeds.

THY KINGDOM COME; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not always seek or adore Your Kingdom with enough fervor and diligence; this Kingdom, the only place where true rest and peace reign. In reparation for their omissions, through indifference to do what is good, I offer You the Most Holy Desire of Your Son, by which He wished that they also might become heirs of His Kingdom.

THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not always submit their will to Your Will. In reparation for their disobedience, I offer You the perfect conformity of the Heart, full of love, of Your Divine Son with Your Holy Will and the most profound submission which He showed in obeying You unto death on the Cross.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, for they did not always receive the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist with enough desire, but often without contemplation, or love, or even unworthily, or they neglected to receive It. In reparation for these faults, I offer You the outstanding Holiness and the great contemplation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Divine Son, addressed to You in favor of His enemies when He was on the Cross.

FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, all the faults of which they have been guilty through succumbing to the Seven Capital Sins and also in not having wished either to love or pardon their enemies. In reparation for these faults, I offer You the outstanding Holiness and the great contemplation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Divine Son, addressed to You in favor of His enemies when he was on the Cross.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION; I pray You, Father Most Good, pardon the Souls in Purgatory, because too often they did not resist temptations and the passions, but they followed the Enemy of all goodness. In reparation for all these sins, in thought, word, and deed, I offer You the glorious victory which Our Lord won against the world, as well as His Most Holy Life, His Work and Sorrows, His Suffering and His Most Cruel Death.

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL; and from all punishments through the Infinite Merits of Your Well-Beloved Son and lead us, as well as the Souls in Purgatory, into Your Kingdom of eternal glory. Amen.

Good Shepherds Speak About Purgatory

"I would go so far as to say that if there was no purgatory,

then we would have to invent it,

for who would dare say of himself

that he was able to stand directly before God.

And yet we don't want to be, to use an image from Scripture,

'a pot that turned out wrong,' that has to be thrown away;

we want to be able to be put right.

Purgatory basically means that God can put the pieces back together again.

That He can cleanse us in such a way

that we are able to be with Him and can stand there in the fullness of life.

Purgatory strips off from one person what is unbearable

and from another the inability to bear certain things,

so that in each of them a pure heart is revealed,

and we can see that we all belong together in one enormous symphony of being."

~ Pope Benedict XVI ~

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Purgatory

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire (1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7)...

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore (Judas Maccabeus) made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin. From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead...

Introduction to Grateful for Purgatory

I do not believe it was my idea to start a new blog about Purgatory. I have plenty to keep me busy without adding another blog to my schedule; but since I believe it was the Holy Spirit who inspired me, how could I say no. I also believe it was the Holy Spirit who gave me the name for the blog. My initial reaction about starting the blog was that I wouldn't even know what to name a blog about Purgatory. When Grateful for Purgatory came to mind, I was hesitant to use it, thinking most people wouldn't understand why anyone would choose such a name. However, the more I thought about it and prayed about it--the more appropriate the name seemed to be.

I realize that Purgatory is not a popular topic and not likely to attract many readers. Even among Catholics who are supposed to believe in Purgatory, there is disinterest, and even disbelief, in the reality and necessity of a period of purification for most people before entering Heaven.

Today I happened upon a website where a writer gave all his arguments against the Catholic Church's teaching on Purgatory and expressed pity for poor misled Catholics who live in dread of death because of the fear of Purgatory, instead of the anticipated bliss of immediately seeing God after death--supposedly enjoyed by people of other religions.

Considering that the Word of God says that souls have to be perfectly pure before entering Heaven, I am grateful that God, in His merciful love, provides a place for purification instead of sending those that are not perfectly pure straight to Hell. If we are honest about it, how many people do we know (including ourselves) who are likely to have made sufficient reparation for their sins. I am grateful that God has provided, through the Catholic Church, the Sacraments to help in our purification while on earth and indulgences to help us pay our debt to God, offended by our sins.

I hope and pray to make reparation for my sins while on earth so I can bypass Purgatory when my soul leaves my dead body; BUT if I am not so blessed, I am extremely grateful that there is a place of temporary purification instead of automatic eternal damnation. I am grateful that God has provided that if I am in Purgatory the people of the Church Militant can help pay my debt and obtain my release. I am grateful that I can aid my most loved ones and other souls in Purgatory who are in need of help.

I will follow the Holy Spirit's lead about what to post on this blog. Even if no one ever reads it, I can be content that I was faithful to what He asked of me. May this blog achieve whatever it is that the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish.

A Revelation From a Nun in Purgatory

In November 1873, Sister M. de L. C. began hearing unwelcome prolonged sighs near her that continued until Feb. 15, 1874 when the source of the voice was revealed to her. At that time she heard the voice of a nun, Sister G., that had been her former companion until her death three years earlier at age 36. The deceased nun revealed that it was God's plan that relief of her sufferings and eventual deliverance from purgatory should be through Sr. M. de L. C..

The revelations to Sr. M. de L. C. were faithfully reported to her spiritual director who accepted the communications as genuine. Prominent priests and theologians declared there was nothing contrary to faith in the messages and that they could be of benefit to souls. They testified to Sr. M. de L. C.'s sound judgment and commonsense. As director of a boarding school, her pupils spoke of her as a saint and said that her words and actions impressed them more than any priests they knew and were a continuing source of inspiration to them.

An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory contains the communications between the two nuns. The spiritual advice and information from the deceased nun can be of benefit to anyone seeking to please God and have a closer relationship with Him.

Sr. G., the decease nun said:

"No one can have a real understanding of the sufferings in Purgatory. No one thinks of them in the world. Even religious communities forget that they should pray for the poor souls and that they should inspire their pupils with this devotion."

Bonds of Love With Faithful Departed Souls

Purgatory and Divine Mercy

"Today bring to Me the souls who are detained in Purgatory. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice."

~ Jesus to Saint Faustina ~

Prayer of Saint Faustina

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.