Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory
O Divine Heart of Jesus, I ask You to grant eternal rest to the souls in Purgatory, the final grace of salvation to those who shall die today, true repentance to sinners, the light of faith to unbelievers, and Your goodness, blessings, and favors to me and to all my loved ones.
To You, O most compassionate Heart of Jesus, I commend these souls.
(Here state the names of your departed loved ones)
I offer You, on their behalf, all the graces granted for deeds of holiness, love and sacrifice, together with the spiritual merits of Your most Holy Mother Mary, and of all the saints and angels, and all the sacrifices of the Holy Mass, Communions, prayers and good works, which shall be accomplished today throughout the world. Amen.
Litany for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
O Jesus, Thou suffered and died that all mankind might be saved and brought to eternal happiness. Hear our pleas for further mercy on the souls of:
My dear parents and grandparents, | My Jesus Mercy
My brothers and sisters and other near relatives, | My Jesus Mercy
My godparents and sponsors of Confirmation, | My Jesus Mercy
My spiritual and temporal benefactors, | My Jesus Mercy
My friends and neighbors, | My Jesus Mercy
All for whom love or duty bids me pray, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who have suffered disadvantage or harm through me, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who have offended me, | My Jesus Mercy
Those whose release is near at hand, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who desire most to be united to Thee, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who endure the greatest sufferings, | My Jesus Mercy
Those whose release is most remote, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who are least remembered | My Jesus Mercy
Those who are most deserving on account of their services to the Church, | My Jesus Mercy
The rich, who are now the most destitute, | My Jesus Mercy
The mighty, who are now powerless, | My Jesus Mercy
The once spiritually blind, who now see their folly | My Jesus Mercy
The frivolous, who spent their time in idleness, | My Jesus Mercy
The poor who did not seek the treasures of heaven, | My Jesus Mercy
The tepid who devoted little time to prayer, | My Jesus Mercy
The indolent who neglected to perform good works, | My Jesus Mercy
Those of little faith, who neglected the frequent reception of the Sacraments, | My Jesus Mercy
The habitual sinners, who owe their salvation to a miracle of grace, | My Jesus Mercy
Parents who failed to watch over their children, | My Jesus Mercy
Superiors who were not solicitous for the salvation of those entrusted to them, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who strove for worldly riches and pleasures, | My Jesus Mercy
The worldly minded, who failed to use their wealth and talent for the service of God, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who witnessed the death of others, but would not think of their own, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who did not provide for the life hereafter, | My Jesus Mercy
Those whose sentence is severe because of the great things entrusted to them, | My Jesus Mercy
The popes, kings, and rulers, | My Jesus Mercy
The bishops and their counselors, | My Jesus Mercy
My teachers and spiritual advisors, | My Jesus Mercy
The priests and religious of the Catholic Church, | My Jesus Mercy
The defenders of the Holy Faith, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who died on the battlefield, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who fought for their country, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who were buried in the sea, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who died of apoplexy, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who died of heart attacks, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who suffered and died of cancer, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who died suddenly in accidents, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who died without the last rites of the Church, | My Jesus Mercy
Those who shall die within the next twenty-four hours, | My Jesus Mercy
My own poor soul when I shall have to appear before Thy judgment seat, | My Jesus Mercy
PRAYER
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them: For evermore with Thy Saints, because Thou art gracious.
May the prayer of Thy suppliant people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, benefit the souls of Thy departed servants and handmaids: that Thou mayest both deliver them from all their sins, and make them to be partakers of Thy redemption. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine on them.
The Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory was composed by St Alphonsus Liguori and is generally prayed during the nine-day period leading up to All Souls’ Day (although the novena can be prayed any time of the year). The novena invokes a special prayer request from God through the intercession of the holy souls in Purgatory.
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
First Day – Meditation [Prayer Video for Day 1]
Manifold are the sufferings which these Blessed Souls must endure, but the greatest of all is the reflection that their sins in life are the cause of their present torments.
First Day – Prayer
O Jesus, my Savior, I have so often deserved to be cast into Hell; how great would be my suffering if I were now cast away and obliged to think that I, myself, had caused my damnation! I thank Thee for the patience which Thou hast endured me. My God, I love Thee above all things and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee because Thou art infinite goodness. I would rather die than offend Thee again. Grant me the grace of perseverance; have pity on me, and at the same time on those Blessed Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Second Day – Meditation[Pray Video for Day 2]
The second pain which causes these Holy Souls much suffering is the time lost in life when they might have gained merits for Heaven; and the thought that they were unable to repair this loss, because the time of life and merit is passed.
Second Day – Prayer
Woe to me, unhappy being, so many years have I already spent on earth and have earned naught but Hell! I give Thee thanks, O Lord, for granting me time even now to atone for my sins. My good God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. Send me Thy assistance that I may apply the time yet remaining to me for Thy love and service; have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Third Day – Meditation[Prayer Video for Day 3]
Another great pain of the Holy Souls is caused by the hideous vision of their guilt, for which they now suffer. In this life the hideousness of sin is not seen as in the life to come; and this is one of the greatest sufferings in Purgatory.
Third Day – Prayer
O my God! because Thou art infinite goodness, I love Thee above all things, and repent with my whole heart of my offenses against Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Fourth Day – Meditation[Pray video for Day 4]
The pain that afflicts these Holy Souls most, the spouses of Jesus, is the thought of having, during life, by their sins, displeased God, Whom they so ardently love. Some penitents have felt so much pain and sorrow in thinking of their offenses, that they died of grief. The Souls in Purgatory understand far better than we do the claim that God has to our love; they love Him with all their strength. Hence, at the thought of having offended Him during life, they experience pain that surpasses all other pain.
Fourth Day – Prayer
O my God! because Thou art infinite goodness, I am sorry with my whole heart for having offended Thee. I would rather die than ever offend Thee again. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity on those Holy Souls that burn in the cleansing fire and who love Thee with all their hearts. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Fifth Day – Meditation [Pray video for Day 5]
Another great suffering of these Holy Souls is their ignorance of the hour of their deliverance from Purgatory. Though they are certain of being released one day, the uncertainty of the hour of when their Purgatorial term will end gives them great pain.
Fifth Day – Prayer
Woe to me, miserable being, if Thou, O Lord, shall cast me into eternal Hell; for from that dungeon of eternal pain there is no deliverance. I love Thee above all things, O infinite God, and I am sincerely sorry for having ever offended Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Sixth Day – Meditation[Prayer video for Day 6]
The Holy Souls are, indeed, comforted by the recollection of the Passion of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, since they know they are saved by the Passion of Jesus Christ, and have received, and still receive, so much consolation from Holy Masses and Holy Communions. Nevertheless, they are greatly pained by the recollection of their ingratitude for these two great gifts of the love of Jesus Christ.
Sixth Day – Prayer
O my Divine Redeemer, Thou didst die for me on the Cross and hast so often united Thyself with me in Holy Communion, and I have repaid Thee only with ingratitude. Now, however, I love Thee above all things, O supreme God; and I am more grieved at my offenses against Thee than at any other evil. I would rather die than offend Thee again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Seventh Day – Meditation[Prayer video for Day 7]
A further great sorrow of these Holy Souls consists in their ardent desire for the Beatific Vision. Slowly and painfully the moments of their Purgatorial imprisonment pass by; for they love God deeply, and desire to be delivered from their sad state in order to praise Him forever.
Seventh Day – Prayer
O God, Father of Mercy, satisfy this, their ardent desire! Send them Thy holy Angel to announce to them that Thou, their Father, art now reconciled with them through the suffering and death of Jesus, and that the moment of their deliverance has arrived. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Eighth Day – Meditation[Prayer video for Day 8]
Another bitter sorrow of these Souls is caused by their reflection that God had bestowed upon them so many graces not granted to others, and that they compelled Him, by their sins, to condemn them to these sufferings. they had deserved Hell, but were pardoned and saved only by the mercy of God.
Eighth Day – Prayer
O my God! I also am one of these ungrateful beings, having received so many graces, and yet despised Thy love; and deserve to be cast by Thee into Hell. But Thy infinite goodness has spared me until now. Therefore, I now love Thee above all things, and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Ninth Day – Meditation[Prayer video for Day 9]
Great are all the sufferings of the Holy Souls in Purgatory: the fire, the grief, the darkness; the uncertainty of the time of their deliverance from prison. but the greatest of all these sorrows is this: that these Holy Souls are separated from their Divine Spouse, and deprived of His Beatific Vision.
Ninth Day – Prayer
O my God! how was it possible that I, for so many years, have borne tranquilly the separation from Thee and Thy holy grace! Henceforth, I shall love Thee above all things. I am deeply sorry for having offended Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance, and do not permit that I should ever again fall into sin. Have compassion on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. I pray Thee, moderate these sufferings; shorten the time of their misery; call them soon unto Thee in Heaven, that they may behold Thee face to face, and forever love Thee. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession. And pray for us also who are still in danger of eternal damnation.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Closing Prayers
Pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary.
On Thy Spouses have compassion, on these suffering children Thine; Make these Holy Souls partakers of Thy happiness Divine.
Prayer to our Suffering Savior for the Souls in Purgatory
O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
[As you pray for the Holy Souls in purgatory, you can also request that they pray for you. Mention the favor you hope to obtain from God during this novena through their intercession.]
Blessed Souls, we have prayed for thee; we entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for us miserable sinners, who are in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen
Out of the Depths Prayer (De Profundis)
(Carries a partial indulgence)
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with You is forgiveness, that You may be revered. I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word. My soul waits for the Lord, more than sentinels wait for the dawn. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord; For with the Lord is kindness and with Him is plenteous redemption; And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.