“With faith we visit the graves of our loved ones, where we can also pray for those who no one remembers.”
Papal Tweet (Pope Francis, November 2, 2016)
Today we celebrate All Souls Day and pray for those who have gone before us. The Prayer of St. Gertrude, below, is one of the most famous of the prayers for souls in purgatory. St. Gertrude the Great was a Benedictine nun and mystic who lived in the 13th century. According to tradition, our Lord promised her that 1,000 souls would be released from purgatory each time it is said devoutly.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.
Reflections on All Souls’ Day (Catholic News Service)
Requiem Aeternam – Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. (uCatholic)
All Soul’s Day – Richard Strauss (Fennell and Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra)
LINKS
Let Us Help the Souls in Purgatory (Fr. Ed Broom, O.M.V. – Catholic Exchange)
The Art of Dying Well – NEW resource on death and dying (Catholic News Agency)
5 Ways to pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory (Aleteia)
Purgatory? There’s Actually a Museum for That! (Aleteia)
Recipes for November ~ Month Dedicated to the Holy Souls (Catholic Cuisine)