A WEEK OF PRAYERS FOR THE HOLY SOULS


"Purgatory opened to the Piety of the Living, or a Brief daily Exercise in aid of the Souls in Purgatory," as the title of a little book of which many editions have been printed in Rome and elsewhere, and which is in the hands of many a devout person.

 

Pope Leo XII in order to hold out a greater inducement to the faithful to pray for the faithful departed, granted by a Rescript of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, Nov, 18, 1826: -

  • An indulgence of 100 days, to all who say with contrite heart and devotion once a day the prayers assigned in the above mentioned exercise to each day in the week, with one Pater, Ave, and the De profundis; and his holiness expressed at the same time his desire that the little books containing these devotions should be distributed gratis, as indeed  has hitherto been the constant practice. Those, however, who use these prayer books, are therein exhorted to say every day two Ave Maria's additional; one for all those who are associated in the exercise, and the other for all those who of their charity assist in promulgating it.

 

Prayer for - Sunday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in the garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory - and especially that soul amongst them all who is most destitute of spiritual aid - and vouchsafe to bring it to Thy glory, there to praise and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.

 

Prayer for - Monday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in Purgatory - and that soul especially amongst them all which is nearest to its entrance into Thy glory; that so it may forthwith begin to praise and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, 

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.

 

Prayer for - Tuesday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the Souls in Purgatory, and in particular that one amongst them all which would be the last to depart out of these pains, that it may not tarry so long a time before it comes to praise Thee in Thy glory and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, 

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.

 

Prayer for - Wednesday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in the streets of Jerusalem when He carried the cross upon His sacred shoulders, deliver the souls in Purgatory and especially that soul which is richest in merits before Thee; that so, in that throne of glory which awaits it, it may magnify Thee and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.

 

Prayer for - Thursday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee by the Precious Body and Blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus, which He gave with His own hands upon the eve of His Passion to His beloved apostles to be their meat and drink, and which He left to His whole Church to be a perpetual sacrifice and the life-giving food of His own faithful people, deliver the souls in Purgatory and especially that one which was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, that it may with the same Thy Divine Son, and with The Holy Spirit, ever praise Thee for Thy love therein in eternal glory. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.

 

Prayer for - Friday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed upon the wood of the cross, especially from His most sacred Hands and Feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particular that soul for which 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.

Our Father, Hail Mary, 

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.

 

Prayer for - Saturday

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, Mary, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially that one amongst them all which was the most devote to her; that it may soon attain unto Thy glory, there to praise Thee in her and her in Thee world without end. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary,

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.