What are some ways you pray for the deceased?

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dei_gratia15

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This might sound a little odd but for the last few months I’ve felt a certain pull to increase the amount of time I spend praying for those who have moved from this life. I’ve gotten into the habit of praying for nearly everyone that I hear about who has died whether I know them or not and I do spend a great deal of my time in prayer praying for them. With it seems to come feelings of peace for me and I like to think I’m helping the souls of those I pray for, though I’m certainly not sure of this. I guess I’m asking 2 things:
  1. I know we are supposed to pray for the souls of the deceased but is there such a thing as doing this too much? I’m not sure why I’m drawn to it but I feel like it’s something I can’t just ignore and should continue doing but I could always be wrong. So how much is too much?
  2. What are some different ways you pray for the deceased? I’ve done the usual: rosary, chapter of divine mercy, used some prayers from the saints, just spoke from my heart, etc. but if anyone has any specific prayers they say I would be interested to learn more.
Thanks in advance for your advice and help.

God bless.
 
Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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.
R. 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.
R. 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.
R. 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.
R. 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.
R. 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.
R. 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.
R. 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.
 
Offer a Mass up for them. The Holy Mass is the perfect prayer.
 
catholiccompany.com/getfed/20-ways-to-pray-for-the-holy-souls-in-purgatory/

THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY
  1. Pray the Novena to the Holy Souls.
  2. Offer up your Holy Communions for the souls in purgatory.
  3. Have Masses said for your departed loved ones, especially on the anniversary of his or her death.
  4. Pray The Way Of The Cross for Souls in Purgatory.
  5. Pray the special Holy Souls Rosary. After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Holy Rosary is the most powerful prayer.
  6. Obtain indulgences: Indulgences reduce or cancel the temporal punishment that we incur through sin.* There are many ways to obtain indulgences through pious actions, and we can apply their merits to the dead. You can find a partial list of indulgences here. If you visit a church or oratory on All Souls Day and recite there the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostle’s Creed, you can earn a plenary (full) indulgence applicable only to the souls in purgatory (under the usual conditions).
  7. Give alms: The giving of material assistance to the poor has always been considered a penance that can be offered for the Holy Souls. “For almsgiving saves from deall-souls747ath and purges away every sin” (Tobit 12:9).
  8. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the intention of the Holy Souls.
  9. Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great: tradition holds that St. Gertrude was told that piously reciting this prayer releases 1,000 souls from purgatory.
  10. Sprinkle holy water on the ground: St. John Macias, a great friend of those in purgatory, would often sprinkle holy water on the ground for the spiritual benefit of the suffering souls.
  11. When passing by a cemetery, pray the short Eternal Rest prayer: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon them. And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.” This prayer carries a partial indulgence applicable to the poor souls.
  12. Practice the tradition of praying the Eternal Rest prayer (above) before and after your meals as an easy way to pray for the holy souls daily. You can also pray the prayer between the decades of your daily rosary.
  13. Visit a cemetery: Pray over the graves of your departed loved ones, or visit a random graveyard and pray for those who may have no one to pray for them. Simply doing this gains a partial indulgence for those in purgatory. While you’re there, sprinkle holy water on the graves. If you make this visit daily during the octave of All Souls Day (November 2-9) you can gain a plenary indulgence* applicable to the souls in purgatory.
 
My understanding is that the Mass is a perfect prayer for any in Purgatory. I don’t think you can beat the eternal sacrifice of our God for our salvation. By all means, continue your personal prayers. My preference would be the Rosary. It is a lovely thought and there is no way you can do too much for those that cannot help themselves. May you continue to consider those we often easily forget. God bless.
 
Pray the Office of the Dead from the Liturgy of Hours for them.
 
dei_gratia15 said:
  1. What are some different ways you pray for the deceased? I’ve done the usual: rosary, chapter of divine mercy, used some prayers from the saints, just spoke from my heart, etc. but if anyone has any specific prayers they say I would be interested to learn more.
God bless.
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It’s good to pray for he dead. Devotion to the poor souls is a grace. Here are some ways besides those you mentioned: at Mass especially during the elevation of the chalices immediately after, also during the priest’s prayers for the dead in the Canon, during your morning and evening prayers, at the hour of mercy (3:00 pm - especially on Friday), when you make small acts of sacrifice or self denial, etc.
 
Most of my prayers are for the conversion of sinners or the hoy souls in Purgatory.

Unfortunately lately I have been praying for myself as everything seems to be turning bad.
 
Susan Tassone, who writes about the Holy Souls in Purgatory, wrote in one of books doing two things.

Before making the sign of the cross with Holy Water, say: “With this Holy Water, and by thy Precious Blood; wash away all my sins; O Lord; bless my family, have mercy on the dying and relieve souls in Purgatory.” Make the sign of the cross.

When praying a Rosary, at the end of the Fatima prayer (Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins…); “And relieve the souls in Purgatory, particularly those most abandoned.”
 
Wow, thank you all so much for responding! So many wonderful ideas and prayers that hadn’t crossed my mind. 🙂
 
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