Fr. John Hardon: Helping the Souls in Purgatory

"Why? Why do we pray for the poor souls? Because, they need our prayers. One of the most devastating and tragic effects of the so-called Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, that Protestants stopped praying for the poor souls.

"Over the years it’s been my custom, first thing in the morning when I get up and the last thing at night before I fall asleep, to pray for the poor souls. Not a bad idea by the way, because, when we die, we’ll want somebody to pray for us. And, you can be sure, the first people who will pray for us are those who we have prayed for when they were in purgatory.

"Secondly, we should practice mortification: things go wrong, something we don’t like enters our lives, somebody says something that hurts us, we have a pain, whatever the inconvenience, we offer that for the poor souls. Then most surprisingly, but all good Catholic doctrine, we should invoke the poor souls. They cannot help themselves, but they can help us, and let’s be honest, we need all the help we can get."

Lord Jesus,

we believe, that the souls of your faithful departed do not yet see Your face,

but they believe and they’re absolutely sure they are reaching heaven.

Give us, dear Savior, such a great love for the poor souls, here on earth,

that if it is your will, we, oh dear Savior,

we hope, that when you call us from this life into eternity,

we will not have to be in purgatory, but enter from the sorrows of this life,

enter the joys prepared for those who love You on earth with their whole heart. Amen.

~ Servant of God Fr. John Hardon ~

Quotes from The Real Presence Association