Catholic Tidbit: Remembering Forgotten Souls

Other than knowing this is "a state of purification", purgatory is something I feel I know or understand very little about.  However I did learn a few new tidbits about it recently that I'd like to share.

I was listening to a tv show one day about purgatory and two things said there stuck with me.  One, once there we cannot pray ourselves OUT of purgatory.  Meaning our time on earth is the only time we have to make choices and decisions, receive indulgences, and pray for ourselves and others that will directly affect our time in purgatory (for the better or worse). Two, there are so many souls in purgatory and many of which are forgotten or abandoned, as they are not prayed for because many do not believe in purgatory.  Then it hit me, “How LONG must it take to get out of purgatory once you are there if you have NO ONE praying for you?!”.  Did you also know that we receive special graces when we help pray for those in purgatory?  Although, souls in purgatory cannot pray for themselves they can and will pray for us out of gratitude for our prayers for them.  If we pray for someone that is no longer in purgatory but has entered the kingdom of God we also receive a special grace!  AMAZING, right?!  For these reasons we, crazy Catholics, have an ENTIRE MONTH where we celebrate and remember those souls who have passed from this world.  November is the time to celebrate the saints and remember the souls.

I know, I know, you are saying...."But Maria, it's March so, what does this have to do with anything?".  Well I think, especially because it isn't November, the time when most Catholics are at least thinking of their dearly departed, it's a GREAT time to remember that we need to keep all souls in purgatory in our daily prayers.

 

So let us pray right now for all those souls who are forgotten or abandoned waiting in purgatory, whose souls are burning with the desire to see the face of the Lord.  Let us pray that ALL souls in purgatory, especially these forgotten and abandoned souls, be reunited with our Lord in heaven to sit among the angels and saints and to praise and glorify our Lord forever and ever. Let us say the prayer revealed to St. Gertrude the Great by the Lord who promised that 1000 souls would be released from purgatory every time the prayer below is said sincerely:

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.

Thank you for praying with me.  If you haven't chosen something to do for Lent to prepare yourself for the Easter season, may I suggest adding this simple prayer to your list?  What a quick and easy way to save 1000 souls each time you pray!

Also if you have any specific prayer requests feel free to head on over to our Prayer Requests page at the top of this blog on add your request there.  Share as little or as much information as you'd like and we will add your intentions to our prayer lists!

Blessings to You and Yours,