Saint Gertrude's Prayers For The Holy Souls, A Manuscript of a Soul in Purgatory and Read Me or Rue It

A prayer to release many souls from Purgatory each time it is said and which was extended to include living sinners as well.

Eternal Father, I offer You 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, for those in my own home and in my family. Amen.

More Prayers for Holy Souls

What are Gregorian Masses?

Gregorian Masses are a series of Holy Masses traditionally offered on 30 consecutive days as soon as possible after a person’s death. They are offered for one individual soul.

The custom of offering Gregorian Masses for a particular soul recognizes that few people are immediately ready for heaven after death, and that, through the infinite intercessory power of Christ’s sacrifice, made present in Holy Mass, a soul can be continually perfected in grace and enabled to enter finally into the union with the Most Holy Trinity – our God, Who is Love Itself.

We will send you or the person you designate a certificate announcing the Gregorian Masses.

History of Gregorian Masses

Gregorian Masses take their name from Saint Gregory the Great, who was sovereign Pontiff from 590 to 604. St. Gregory the Great contributed to the spread of the pious practice of having these Masses celebrated for the deliverance of the souls from purgatory. In his Dialogues, he tells us that he had Masses on thirty consecutive days offered for the repose of the soul of Justus, a monk who had died in the convent of St. Andrew in Rome. At the end of the thirtieth Mass, the deceased appeared to one of his fellow monks and announced that he had been delivered from the flames of Purgatory.

Gregorian Masses for the Departed

Saint Gertrude and the Holy Souls

Saint Gertrude had a deep empathy for the Church suffering, the Holy Souls in Purgatory. At every Holy Communion she beseeched Jesus for His mercy to be bestowed on them. During one Holy Communion she experienced the descent into Purgatory with Our Lord. She heard Him say: "At Holy Communion I will permit thee to draw forth all to whom the fragrance of thy prayers penetrates." After Holy Communion Our Lord customarily delivered more Souls than she had dared to ask for. More

Saint Gertrude's Prayer Book

An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory

Note: In conformity with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII, the author formally declares that the preternatural or seemingly supernatural facts recorded in this historical narrative rest on purely human authority, and consequently he does not in any way intend to pronounce a final judgment, or to anticipate any future decision of lawful Church authority as to their nature.

Introduction

At the expressed desire of the Directors of the Bulletin "Notre Dame de la Bonne Mort," this pamphlet is published with all the reservations ordered by the Church in the decree of Urban VIII, and as a purely historical document.

It was sent to that periodical by a zealous and devout missionary and is a pious document based on alleged conversations between a nun and a soul in Purgatory. Read online

Read Me or Rue It

FOREWARD

"READ ME OR RUE IT"

This title is somewhat startling. Yet, Dear Reader, if you peruse this little book, you will see for yourself how well deserved it is. The book tells us how to save ourselves and how to save others from untold suffering. Some books are good and may be read with profit. Others are better and should be read without fail.

There are, however, books of such sterling worth by reason of the counsels they suggest, the conviction they carry with them, the urge to action they give us that it would be sheer folly not to read them.

Read Me or Rue It belongs to this class. It is for your best interest, Dear Friend, to read it and reread it, to ponder well and deeply on its contents. You will never regret it; rather, great and poignant will be your regret if you fail to study its few but pregnant pages.

HELP, HELP, THEY SUFFER SO MUCH!

I. We can never understand too clearly that every alms, small or great, which we give to the poor we give to God.

He accepts it and rewards it as given to Himself. Therefore, all we do for the Holy Souls, God accepts as done to Himself. It is as if we had relieved or released Him from Purgatory. What a thought! How He will repay us!

II. As there is no hunger, no thirst, no poverty, no need, no pain, no suffering to compare with what the Souls in Purgatory endure, so there is no alms more deserving, none more pleasing to God, none more meritorious for us than the alms, the prayers, the Masses we give to the Holy Souls.

III. It is very possible that some of our own nearest and dearest ones are still suffering the excruciating pains of Purgatory and calling on us piteously for help and relief.

Is it not dreadful that we are so hardened as not to think more about them, that we are so cruel as to deliberately forget them!

For the dear Christ's sake, let us do all, but all, we can for them.

Every Catholic ought to join the Association of the Holy Souls.

PDF Version

Internet Archive

EWTN

ACT OF REPARATION

Most Pleasing to the Blessed Virgin

While St. Gertrude was bewailing her negligence in that she had never served the Mother of Jesus with due reverence, and was beseeching our Lord to supply her lack of service, she seemed to see the King of Glory arise and present his deific Heart to His Mother, and therewith to make amends for all her negligence. To obtain a like grace, recite the following prayer:

O SWEETEST Jesus, by that love wherewith Thou didst deign to take our flesh of the most pure Virgin and of her to be born, that Thou mightest satisfy the desires of the poor and the wants of the needy, 

I beseech Thee that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to make amends to Thy ever- virgin Mother, with Thine Own sweetest Heart, for all the manifold defects which through my own negligence and ingratitude have tainted and marred my service and honour of so gentle and loving a Mother, whose gracious succour has never failed me in any danger or necessity. 

Do thou, O most tender Jesus, present to her Thy sweetest Heart, overflowing with ineffable blessedness, in reparation of this my neglect. 

Let her see therein all the Divine love whereby Thou didst from all eternity freely elect her to be Thy Mother, didst preserve her from all taint of Original Sin, and incomparably adorn her with all graces and all virtues. 

Let her see therein all the tenderness wherewith Thou didst cling to her when she cherished Thee, her Child, in her bosom; all the constant unfailing love with which, during the whole time of Thy sojourn on earth, 

Thou, Who art the Ruler of Heaven and of earth, didst obey her as a son his mother and especially in the hour of Thy death, when, as though forgetting Thine Own intolerable anguish, and touched to the heart by her desolation, Thou didst provide for her a guardian and a son.

 Let her see therein that love beyond thought with which Thou didst show her how precious she is in Thy sight, when on the day of her most joyous Assumption Thou didst exalt her high above all the choirs of Angels, and crown her Lady and Queen of Heaven and earth. 

And thus, O good Jesus, may she be still to me a loving and long-suffering Mother, and both in life and in death my compassionate advocate and most gracious patroness. Amen.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE GRACES BESTOWED ON THE BLESSED VIRGIN

When St. Gertrude had recited this short prayer, she saw in vision the Mother of Divine grace arise and beseech the Blessed Trinity to grant her as large a measure of grace as the heart of man can receive in this life. Then the most glorious Trinity turned towards the Saint, and filled her soul with unutterable grace and benediction.

BLESSED be the ineffable, ever-adorable omnipotence of God the Father; and blessed the wondrous and manifold wisdom of God the Son; and blessed the amazing and most tender goodness of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete; for that the ever-glorious Trinity hath deigned to decree from eternity, to create in time, and to bestow on us as our most effectual help and succour, the Virgin so full of all grace, in order that He might communicate to her His Own Divine and superabounding beatitude. Amen.

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Meditation, Readings and Prayers for Lent

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Anne Catherine Emmerich

This is an account of the events leading up to the Crucifixion of Christ by a 19th century German stigmatic and visionary, Anne Catherine Emmerich. This once-obscure book recently achieved a much higher profile because it was used as an inspiration for the screenplay of Mel Gibson's controversial movie, The Passion of the Christ. A riveting 'you are there' account of this pivotal event, the story is told with great attention to small details, many not mentioned in the Gospels. This is not a novelization; it is a recounting of Emmerich's ecstatic visions, which were accompanied by painful and mysterious physical torments. Emmerich was practically illiterate and this book was dictated by her, which makes the fact that the narrative is so internally coherent all the more compelling.

Some readers will note passages which by contemporary standards might be considered anti-Semitic, particularly in the way that the Jewish population is presented as having collective responsibility for the death of Christ. Of course, without apologizing for this in the slightest, it is to be noted that religious and secular institutions of the time sanctioned anti-Semitism in one form or another, so this view was not atypical. On the whole, however, the account considers each of the numerous actors in the drama, Christian, Jewish, or Roman, as individuals with particular motivations, strengths and weaknesses.

Emmerich was beatified on Sunday, October 3rd, 2004 by Pope John Paul II, the final step before sainthood. Her feast day is the anniversary of her death on February 9th, 1824.

Read Online 

Download from Project Guttenberg

 

  

 

 

The Way of the Cross for the Holy Souls in Purgatory 

 The Way of the Cross represents the sorrow­ful journey that Jesus Christ made with the cross to die on Calvary. The church teaches that the Souls in Purgatory undergo a process of purification that must include suffering. By praying and making sacrifices for the Holy Souls, you have the marvelous power and privilege to relieve their pain. In return, their gratitude will bring you countless blessings. May a stream of mercy flow from you to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

 

Mother Agreda: An Account of the Way of the Cross 

 The sentence of Pilate against our Savior having been published in a loud voice before all the people, the executioners loaded the heavy Cross, on which He was to be crucified, upon his tender and wounded shoulders. In order that He might carry it they loosened the bonds holding his hands, but not the others, since they wish to drag Him along by the loose ends of the ropes bound his body. In order to torment Him the more they drew two loops around his throat. The Cross was fifteen feet long, of thick and heavy timbers. The herald began to proclaim the sentence and the whole confused and turbulent multitude of the people, the executioners and soldiers, with great noise, uproar and disorder began to move from the house of Pilate to mount Calvary through the streets of Jerusalem. The Master and Redeemer of the world, Jesus, before receiving the Cross looked upon it with a countenance full of extreme joy and exultation such as would be shown by a bridegroom looking at the rich adornments of his bride, and on receiving it, He addressed it as follows...

 

The Crucifixion of Jesus according to the revelations of Maria Valtorta

Two executioners sit him on the chest to have it still. A third party will take the right arm holding it with one hand in the first part of the forearm and the other where the fingers end. The fourth, which is already in hand the long pointy nail ... supports the point of the nail on the wrist, up the hammer and tee off ... The breaking nail penetrates muscles, veins, nerves and bones dislocating them.

The right hand is stuck. Passed to the left. The hole does not correspond to the carpus. Then catch a rope, tied her left wrist and pull to dislocate the joint and tendons and muscles abused ... nailing where they can, that is, between the thumb and fingers, right in the center of the metacarpal. Here comes more easily spot but more spasm, because important nerves must be cut, so that the fingers are inert, while others on the right have contractions and tremors that confirm its vitality.

Now is the turn of the feet. Six feet from the end of the cross, is a small wedge, barely enough for a foot. About this is taken to check the feet as well. And know that's a little lower and get bad feet, ankles stretched by poor martyr. The rough wood of the cross rubbed both wounds, remove the crown, moving abusing and threatening new hair and the hips.

Those sitting on the chest of Jesus stand up to scroll knees ... And tread on his knees skinned, poor and crowded in warm bruised, while the other two make the operation more difficult, the nailing of one foot over the other, trying to combine the two joints of the tarsi at a time ... subjected foot moves by the vibration of the nail, and it should almost desclavar because, having entered the soft, cloves and blunted by having pierced the right foot should be brought closer to the center a little. And knock, knock, knock ...

Now the cross is dragged to the hole, shaking the poor Crucified bounces on the uneven ground. The cross is raised twice escaping to the rise and falls once a blowout, one in the right arm of the same, giving a rough torment Jesus because the sudden jolt injured joints removed. But then when the cross is dropped in his hole, before being secured with rocks and dirt, flies in all directions, the poor printing continuous displacements of Jesus Body suspended by three nails. The suffering must be atrocious.

The whole body moves forward and down, and the holes are elongated, especially the left hand, and enlarged the hole in the foot while blood pours harder. And if it drips foot lot, the fingers on the ground and runs down the wood of the cross, it follows by the hands forearms because they are higher than the wrist and armpit, by force of the position, ribs also watered down the armpit to the waist. The crown, when the waves cross before being posted, because the head moves back jerks from behind the neck pressing on the bulk knot of thorns crown ends in stabbing and then getting back gently on the forehead and spider, spider, without mercy.

Finally the cross is assured and there is only the torment of being hanged. Izan thieves also, which, once set vertically, screaming as if they were skinned alive for the torture of the ropes that cut wrists and hands do get black, with swollen veins like ropes. Jesus is silent. The crowd is not silent, but it resumes its infernal din.

Since the top of Golgotha has his trophy and his honor guard. In the higher limit (side) the cross of Jesus. Next B and C the other two. Half a century of soldiers with guns to walk all around the top, within the armed siege of ten felled to play dice convicted dresses. Straight up, between the cross of Jesus and that of the right, Longinus. And they seem mountains honor guard Martyr King. The other half century, rest, is under the command of Longinus assistant in the path to the left and the lower square, waiting to be used in case of need. Among the soldiers there is almost total indifference. Only a face lift to the crucified once in a while.

Maria Valtorta - Poem of the Man-God

Wikipedia Biography

Prayers For Holy Souls

PURGATORY - MYSTERY OF JUSTICE HEAVEN OR HELL, ONE OF THE TWO WE MUST CHOOSE BY OUR LIVES. 

THIS IS BECAUSE "THE UNJUST" - SUCH EITHER BY TRANSGRESSION OR THROUGH UNSATISFIED JUSTICE - "SHALL NOT POSSESS THE KINGDOM OF GOD"(1 COR. VI.9). 

THE INEFABLE MERCY OF GOD, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE MERITS OF JESUS CHRIST, CREATED IN THE NEXT WORLD, 

A PLACE OF PURIFICATION FOR THOSE WHO AT THE TIME OF THEIR DEATH, 

ARE NOT ENTIRELY PURE. 

THIS PLACE IS CALLED PURGATORY AND THE TIME SPENT THERE IS CALLED A PERIOD OF PURGATION.

 
Between Heaven, "the place of refreshment, light and peace." and Hell the abode of eternal torment, there is, till the day of general judgement, a middle state, called Purgatory, for those Souls that depart this life justified, but still in need of final purification. In this place of punishment and purification, of justice and mercy, dwell the Souls that have venial sins to expiate, or temporal punishment to undergo, or both. The doctrine of the Catholic Church concerning Purgatory is expressed in the following two sentences:

1) There is, in the next World, a temporary place for the atonement of such venial sins, and temporal punishments of sin, as man is found guilty of as he departs from this World.

2) The faithful can, by prayer and good works, especially by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, assist the Souls suffering in Purgatory.

 

My Experiences With The Poor Souls

Visits from the suffering Souls in Purgatory

Visits from the Holy Souls in Purgatory –The life of the Austrian Mystic, Maria Simma (1915-2004)

In 1940 came the first visit from a Holy Soul (a departed soul from Purgatory)  –Maria was age 25. The holy soul--a man-- appeared to her in a vision one night. He was pacing back and forth in her bedroom at the foot of her bed.  Confused, she called out to him and said “Who are you?” but she received no reply.  Then she hopped out of bed and tried to grasp him saying “How did you get in here? Go away”, he gave no response and as she reached out to touch him he disappeared. However, as soon as she got back into bed he reappeared, pacing back and forth once again. She wondered how is it that she could readily see this man, but not speak to or touch him. She thought to herself, “Well, so long as he does not come near me” and she remained watching him and after awhile he disappeared and she remained awake pondering the meaning of what happened.

The next day she immediately went to see her parish priest, Fr. Alfons Matt, to tell him all that had happened. After I explained everything to him he said “it could be a poor soul from Purgatory.  If such a thing should ever happen again, do not say “Who are you?” but say “What is it that you need from me?”     

The next night the man suddenly appeared again, once again pacing back and forth. This time Maria immediately asked “What is it that you need from me?” The man suddenly stopped, turned towards her and replied “Please have three holy Masses said for my intentions and then I will be delivered.”  And then he immediately disappeared and Maria said “It was then that I knew that he was a poor soul.” The next day she once again told her parish priest, Fr. Alfons Matt,  what had happened and the three requested masses were said.  The good priest also told her to always seek to do whatever she can to help the souls that might come to her.

Soon more souls from purgatory would come asking for her prayers and sacrifices, and thus began a lifetime apostolate for the holy souls.  Over the next few years, only 2 or 3 poor souls came to her each year, but as time went on, more and more were coming to her seeking her assistance through prayers and sacrifices.

From the onset however it must be noted that Maria never sought visits from the souls in purgatory—she never called upon them or “channeled” them in any way. They always came to her without any seeking on her part.  In fact the holy souls have told her that it is God in His great mercy who gives them permission to come to her to obtain sacrifices and prayers that their time in purgatory might be lessened. 

In fact, during an interview by Sr. Emmanuel she was asked the following:

-What is the difference between what you are living with the souls of the departed, and the practices of spiritism (by mediums/psychics etc):?

"We are not supposed to summon up the souls - I don't try to get them to come. In spiritism, people try to call them forth. This distinction is quite clear, and we must take it very seriously. If  people were only to believe one thing I have said, I would like it to be this: those who engage in spiritism (calling forth the dead, moving tables and other practices of that kind) think that they are summoning up the souls of the dead. In reality, if there is some response to their call, it is always and without exception Satan and his angels who are answering. People who practice spiritism (diviners, witches, mediums, etc.) are doing something very dangerous for themselves and for those who come to them for advice. They are up to their necks in lies. It is forbidden, strictly forbidden, to call up the dead. As for me, I have never done so, l do not do so, and I never will do so."

Some important things that the holy souls have taught her over the years:

The holy souls have repeatedly told her that the greatest help for them that they can obtain from those here on earth is the offering of holy Mass. Next to the Mass, the holy Rosary and the Stations of the Cross are very beneficial to them.  Any sacrifice we make--even the smallest ones-- offered specifically for them have a great value in the eyes of God, and greatly lessen their sufferings and time in purgatory.  The poor souls have told her that even the smallest prayer or sacrifice is like giving a cool glass of water to a parched sojourner travelling in the driest desert.  

They normally appear to her in their normal clothes, that is, the ones that they most often wore during their lifetime, and they often have the appearance of one earnestly begging and desiring help.  Sometimes they appear somewhat distraught but this presumably is to elicit compassion on the part of Maria.  They normally appear to her looking as they did in the prime of their life, however children and teenagers always appear as they did right before their deaths.  And while there are indeed some children in purgatory, their Purgatory is normally not very long or painful, since during their lifetimes they often could not have committed any grave sin since they did not attain much understanding or discernment, and are therefore not accountable to the extent that an adult is.

The holy souls have also told her that there are many, many degrees in purgatory, and that the lower parts of purgatory are the most difficult and the most purifying, and this is where those with grave (severe) sins go--that is,  grave sins that have not been forgiven in the sacrament of Confession. As each soul makes reparation for his/her sins that they have committed against God and there fellow man, they are slowly purified and therefore they slowly make progress to the higher levels of purgatory. The souls that appear to Maria are almost always souls that are residing in the higher levels of purgatory.  Essentially, the more repentant and sorrowful one is for the sins committed against God and neighbor during ones lifetime, the quicker one progresses from the lower to the higher degrees of purgatory.

The greatest complaint from the souls in Purgatory- Abandonment by their loved ones

According to Maria, the greatest "complaint" of the souls in Purgatory is how they are almost completely forgotton by their family and loved ones--that rightly complain that they receive no spiritual help from those they themselves helped so much during life! How few prayers are ever offered up for them--even at their funerals! Yet prayer is precisely what they need the most! All the beautiful memorials, celebrations, tattoo's etc done and given in their honor, while they may be good intentioned, in reality do nothing for them and in no way help to relieve them of their suffering/purification. 

Existence of Purgatory

The Church from the time of the apostles has believed in a state of purgation (cleansing), and that after death where the dead could not help themselves yet could be helped by prayers of those on earth. the Old Testament and Jewish tradition of the century before Christ held that it was "a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins." (2 Macabees, 12,46).

Reason demands belief in the existence of purgatory. If a man dies with some slight stain on his soul, a sin of impatience, or an idle word, is he fit to enter heaven? God's sanctity forbids it: "There shall not enter into it anything defiled." (Apoc. 21:27). But must such a soul be consigned to hell? God's mercy and justice forbid it.

Therefore reason concludes the existence of a middle and temporay state of expiation, where the souls is cleansed from all the stain of sin before it can be admitted into the perfect holiness and bliss of heaven. "Amen, I say to thee, thou will not come out from it until thou hast paid the last penny" (Matt. 5:26).

New Testament passages supporting purgatory : Matt:25-26; 12:32-36, Luke 12:58-59.


What we can do

1. In every prayer you say, every Mass you hear, every Communion you receive, every good work you perform have the express intention of imploring God to grant you a holy and happy death and no purgatory.

2. Always wish to do God's will. When you do or seek anything that is not God's will you are sure to suffer.
Say, therefore, fervently each time you recite the Our Father: thy will be done.

3. Accept all sufferings, sorrows, pains and disapointments in life, be they great or small as coming from God. Bear them calmly and patiently for love of Him and in penance for your sins. Offer your sacrifices for the Holy Souls.

4. Christ's life and actions are so many lessons for us to imitate.
The greatest act in his life was His Passion. As He had a Passion so each one of us has a Passion. Our Passion consists in the sufferings and labours of every day. Therefore let us do our work, accept its disappointments and hardships and bear our pains in union with the Passion of Christ.

5. Forgive all injuries and offences for in proportion as we forgive others God forgives us.

6. Avoid mortal sins, deliberate venial sins and break off bad habits. Above all avoid sins against charity and chastity in thought, word and deed for these sins are the reason why many souls are detained in Purgatory for long years.

7. If afraid of doing much do many little things, acts of kindness and charity, give alms, cultivate regularity, method, punctuality in the performance of duty; don't grumble or complain when things are not as you please; don't censure and complain of others; never refuse to do a favour to others when it is possible.
These and such little acts are a splendid penance.

8. Do all in your power for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Pray for them constantly, get others to do so, offer Masses for the Holy Souls , say the Rosary, do the Way of the Cross, assist in Mass. Do all this for their intentions the Holy Souls will repay you most generously.

9. There is no more powerful way of obtaining from God a most holy and happy death by weekly confession, daily Mass and daily Communion.

10. A daily visit to the blessed Sacrament - it need only be three or four minutes - is an easy way of obtaining the same grace. Kneeling in the presence of Jesus with eyes fixed on the Tabernacle, sure that He is looking at us, let us for a few minutes repeat some little prayer like these: My Jesus mercy. My Jesus have pity on me a sinner. My Jesus I love you. My Jesus give me a happy death. Anyone and everyone are welcome to stay in the Adoration chapel.


Prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Prayer to Saint Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.


Save a Soul from Hell in Three Seconds

Everytime you pray the prayer below, you will save a person from going to eternal damnation. You can save sixty souls from Hell in time it takes to boil a three-minute egg.

Incredible, but true. Such is the power of the names of Jesus and Mary. Such is the power of love.

Many souls go to Hell because no one prays for them. Here is the prayer:

"Jesus, Mary I love you, save souls, save the consecrated."

After saving them from Hell we can now actively help them to go to Heaven. Here is another means of giving them succour:

Prayer of Saint Gertrude the Great

A Prayer which would release 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said.

Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great the following prayer would release 1,000 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, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."


Prayer for Aborted Infants

Dear little infant Jesus, in honor of Thy Holy Birth, and through the Holy Mother, I pray that the innocents who will this day be murdered may find refuge and eternal glory before the throne of our Heavenly Father.

Recite the Apostles Creed.

That all who were born this day may reach everlasting life through Jesus Christ, Mary, Joseph.

One Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.


Holy Water

In the Home

Take an empty bottle to the parish church, fill it with Holy Water and bring it back home for the spiritual and temporal protection of the family. It should not be tucked away in a remote corner but be made available to all.

Holy Water is a sacramental that helps us to be sorry for sin. Because of the blessing attached to it, Holy Church strongly urges its use upon Her children, especially when dangers threaten such as fire, storms, sickness and other calamities. Every home should always have a supply of Holy Water in it.


Disposes Us to Sorrow for Sin

Keep your soul beautifully pure in God's sight by making the Sign of the Cross reverently while saying:

"By this Holy Water and by Thy Precious Blood wash away all my sins, O Lord."

*this doesn't replace confession.


The Holy Souls Long For It

Only in Purgatory can one understand ardently the poor souls long for Holy Water. If we desire to make a host of intercessors for ourselves, let us try to realize now some of their yearnings and never forget them at the Holy Water font.

When sprinkling Holy Water for your departed loved ones, your friends, etc., do not forget the priests, especially those of your own parish, who have served you so faithfully and brought you closer to God, through the sacraments and holy masses, etc. In gratitude, you should give them sprinklings of Holy Water several times daily and have masses offered up for the repose of their souls.

Sprinkle a few drops of Holy Water and pray fervently:

"O God, in your Mercy multiply these drops into as many drops of Holy Water as there are Souls in Purgatory, and allow them not to feel the pains of Purgatory, as long as the moisture of Holy Water is present."

You are encourage to install Holy Water fonts in your Homes and give everyone an opportunity to bless themselves. Whenever the faithful make the Sign of the Cross devoutly with Holy Water and pray "in the Name of the Father..." they gain a partial indulgence.

The Libera Me

Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death in that awful day:
When the heavens and the earth shall be moved.
When you shall come to judge the world by fire.

Dread and trembling have laid hold on me, and I fear exceedingly because of the judgement and the wrath to come.

When the heavens and the earth shall be shaken.
On that day, that day of wrath of sore distress and all wretchedness, that great and exceeding bitter day,
When You shall come to judge the world by fire,

Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.

Psalm 130 - De Profundis

Out of the depths have I called You, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice;
let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.

If You, Lord, were to note what is done amiss,
O Lord, who could stand?

For there is forgiveness with You;
therefore You Shall be feared.

I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for Him;
in His word is my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord,
more than watchmen for the morning.
more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, wait for the Lord,
for with the Lord there is mercy;

With him there is plenteous redemption,
and He shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a “purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven,” which is experienced by those “who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified” (CCC 1030). It notes that “this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned” (CCC 1031).

The purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) and, while we may die with our mortal sins forgiven, there can still be many impurities in us, specifically venial sins and the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven.

What Happens in Purgatory?

When we die, we undergo what is called the particular, or individual, judgment. Scripture says that “it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Heb. 9:27). We are judged instantly and receive our reward, for good or ill. We know at once what our final destiny will be. At the end of time, when Jesus returns, there will come the general judgment to which the Bible refers, for example, in Matthew 25:31-32: “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” In this general judgment all our sins will be publicly revealed (Luke 12:2–5).

Augustine said in The City of God that “temporary punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by others after death, by others both now and then; but all of them before that last and strictest judgment” (21:13). It is between the particular and general judgments, then, that the soul is purified of the remaining consequences of sin: “I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper” (Luke 12:59).

https://www.catholic.com/tract/purgatory

Read Me or Rue It

Exempla: Stories that Teach Catechism