More Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory

For family members, for the soul most devoted to Our Lady, to Our Lady of Sorrows, and St Gertrude the Great's Offering for the poor souls.

All From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

Prayer for Family Members in Purgatory

Deceased family members should be among the first souls we pray for on a regular basis.

For Catholics, purgatory is a place of purgation, a final stage of preparation before the eternal rewards of Heaven.

Most of us will likely go through some sort of purification after death, which is why the Church encourages us to pray for anyone we know who has died, especially our own family members.

Here is a short prayer from the Raccolta that highlights praying for those we personally know and hope to some day meet again in eternity.

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son shed upon the wood of the cross, especially from his most sacred Hands and Feet, deliver the souls in purgatory, and in particular family members for whom I am most bound to pray; that no neglect of mine may hinder it from praising Thee in Thy glory and blessing Thee for ever. Amen.

 Prayer for the Soul in Purgatory Most Devoted to Our Lady

Ask God to have mercy on the soul in purgatory who loved Our Lady with great fervor during life on earth.

The souls in purgatory welcome our prayers and by God’s divine grace, they help lessen the time spent in this stage of purification before Heaven.

We can direct our prayers in a variety of ways and the collection of approved prayers known as the Raccolta, includes a prayer for the soul in purgatory most devoted to Our Lady.

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee, by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from the Side of Thy Divine Son Jesus, in the sight of, and to the extreme pain of his most holy Mother, deliver the souls in purgatory, and especially that one amongst them all which was the most devout to her; that it may soon attain unto Thy glory, there to praise Thee in her and her in Thee world without end. Amen.

 Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows for the Souls in Purgatory

Ask the Sorrowful Mother to intercede for the souls of the faithful departed.

It is a Catholic belief that the souls in purgatory can receive our help through the prayers we offer on their behalf. These prayers can assist them in their final journey to Heaven, shortening the time they spend in a state of purification.

Through a mysterious connection, we can also call upon the saints to pray for those same souls in purgatory. Here is a prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows, the saint closest to the Heart of Jesus, whose prayers are powerful and effective.

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, my Mother, I turn to you in supplication and by that sword which pierced your sorrowful heart at beholding your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, suffer on the cross, I pray and ask thee to help the holy souls in Purgatory and particularly those for whom I now pray N.N. O Mother of Sorrows, Queen of Martyrs, for the love of your Divine Son whose Precious Blood was shed for us, help us who are in danger not only of falling into Purgatory, but of losing our souls for ever in hell, with your powerful intercession. O Mary our Mother, Mother of Grace, Mother of Mercy, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. O Eternal Father through the most Precious Blood of Jesus and through the Sorrows of Mary have pity upon the holy souls in purgatory. Amen.

 St. Gertrude the Great's Powerful Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

Eternal Father, I offer You the most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for all sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.