Would you like to deliver 1,000 holy souls from purgatory into heaven? Our Lord gave St. Gertrude (1256-1301 or 1302) the following prayer by which such a grace can be accomplished:
“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.“
In this month of November the Catholic Church remembers in a special way the Holy Souls in purgatory. Those in purgatory are “saved” in that they died in God’s friendship and grace. However, due to any remaining venial sins and/or temporal punishment due for past mortal sins, they are in purgatory to “undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven“ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1030).
God’s Great Mercy Towards the Holy Souls
Purgatory is a great mercy of God, without which many souls may be lost to hell. Those in purgatory require our prayers to get to heaven. In purgatory they can no longer pray for themselves. God allows us the grace to pray for them so that they may enter heaven. They are united with us in the Communion of Saints: The Church Triumphant (those in heaven), the Church Suffering (those in purgatory), and The Church Militant (those of us united with Christ on earth). Together we make up the corporeal body of Christ.
Do Unto Other Souls
After nighttime prayers, when my boys were small, I would say, “Would you like to bring 9,000 souls from purgatory into heaven?” I reasoned to them that if the three of us said the prayer three times each we would bring 9,000 souls into heaven. They would smile and willingly say the prayer along with me. (There is such beautiful love, innocence, trust and faith in young children.)
Remember to pray for the Holy Souls, as you would want to be remembered. Memorize the prayer given to St. Gertrude or print it on a card where you will see and pray it daily. Those you bring from purgatory into heaven will remember you during your lifetime and at the moment of your death.
