November: meritorious to souls in purgatory

God’s mercy abounds for the holy souls in Purgatory especially during the month of November. We, the living, can gain for them indulgences each day from November 1-8 when we visit and pray for the departed in a cemetery. The holy souls are also benefited when we pray in a church or public oratory just one Our FATHER and one Creed on November 2.

The much-indulgenced Pilgrimage for the Holy Souls (www.pwhs.ph) from November 1-8 relieves the poor souls greatly. Held in a church/public oratory, the Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls worldwide, has, for 23 years, prayed a) the novena prayer of the day immediately before Holy Mass; b) attended the Holy Mass; and c) visited a columbarium/cemetery with a priest who blessed the tombs.

It is never too late for us to offer prayers for the holy souls. Some Saints devoted to the Holy Souls wrote that many souls are released by GOD from Purgatory during feast days of JESUS and Mother Mary; we can unite our prayers with them. And GOD, ever giving and ever loving, also honors us to participate in the release of 1,000 souls each time we devotedly pray St. Gertrude’s prayer. The Pieta prayer book writes that souls are relieved every time we invoke “JESUS, Mary, Joseph, we love YOU, save souls..” Our fingers dipped in holy water in the church, each sign of the Cross for the holy souls likewise refreshes them; also when we prayerfully share with the souls any merit we may have earned every time we reverently receive the Body and Blood of our LORD JESUS during mass.

As revealed to St. Bridget, when prayed 33 times on Good Friday, 33 souls are released from Purgatory, and 3 souls on ordinary days. “I adore Thee, O Holy Cross, which has been adorned with the tender, delicate and venerable hands and feet of my SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, and imbued with the precious Blood. I adore THEE, my GOD, nailed to the Cross, for me. I adore Thee again, O Holy Cross, for the love of my LORD and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. Amen.” (FOSS – Friends of the Suffering Souls).

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November 16 is the feast day of St. Gertrude. With her, PWHS-Davao celebrates yearly this apostolate for the relief and release of all the Holy Souls in a mass at the San Pedro Cathedral.

Anytime of the day, and any day of the year, below is one such prayer beneficial to the souls in Purgatory.

7 Days Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

Preparatory Prayer
My JESUS, by the sorrows YOU suffered in YOUR agony in the Garden, in YOUR scourging and crowning with thorns, in YOUR journey to Calvary, and in YOUR crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to YOUR most sweet embrace in Paradise, where YOU live with The FATHER and The HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, forever and ever, Amen. (from the Raccolta)

(Here say the prayer for the day)
Our FATHER, Hail Mary
Eternal rest, grant unto them, O LORD; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Concluding Prayer
Merciful FATHER, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in YOUR SON, WHOM YOU raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in HIS resurrection, WHO lives and reigns with THEE and The HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, forever and ever, Amen.

Prayer of St. Gertrude
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, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my home and within my family. Amen.

Sunday
O LORD GOD Almighty, I beseech YOU, by the Precious Blood which YOUR Divine SON JESUS shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially that one which is the most forsaken of all, and bring him into YOUR glory, where he may praise and bless YOU forever, Amen.

Monday
O LORD GOD Almighty, I beseech YOU, by the Precious Blood which YOUR Divine SON JESUS shed in HIS  cruel scourging, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and among them all, especially that soul who is nearest to his entrance into YOUR glory, that he may soon begin to praise YOU and bless YOU forever, Amen.

Tuesday
O LORD GOD Almighty, I beseech YOU, by the Precious Blood of YOUR Divine SON JESUS that was shed in HIS bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, particularly that soul who is in greatest need of our prayers, in order that he may no longer be delayed in praising YOU in YOUR glory and blessing YOU forever, Amen.

Wednesday
O LORD GOD Almighty, I beseech YOU, by the Precious Blood of YOUR Divine SON JESUS that was shed on the streets of Jerusalem, while HE carried on HIS sacred shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in Purgatory,and especially the one who is richest in merits in YOUR sight, so that, having soon attained the high place in glory to which he is destined, he may praise YOU triumphantly and bless YOU forever, Amen.

Thursday
O LORD GOD Almighty, I beseech YOU, by the Precious Body and Blood of YOUR Divine SON JESUS, which HE HIMSELF, on the night before HIS Passion, gave as meat and drink to HIS beloved Apostles and bequeathed to HIS Holy Church to be the Perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of HIS faithful people, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, and most of all, that soul who was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, in order that he may praise YOU therefore,
together with YOUR Divine SON, and The HOLY SPIRIT in YOUR glory forever. Amen.

Friday
O LORD GOD Almighty, I beseech YOU, by the Precious Blood which JESUS YOUR Divine SON did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from HIS sacred hands and feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders YOU from admitting him quickly to the possession of YOUR glory, where he may praise YOU and bless YOU forevermore, Amen.

Saturday
O LORD GOD Almighty, I beseech YOU, by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from the sacred side of YOUR Divine SON JESUS in the presence and to the great sorrow of HIS Most Holy Mother, deliver the souls in Purgatory,and among them all, especially that soul who has been the most devout to this noble Lady, that he may come quickly into YOUR glory, there to praise YOU in Her, and Her in YOU, through all the ages. Amen.

This act of mercy never goes unrewarded. Let us all pray together and celebrate this GOD-given apostolate for our beloved departed. To GOD be all glory forever! (Bella A. Sarenas, PWHS-Davao PRO)