November: Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
Today, All Souls, we remember, especially, the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory…. I have been unable to find a video on YouTube of the beautiful hymn which is traditionally sung in the month when we commemorate the suffering Church in Purgatory, so the lyrics only are given below… And, by the way, If you find it difficult to explain this doctrine to non-Catholic friends, and even some lapsed Catholics, read the very good article entitled Why Protestants Don’t Believe in Purgatory, published on page 10 of the current (November) newsletter – click here...
Hymn for the Holy Souls…
They are waiting for our petitions silent and calm
Their lips no prayer can utter, no suppliant psalm.
we have made the all too weary with long delay
For the souls in their still agony, good Christian pray.
Requiescant in pace, requiescant in Pace.
For the soul thou holdest dearest let prayers arise
The voice of love is mighty and will pierce the skies.
Waste not in selfish weeping one precious day
But speeding thy love to heaven, good Christian pray.
Requiescant in pace, requiescant in Pace.
Comments invited… especially edifying stories about the souls suffering in Purgatory, quotes from saints, prayers, novenas, indulgences, and any hymns which will help us to reflect on the Church Suffering in this Month of the Holy Souls. We concentrate plenty on the other parts of the Communion of Saints: the Church Triumphant (saints in Heaven) and the Church Militant (us lot, here below!) but not enough, arguably, on the Church Suffering in Purgatory. Today’s the day!
Comments (10)
I am posting the prayer of St Gertrude the Great, which is repeated over and over in this short video. I think it must be very powerful.
Thanks for that St Gertrude prayer which i agree must be very powerful.
I looked up a quote from saints and chose this one because I think if I were in Purgatory (if and when I am blessed to get there!) I would want my relatives to remember this:
““I come to tell you that they suffer in Purgatory, that they weep, and that they demand with urgent cries the help of your prayers and your good works. I seem to hear them crying from the depths of those fires which devour them: ‘Tell our loved ones, tell our children, tell all our relatives how great the evils are which they are making us suffer. We throw ourselves at their feet to implore the help of their prayers. Ah! Tell them that since we have been separated from them, we have been here burning in the flames!’” (St John Vianney, the Cure D’Ars).
Praying for the Holy Souls today. Requiescant in Pace.
I am remembering the Holy Souls today – especially my own family members. It’s terrible to think that the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation is still in force so there will be tons less people hearing Mass for the dead. The devil is having a field day.
Remembering the Holy Souls in Purgatory today and during this month of November. May they rest in peace.
I read that article about Purgatory in the newsletter – it’s very good because it covers the scriptural verses that apply and that will help doubting Protestants IMHO.
I’m remembering the holy souls, as well today. At one time we’d try to attend the three Masses on the Feast of Holy Souls but now we can’t even attend one, thanks to the archdiocese keeping the dispensation going – at this stage, sorry to say, that’s an excuse for priests not to do their duty. Nothing less than sheer laziness.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.
Nicky,
I only discovered today that the dispensation from attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is still in place in the Archdiocese of Glasgow (and, presumably, the whole of Scotland). That is totally unconscionable.
Sheer laziness, you say? The understatement of the pandemic, if you ask me…
A reminder, folks, that it is possible to gain indulgences for the holy souls in Purgatory during November.
https://helptheholysouls.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/plenary-indulgences-november-1-8/
A member of my own extended family visited her father’s grave today and is seeking indulgences for him.
It’s important to remember that there is usually the condition of praying for the intentions of the Holy Father and people now worry that Francis’ intentions are not as they should be. However, there are standard intentions which apply to every pope – we don’t pray for the pope’s private intentions when we pray “for the intentions of the Holy Father”
https://fatima.org/news-views/catholic-apologetics-9/#:~:text=%20Praying%20for%20the%20Pope%E2%80%99s%20Intentions%3A%20The%206,error%20is%20advanced%20as%20progress.%20The…%20More%20
In the Byzantine Tradition we have 5 Saturdays specifically dedicated to praying for the faithful departed:
The Saturday before Meatfare Sunday
The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of the Great Fast (Lent)
The Saturday before Pentecost
Almost all the other Saturdays of the year (except the Saturday after the Nativity and other Great Feasts) are dedicated to all the Saints as well as the faithful departed.
Traditionally after a person passes away, the Liturgy is to be offered every day for 40 days after their death. Now the deceased is specifically commemorated on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days after their death since there are so few priests who are simply at one parish. Our priest has our parish and our sister parish plus he’s a hospital chaplain. He has daily Liturgy at our sister parish (they’re bigger than we are plus the rectory is there).
Pray for good and holy vocations!
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