Month for the Souls in Purgatory begins

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. As a reminder of our duty to pray for the suffering faithful in Purgatory, the Church has dedicated the month of November to the Holy Souls. The Holy Souls are those who have died in the state of grace but who are not yet free from all punishment due to their unforgiven venial sins and all other sins already forgiven for which satisfaction is still to be made. They are certain of entering Heaven, but first they must suffer in Purgatory. The Holy Souls cannot help themselves because for them the night has come, when no man can work (John 9:4). It is our great privilege of brotherhood that we can shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and, especially, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. (From catholic culture.org)

Perhaps like me, you pray for family and friends who have passed away, beginning the conversation with God thus: “Lord, if they are not already with You in heaven, please bring them there soon!” Each morning when my husband and I come to the “Petitions” in the Liturgy of the Hours, my last petition is for ALL the souls in Purgatory. It is really important to pray for them.

In a beautiful homily this morning, our parish priest pointed out that the Feast of All Saints is really for us – to remember our call to holiness. The saints in heaven have no need for our prayer, but we on earth, have great need, as we are still on our journey. So too, the souls in Purgatory need our prayers. Let us pray today with Mary our Mother, Jesus our Brother and all our saint brothers and sisters in heaven for the souls in purgatory and for one another. Especially during this month of November let us remember the souls in Purgatory who cannot help themselves, since their journey on earth has ended. They depend on our prayers to hasten the end of their purgation.

May the Souls of All the Faithful Departed rest in peace. Amen.

 

[Crusaderbear]

AMEN!

 

[midori]

I like to do St. Gaspar’s 33-Our-Father Chaplet of the Precious Blood in July (the month dedicated to the Precious Blood) and in November (the month dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory). Traditionally, this Chaplet is especially helpful for the souls of priests in purgatory, and those who are neglected.

 

[MariaChristi]

I like to do St. Gaspar’s 33-Our-Father Chaplet of the Precious Blood in July (the month dedicated to the Precious Blood) and in November (the month dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory). Traditionally, this Chaplet is especially helpful for the souls of priests in purgatory, and those who are neglected.

Dear midair and Crusaderbear,

Thank you both for your prayers and your replies to this thread. I hope many more have begun and will continue to pray especially for the Souls in Purgatory this month. If you have not yet prayed for our brothers and sisters who suffer in Purgatory, may God grant you grace to begin. They will thank you, when they meet you in heaven. I’m sure I would thank all the souls who prayed for me and helped me to enter heaven sooner than later.

 

[crystal_waters]

I like to do St. Gaspar’s 33-Our-Father Chaplet of the Precious Blood in July (the month dedicated to the Precious Blood) and in November (the month dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory). Traditionally, this Chaplet is especially helpful for the souls of priests in purgatory, and those who are neglected.

I’ve never heard of that chaplet before …could you post the prayers (or a link to the prayers)?

 

[midori]

Here’s the chaplet.

Here’s a blog post that talks about its history–

The chaplet was composed in 1809 by Francesco Albertini and officially approved in the same year. Albertini, who founded the ArchConfraternity of the Precious Blood, was the mentor and spiritual director of St. Gaspar del Bufalo, founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
St. Gaspar encourage the Missionaries to pray this chaplet with the people every morning. It is an excellent way of heightening our awareness of God’s presence in difficult and painful situations. It can help us connect our own suffering, the suffering of those we love, and the suffering of our enemies, with the suffering of Christ.
Each bead of the Precious Blood chaplet is, as it were, a chalice filled with the Divine Blood of Jesus, uplifted by Our Lady to the Eternal Father, imploring every grace necessary for your soul and body.
The Chaplet consists of 7 mysteries in which we meditate on the 7 principal blood-sheddings of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. The beads number 33 in honour of the 33 years the Precious Blood flowed in the veins of Jesus before it was all poured out on the cross for our salvation. Its 7 petitions unite with each of the 7 blood-sheddings, making up 7 chapters in the gospel of Christ’s love for me: “He loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”

Here’s an article about this chaplet by Susan Tassone (who’s written a lot of books on Purgatory) that was interesting.

There’s another Chaplet of the Precious Blood floating around, which is far more modern, but not very well-documented regarding authenticity, etc, so this is my preferred version.