“We must empty purgatory with our prayers.” St. Pio of Pietrelcina
November is the month to pray for the souls in Purgatory. Most members of Regnum Christi know this. But if any of you are like me, you often forget this simple act of mercy for your loved ones, and all the members of the “Church Suffering.”
But since my Dad died this past summer, this service is now top of my mind. If you didn’t get to go to a cemetery to pray this past Saturday, the feast of All Souls, it’s not too late to get that Plenary indulgence for a soul. Gaining indulgences is that great benefit of shared grace through the Holy Spirit in the Church. We have until November 8 to make a cemetery visit and devotedly pray for the dearly departed, in addition to all the usual requirements for gaining an indulgence (receiving Holy Communion, praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, and going to confession within 8 days of the time you wish to gain the indulgence.)
Another good suggestion for this month of mercy is to offer the daily prayers of the Church for dead. I found them at the following website. On Sunday, we offer our prayers for the soul in Purgatory who is most forsaken. On Monday, we pray for the soul which is closest to leaving Purgatory and entering into the Kingdom of Heaven. On Tuesday, we pray for those in most need of our prayers. On Wednesday, we pray for the soul which has the greatest merit. On Thursday, we offer prayers especially for the soul most devoted to the Eucharist. On Friday, we pray for someone we knew who has died and who is in need of our prayers. On Saturday we pray for the soul most devoted to Mary, the Mother of God.
And if you want to help 1,500 souls all at once, pray the prayer given by our Lord to St. Gertrude. (I always ask her to pray it with me, since Jesus made the promise to her.) If you don’t know it yet, print it (below) and post it on your bathroom mirror or your kitchen bulletin board to memorize and pray daily.
“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.”
