Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
“There shall not enter into it any thing defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb.” – Revelation 21:27
This and many other Scripture passages indicate the existence of purgatory. When one dies, they can go to one of three places: Heaven, purgatory, or hell. One who dies in a perfect state of grace with no stain of sin goes to Heaven. One who dies in a state of mortal sin is condemned to hell by his own choice. One who is free from mortal sin, but in a state of venial sin, goes to purgatory. Purgatory is where souls go to be cleansed before they enter Heaven. These holy souls comprise the Church Suffering and rely on our prayers to see them through to Heaven. Since we have no way of knowing who is in Heaven (beyond those the Church has beatified or canonized), we must assume that everyone is in purgatory. Therefore, it is extremely important that we frequently pray for the dead, not just on All Souls Day.
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory (Oct. 24 – Nov. 1)
(via Sensus Fidelium)
October 24
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 with 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 will 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. Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Prayer to Our Suffering Savior (below)
October 25
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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Prayer to Our Suffering Savior (below)
October 26
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, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. And thou, Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Prayer to Our Suffering Savior (below)
October 27
My God! because Thou art infinite goodness, I am sorry with my whole heart for having offended Thee. I promise to die rather than ever offend Thee more. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity on those holy souls that burn in the cleansing fire and love Thee with all their hearts. O Mary, Mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Prayer to Our Suffering Savior (below)
October 28
Woe to me, unhappy being, if Thou, O Lord, hadst cast me into 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 offended 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Prayer to Our Suffering Savior (below)
October 29
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 offences against Thee than at any other evil. I will 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. Mary, Mother of God, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Prayer to Our Suffering Savior (below)
October 30
God, Father of Mercy, satisfy this, their ardent desire! Send them Thy holy Angel to announce to them that Thou, their Father, are now reconciled with them through the suffering and death of Jesus, and that the moment of their deliverance has arrived.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Prayer to Our Suffering Savior (below)
October 31
Oh my God! I also am one of these ungrateful beings, having received so much grace, and yet despised Thy love and deserved 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. I will rather die than ever offend Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. Mary, Mother of God, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Prayer to Our Suffering Savior (below)
November 1
My God! How was it possible that I, for so many years, have borne tranquilly the separation from Thee and Thy holy grace! O infinite Goodness, how long-suffering hast Thou shown Thyself to me! Henceforth, I shall love Thee above all things. I am deeply sorry for having offended Thee; I promise rather to die than to again offend 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 in Purgatory. I pray Thee, moderate their 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. Mary, Mother of Mercy, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession, and pray for us also who are still in danger of eternal damnation.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Prayer to Our Suffering Savior (below)
Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
St. Alphonsus Liguori
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.
℟. 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.
℟. 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.
℟. 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.
℟. 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.
℟. 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.
℟. 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.
℟. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
(Recommend yourself to the Souls in Purgatory and mention your intentions here)
Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.
Litany for the Faithful Departed
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
[Repeat pray for the souls of the faithful departed after each invocation]
Holy Mary, pray for the souls of the faithful departed.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
St. Michael,
All ye angels and archangels,
All ye orders of blessed spirits,
St. John the Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets,
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. John,
All ye holy apostles and evangelists,
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
All ye holy martyrs,
St. Gregory,
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
All ye holy bishops and confessors,
All ye holy doctors,
All ye holy priests and levites,
All ye holy monks and hermits,
St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Catherine,
St. Barbara,
All ye holy virgins and widows,
All ye saints of God,
Be merciful, Spare them, o Lord.
Be merciful, Graciously hear us, o Lord.
[Repeat o Lord deliver them after each invocation]
From all evil, o Lord, deliver them.
From Thy wrath,
From the rigor of Thy justice,
From the power of the devil,
From the gnawing worm of conscience,
From long-enduring sorrow,
From eternal flames,
From intolerable cold,
From horrible darkness,
From dreadful weeping and wailing,
Through Thine admirable conception,
Through Thy holy Nativity,
Through Thy most sweet name,
Through Thy baptism and holy fasting,
Through Thy most profound humiliation,
Through Thy prompt obedience,
Through Thine infinite love,
Through Thy sorrow and anguish,
Through Thy bloody sweat,
Through Thy bonds,
Through Thy scourging,
Through Thy crowning with thorns,
Through Thy carrying of the cross,
Through Thy most cruel death,
Through Thy five most holy wounds,
Through Thy most bitter cross and passion,
Through Thy holy Resurrection,
Through Thine admirable Ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete,
In the day of judgment,
[Repeat we beseech Thee, hear us after each invocation]
We sinners, we beseech Thee, hear us.
Thou Who forgavest Magdalen and didst hearken to the prayer of the thief,
Thou Who savest freely Thine elect,
Thou Who hast the keys of death and hell,
That Thou wouldst be pleased to deliver the souls of our parents, relations, friends, and benefactors, from the pains of Purgatory,
That Thou wouldst be pleased to have mercy on those of whom no especial remembrance is made on earth,
That Thou wouldst be pleased to fulfill all their desires,
That Thou wouldst be pleased to receive them into the company of the blessed,
King of awful Majesty,
Son of God,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Grant unto them rest.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Grant unto them rest.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Grant unto them rest everlasting.
Christ hear us, Christ graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
From the gate of hell, Deliver their souls, o Lord.
O Lord, hear my prayer, And let my cry come unto Thee.
Let us pray.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant unto the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins; that, by pious supplication, they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired. Grant this, o God, Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.
O eternal God, Who besides the general precept of charity, hast commanded a particular respect to parents, kindred, and benefactors; grant, we beseech Thee, that, as they were the instruments by which Thy Providence bestowed on us our birth, education, and innumerable other blessings, so our prayers may be the means to obtain for them a speedy release from their excessive sufferings, and free admittance to Thine infinite joys. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Eternal rest give them, o Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.