The Daily Practice of Adopting an Unknown, Dying Soul

[Tis_Bearself]

A priest posted this in my Purgatorial Society and I liked the idea, so I share it here.
I see CAF has had similar threads on this in the past, but the most recent one was in 2013, so it doesn’t hurt to post it again several years later.

I sometimes will do a plenary indulgence for a Forgotten Soul in Purgatory and I also try to say the Divine Mercy Chaplet at Adoration for all those suffering and dying in the next hour, as Pope John Paul II wanted us to do.
But I rather like the idea of adopting an unknown, dying soul every day for a little prayer, even though usually my daily Plenary is assigned to a particular deceased soul (if Mary and Jesus honor the request since I give all my prayers “ad Jesum per Mariam”) .
So maybe I will try to add this prayer to my daily prayers.

Prayer for the Dying: Daily Practice of Adopting an Unknown, Dying Soul

The daily practice of adopting an unknown, dying soul, involves praying

www.beautysoancient.com

 

[Salibi]

Thank you for sharing. And thank you for praying for the souls of the faithful departed.

 

[DIERM]

Laudable. Indeed we should pray, and do at every mass, for the souls of the faithful departed.

However, just a point of order:

There are dying bodies, but there are no dying souls. The soul is immortal.

Rejoice!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

There are dying bodies, but there are no dying souls. The soul is immortal.

Rejoice!

You are correct , of course.

I understand the articles on this referring to “Dying Soul” to mean “the immortal soul of a person who is undergoing bodily death at the moment”.

 

[Catholic361]

Fairly new to the Faith joined Holy Saturday of 18’

How do you pray for the souls of those in purgatory ? Would like to make it a part of my prayers for those who where unwanted people by society.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Welcome, I’m glad you’re with us and happy you want to pray for the Souls in Purgatory.

Let’s keep it simple since you are just starting out.
When I was a child I was taught that every time I prayed during the day and made the concluding sign of the cross, I should add, “Jesus, have mercy on the souls in purgatory and the souls on earth.” This was said in my family at the end of every Grace before Meals, driver’s prayer when we were going in the car, night prayer kneeling by the bed at night, Rosary, etc after we made the concluding sign of the cross. It’s an easy way to pray for souls in purgatory multiple times a day.

Also you can add the soul in purgatory as a prayer intention to any other prayer you make during the day. Like if you say a Rosary, add the Holy Souls or soul as an intention. Or say one Hail Mary, or 3 Hail Marys if you have time, for the holy soul (s). Or at Mass during general intercession when the priest says at the end for all our personal intentions, think of the Holy Soul (s).

The other thing you can do is offer up daily annoyances and inconveniences for the Holy Souls. Like when I was a child and I got impatient waiting in line with my mom somewhere, or didn’t like a vegetable on my plate, my mother would say to offer it up for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. So nowadays I sometimes do that if I get stuck in traffic, stub my toe, etc.

If you really get into praying for the Holy Souls, there are some good recent books by Susan Tassone with many prayers and suggestions.