All Saints Day! November 1

All Saints

All Saints Day!

Solemnity of All Saints, November 1

Today we honor those holy men and women who have gone before us in faith and have done so in a glorious way.  As we honor these great champions of faith, let’s reflect upon who they are and what role they continue to play in the life of the Church.  The following excerpt is from Chapter 8 of My Catholic Faith!:

The Church Triumphant: Those have gone before us and now share in the glories of Heaven, in the Beatific Vision, are not gone.  Sure, we do not see them and we cannot necessarily hear them speak to us in the physical way they did while on Earth.  But they are not gone at all.  St. Therese of Lisieux said it best when she said, “I want to spend my Heaven doing good on Earth.”

The saints in Heaven are in full union with God and make up the Communion of Saints in Heaven, the Church Triumphant!  What’s important to note, however, is that even though they are enjoying their eternal reward, they are still very much concerned about us.

The saints in Heaven are entrusted with the important task of intercession.  Sure, God already knows all our needs and He could ask us to go directly to Him in our prayers.  But the truth is that God wants to use the intercession, and therefore, the mediation of the saints in our lives.  He uses them to bring our prayers to Him and, in return, to bring His grace to us.  They become powerful intercessors for us and participators in God’s divine action in the world.

Why is this the case?  Again, why doesn’t God just choose to deal with us directly rather than go  through intermediaries?  Because God wants all of us to share in His good work and to participate in His divine plan.  It would be like a dad who buys a nice necklace for his wife.  He shows it to his young children and they are excited about this gift.  The mom comes in and the dad asks the children to bring the gift to her.  Now the gift is from her husband but she will most likely thank her children first for their participation in giving this gift to her.  The father wanted the children to be part of this giving and the mother wanted to make the children a part of her receiving and gratitude.  So it is with God!  God wants the saints to share in the distribution of His manifold gifts.  And this act fills His heart with joy!

The saints also give us a model of holiness.  The charity they live on Earth lives on.  The witness of their love and sacrifice was not just a onetime act in history.  Rather, charity is living and continues to have an effect for the good.  Therefore, the charity and witness of the saints lives on and affects our lives.  This charity in their lives creates a bond with us, a communion.  It enables us to love them, admire them and want to follow their example.  It is this, coupled with their continuing intercession, that establishes a powerful bond of love and union with us.

Lord, as the saints in Heaven adore You for eternity, 

I beg for their intercession.  

Saints of God, please come to my aide.  

Pray for me and bring to me the grace 

I need to live a holy life in imitation 

of your own lives.  

All saints of God, pray for us.  

Jesus, I Trust in YOU.

From the book – Daily Reflections for Ordinary Time: Weeks 18-34 by John Paul Thomas

I highly recommend this series of books… Reflections for every day on the Roman Catholic scripture readings. You can purchase this book on Amazon book form or ebook.

Litany of the Saints

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, Have Mercy On Us.

Lord, Have Mercy On Us.

Christ, Hear Us.

Christ, Graciously Hear Us.

God, The Father Of Heaven, Have Mercy On Us.

God The Son, Redeemer Of The World, Have Mercy On Us.

God The Holy Ghost, Have Mercy On Us.

Holy Trinity, One God, Have Mercy On Us.

Holy Mary, Pray For Us.

Holy Mother Of God, Pray For Us.

Holy Virgin Of Virgins, Pray For Us.

St. Michael, Pray For Us.

St. Gabriel, Pray For Us.

St. Raphael, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Angels And Archangels, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Orders Of Blessed Spirits, Pray For Us.

St. John The Baptist, Pray For Us. St. Joseph, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Patriarchs And Prophets, Pray For Us.

St. Peter, Pray For Us.

St. Paul, Pray For Us.

St. Andrew, Pray For Us.

St. James, Pray For Us.

St. John, Pray For Us.

St. Thomas, Pray For Us.

St. James, Pray For Us.

St. Philip, Pray For Us.

St. Bartholomew, Pray For Us.

St. Matthew, Pray For Us.

St. Simon, Pray For Us.

St. Thaddeus, Pray For Us.

St. Barnabas, Pray For Us.

St. Luke, Pray For Us.

St. Mark, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Apostles And Evangelist, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Disciples Of Our Lord, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Innocents, Pray For Us.

St. Stephen, Pray For Us.

St. Lawrence, Pray For Us.

St. Vincent, Pray For Us.

Ss. Fabian And Sebastian, Pray For Us.

Ss. John And Paul, Pray For Us.

Ss. Cosmos And Damian, Pray For Us.

Ss. Gervase And Protase, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Martyrs, Pray For Us.

St. Sylvester, Pray For Us.

St. Gregory, Pray For Us.

St. Ambrose, Pray For Us.

St. Augustine, Pray For Us.

St. Jerome, Pray For Us.

St. Martin, Pray For Us.

St. Nicholas, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Bishops And Confessors, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Doctors, Pray For Us.

St. Anthony, Pray For Us.

St. Benedict, Pray For Us.

St. Bernard, Pray For Us.

St. Dominic, Pray For Us.

St. Francis, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Priest And Levites, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Monks And Hermits, Pray For Us.

St. Mary Magdalen, Pray For Us.

St. Agatha, Pray For Us.

St. Lucy, Pray For Us.

St. Agnes, Pray For Us.

St. Cecilia, Pray For Us.

St. Catherine, Pray For Us.

St. Anastasia, Pray For Us.

All Ye Holy Virgins And Widows, Pray For Us.

All Ye Men And Women, Saints Of God, Make Intercession For Us.

Be Merciful, Spare Us, O Lord!

Be Merciful, Graciously Hear Us, O Lord!

From All Evil, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From All Sin, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From Thy Wrath, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From A Sudden And Unprovided Death, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From The Deceits Of The Devil, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From Anger, Hatred, And All Ill Will, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From The Spirit Of Fornication, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From Lightning And Tempest, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From The Scourge Of Earthquake, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From Pestilence, Famine, And War, O Lord, Deliver Us.

From Everlasting Death, O Lord, Deliver Us.

Through The Mystery Of Thy Holy Incarnation, O Lord, Deliver Us.

Through Thy Coming, O Lord, Deliver Us.

Through Thy Nativity, O Lord, Deliver Us.

Through Thy Baptism And Holy Fasting, O Lord, Deliver Us.

Through Thy Cross And Passion, O Lord, Deliver Us.

Through Thy Death And Burial, O Lord, Deliver Us.

Through Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord, Deliver Us.

Through Thine Admirable Ascension, O Lord, Deliver Us.

Through The Coming Of The Holy Ghost, The Paraclete, O Lord, Deliver Us.

In The Day Of Judgment, We Sinners Beseech Thee, Hear Us.

That Thou Wouldst Spare Us, We Beseech Thee, Hear Us.

That Thou Wouldst Pardon Us, We Beseech Thee, Hear Us.

That Thou Wouldst Vouchsafe To Bring Us To True Penance, We Beseech Thee Hear Us.

That Thou Wouldst Vouchsafe To Govern And 

Preserve Thy Holy Church.... We Beseech Thee, Hear Us.

That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate and all Ecclesiastical Orders in Holy Religion. We beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of Thy Holy church, we beseech thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst vouch safe to give peace and true concord to christian kings and princes, we beseech thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian people, we beseech thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring back to the unity of the church all those who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the gospel all unbelievers, we beseech thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us Thy holy service, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deliver our souls and those of our brethren, relative, and benefactors from eternal damnation, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst vouchsafe to give eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us, we beseech thee, hear us.

Son of God, we beseech thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.......

Christ, graciously hear us.......

Lord, have mercy on us.......

Christ, have mercy on us.......

Lord, have mercy on us.......

Our Father, etc, (in secret.)

V- and lead us not into temptation.

R- but deliver us from evil.

 YouTube video on Litany of the Saints 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOBfXncaDbY

Psalm 69

Incline unto my aid, O God.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek my soul.

Let them be turned backward and blush for shame that desire evils to me.

Let them be presently turned away blushing for shame that say to me, "Tis well, 'tis well."

Let all that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; and let such as love Thy salvation say always, The Lord be magnified. But I am needy and poor: O God, help me.

Thou art my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, make no delay.

Glory Be To The Father, etc.

V- Save Thy servants.

R- Trusting in Thee, O my God.

V- Be unto us, O Lord, a tower a strength.

R- From the face of the enemy.

V- Let not the enemy prevail against us.

R- Nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt us.

V- O Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

R- Neither reward us according to our iniquities.

V- Let us pray for our chief bishop: (name)

R- The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.

V- Let us pray for our benefactors.

R- Vouchsafe, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good.

V- Let us pray for the faithful departed.

R- Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

V- May they rest in peace.

R- Amen.

V- For our absent brethren.

R- Save Thy servants who hope in Thee, O my God.

V- Send them help, O Lord, from Thy holy place.

R- And from Sion protect them.

V- O Lord, hear my prayer.

R- And let my cry come unto Thee.

LET US PRAY:

O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our petition, that we and all Thy servants who are bound by the chain of sin, may, by the compassion of Thy goodness, mercifully be absolved.

Hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy supplicants, and pardon the sins of those who confess to Thee, that, in Thy bounty, Thou mayest grant us both pardon and peace.

In Thy clemency, O Lord, show Thy unspeakable mercy to us, that so Thou mayest both loose us from all our sins and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them.

O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people, who make supplication to Thee, and turn away the scourges of Thine anger, which we deserve for our sins.

O Almighty and Eternal God, have mercy on Thy servant (N)., our chief bishop, and direct him according to Thy clemency, in the way of everlasting salvation, that, by Thy grace, he may desire the things that are pleasing to Thee, and perform them with all his strength.

O God, from Whom are all holy desires, righteous counsels, and just works, give to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that, our hearts being disposed to keep Thy commandments, and the fear of enemies taken away, the times, by Thy protection, may be peaceful.

Inflame, O Lord, our reins and hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit; that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with a clean heart.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through pious supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.

Direct, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations, and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance; that every prayer and work of ours may always begin from Thee, and through Thee be happily ended.

O almighty and eternal God, Who hast dominion over the living and the dead, and art merciful to all who Thou foreknowest will be Thine by faith and good works: we humbly beseech Thee that they for whom we have purposed to offer our prayers, whether this present world still detains them in the flesh or the next world hath already received them divested of their bodies, may, by the intercession of Thy saints and the clemency of Thy goodness, obtain pardon and full remission of all their sins. 

Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R- Amen.

V- O Lord, hear my prayer.

R- And let my cry come unto Thee.

V- May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us.

R- Amen.

V- And my the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R- Amen.

Purgatory Insights to Believe and Urgent Plea to Pray for Them!

Purgatory and the Paranormal

I work at a funeral home as a secretary. It is so sad to see the number of people that just sign the papers and say look after the cremation.  There is no goodbye, no service – nothing.  Their reply is ‘they didn’t want anything’.  

Even deceased persons who were Catholic, are not given the Sacrament of the Sick while they lay dying or even a Catholic Mass after they died as their family does not believe in that.  

How many countless souls are there abandoned by their families and friends with indifference, ignorance or unbelief in God!! 

All Soul’s Day A day to remember the Holy Soul's in Purgatory that are going through purification.    Pray for your loved ones, but don’t forget the ones who have no one to pray for them.  

And don’t just pray on the Feast of All Souls – but every day! 

One day we will undoubtfully find ourselves there!

I am currently reading a book on Purgatory called "Hungry Souls: Supernatural Visits, Messages and Warnings from Purgatory by Gerard J. M. Van Den Aardweg, a modern day writing that gleans information from the ages, from writings of the saints as well as quotes from St. Pope John Paul II, and others. I am finding it quite insightful and worth looking into for yourselves to find out more.

The opening lines from Hungry Souls came home to the point of purgatory and the misinformation that is given in some religions as to what happens after death.  Sin seems to be a dirty word nowadays.  To mention sin is to live olden times… that’s ‘old school’ we are told, we don’t believe that anymore... and so on.

Well, I hate to break their fantasy bubble, but PURGATORY IS REAL AND SO IS HELL!

                         

The following are a few quotes from the book (and other information I have come across) that I found interesting, enlightening and helpful.  I hope that you will find that as well.                                                                              --R.M., Blogger             

Maccabees Martyrs

"The teaching of Purgatory goes back through the centuries and even has roots in the Jewish religion.  It is apparent from the second book of Maccabees, that the Jewish people believed in a purification after death which usually lasted a maximum of 12 months.  The fire of purification and that of hell are the same the "Gehinnom" and is often described as burning in a fire.  The sons of the departed were to recite the "kaddish" for their deceased parents for one year; this prayer is thought "to help raise the soul to its ultimate destination in God's presence."

“For those who (at death) find themselves in a condition of being open to God, but still imperfectly, the journey towards full beatitude requires a purification, which the faith of the Church illustrates in the doctrine of purgatory.”  



St. Pope John Paul II

This is how St. Pope John Paul II explains why Purgatory is necessary, for, he continues, we are called “to be perfect like the heavenly Father during our earthly life… sound and flawless before God the Father ‘at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.’ (Thrss 3:12).”

"Purification means atonement for sins and their effects on the soul.  It is not a painless, automatic process of “growing” the soul, of attaining full “self-realization” through the acquisition of ever more insight after death, as is the soothing theory of some spiritualists.  

It is not an accumulation of learning, through a series of “reincarnations”, until some point of perfect wisdom is reached, as in the fantasy of some Western New Age disciples.  Such are childish attempts to suppress man’s deep awareness that the basic dimension determining his destiny in the new world is not knowledge or experience but moral purity: sin, and the traces it leaves on the soul, versus holiness.

In our culture today, of the three destinations that traditional Christian doctrine teaches may follow death and judgment—Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory—only belief in Heaven or some such happy state has widely survived.  

The prevailing cheap optimism hold that (if there is anything at all across the threshold of death) the life of practically everybody automatically ends up in a state of bliss.  

De-christianed  and inwardly impoverished Western man may acknowledge having his imperfections and shortcomings but doesn’t look upon himself as sinful.  To him, atonement for or purification from sin is a “medieval” idea.

…the truth is that man has to be “sound and flawless before God the Father” when, after death, he appears before Him to render an account of his life.  Only holy souls have direct access to the blissful abode where “nothing unclean shall enter.”  Therefore, “every trace of attachment to evil must be eliminated, every imperfection of the soul corrected.”  The place for this correction of the soul’s imperfections is Purgatory.”

….St. John Paul teaches us that penance and pain in Purgatory are mitigated by the comfort of mercy.  In the final analysis, Purgatory is the mercy of Christ working through his Mystical Body, the Church.” 

St. Catherine of Genoa

“... As far as I can see, the souls in purgatory can have no choice but to be there; this God has most justly ordained by his divine decree.  They cannot turn towards themselves and say: I have committed such and such sins for which I deserve to remain here; nor can they say: Would that I had refrained from them, for then I should at this moment be in paradise; nor again: This soul will be released before me; or I shall be released before her.  They retain no memory of either good or evil respecting themselves or others which would increase their pain.  They are so contented with the divine dispositions in their regard; and with doing all that is pleasing to God in that way which he chooses, that they cannot think of themselves, though they may strive to do so, says St. Catherine of Genoa.  They see nothing but the operation of the divine goodness which is so manifestly bringing them to God that they can reflect neither on their own profit nor on their hurt.  Could they do so, they would not be in pure charity.  They see not that they suffer their pains in consequence of their sins, nor can they for a moment entertain that thought, for should they do so it would be an active imperfection, and that cannot exist in a state where there is no longer the possibility of sin.  At the moment of leaving this life they see why they are sent to purgatory, but never again, otherwise they would still retain something private, which has no place there.  Being established in charity, they can never deviate therefrom by any defect, and have no will or desire, save the pure will of pure love, and can swerve from it in nothing.  They can neither commit sin, nor merit by refraining from it.”
Excerpt above taken from: A Treatise on Purgatory by St. Catherine of Genoa

“...It is furthermore remarkable that the reports of apparitions o souls from Purgatory are highly consistent in the course of the centuries and vary but little from one historical period to another. Purgatory has always been represented as a fierce fire, a burning away of all stains of the soul, regardless of the century or cultural period the apparition took place.  And there is always proof of a twofold suffering: namely the “pain of loss”, which is the soul’s painful longing for God, and the “pain of sense”, which is felt as if the bodily senses were still intact.

St. Faustina

St. Faustina writes in 1926, “I saw my Guardian Angel, who ordered me to follow him.  In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls.  They were praying fervently, but without effect for themselves; only we can come to their aid.  The flames which were burning them did not touch me at all.  I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was.  They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God…. (I heard an interior voice) which said, My mercy does not want this, but justice demands it.  Since that time, I am in closer communion with the suffering souls.”

St. Ambrose said that the souls in purgatory pray for the living so that they may recognize their sins.  Apparently, their suffering makes them most keenly aware that holiness is by far the most important boon to implore for the ones they love—it means less suffering in Purgatory and a quicker path to eternal bliss.

Other communications in the past from souls in purgatory say they also pray for temporal needs of the living: for their beloved, their family and benefactors.

St. Bridgett of Sweden

St. Bridgett of Sweden (1303-1373), however, heard from the suffering nevertheless indirectly supplicating Christ’s Mercy for themselves, asking Him to incite the faithful on earth to come to their aid: “We implore Thee for the sake of Thy infinite mercy to turn away Thine eyes from our innumerable sins… Imbue with Thy love the religious, the priests and the faithful, so that they may hasten to our relief by their prayers, sacrifices, alms deeds and indulgences.  They an aid us if they wish; they can hasten our union with Thee O God!”

The Council of Trent (1545 and 1563)   dogmatized what had been believed by the faithful all along.  That although the guilt of a penitent sinner may have been forgiven, that does not mean that automatically all his “debt of temporal punishment” is discharged.  In short, he may have to do penance in order to be purified, whether in this life or in the next: in Purgatory.

The Council also dogmatized that the souls in Purgatory “are helped by the suffrages of the faithful, but particularly by the Sacrifice of the Altar.”

St. Catherine of Genoa’s explanation  of the tormenting flames of Purgatory:  “The greatest suffering of the souls in purgatory, it seems to me, is the awareness that something in them displeases God, that they have deliberately gone against His great goodness… I can also see… that the divine essence is so pure and light-filled—must more than we can imagaine—that the soul that has but the slightest imperfection would rather throw itself into a thousand hells than appear thus before the divine presence.”  Hence “the soul… aware that the impediment it faces cannot be removed in any other way, hurls itself into purgatory… That is why the soul seeks to cast off any and all impediments so that it can be lifted up to God.”

“A fire like that of hell”: in the opinion of St. Thomas, the proper fires of Purgatory and Hell are one and the same –

St. Catherine explains that the difference between hell and purgatory is that the souls in Purgatory will themselves to suffer, the certainty that God has been most merciful to them in the light of what they deserved… that (they) accept the ordinance of God and would not think of doing otherwise.  As well as a certain joy that is never wanting and that, indeed, increases as they come closer to God....

Purgatory

“...Poor souls told Ruth (one of many who have been visited by the Souls of Purgatory) that they are often present around their living family members and beloved without getting their help, sometimes for years.  She transmits their complaints, 
“You in the world have no inkling of what we have to suffer!  Being abandoned and forgotten by those who have been nearest to us in the world: that is most bitter.  Sometimes they stand at the tombs of our decayed bodies and don’t pray for us at all.  They are as if we don’t exist anymore.  God’s justice commands us to be silent.  But we stand at the door of their houses, of our former dwellings, and wait.  We stand there and wait.  Days, years.  We wait for them to give us a small sign of their love by prayer and sacrifices.  But we stay there in vain.  We cry in vain for love.  For help!  Tell them through the priest:  Love should not die at death.  We are still alive and we are hungry for love!!  For your love!”

How can we help the Holy Souls?  Since early Christianity there has been unanimity that offering the Sacrifice of the Altar to the holy Trinity is the most beneficial suffrage for the poor souls… St. Thomas held that only by holy Mass could a soul be definitively delivered from Purgatory.  

Poor souls indeed very often ask for holy Masses; but an expiatory act of high value is also the offering up of holy Communions, even of so-called spiritual Communions.  Furthermore, prayers, alms, all acts of charity and all and every ordinary daily work; all mortifications and sacrifices that are offered to God for the relief or release of the suffering souls…"

Excerpts from Hungry Souls: Supernatural Visits, Messages and Warnings from Purgatory. 

HOW CAN WE HELP??? 

Devotion to the Poor Souls by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

"It must seem strange to speak of devotion to the Poor Souls. But it is not really strange. Devotion to the Poor Souls has two sides: our side and the side of the souls in purgatory.

On their side, the Poor Souls are united with us in the one Kingdom of Christ. They can pray and obtain blessings for us here on earth. They are united, as the Second Vatican Council teaches, with the pilgrim Church in the Communion of Saints. 

We are therefore encouraged to invoke their aid, with a confidence of being heard by those who understand our needs. They know from their own experience what it means to carry the cross here on earth.

On our side we are to do everything we can to help the Poor Souls in the Church Suffering. The sufferings in purgatory are not the same for all. They depend on each person's degree of sinfulness. 

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas held that -

the least pain in purgatory 

is greater than 

the worst pain 

in this life....

...What does it mean to pray for the Poor Souls? It means everything that we can offer for the faithful departed

.

• We can offer our bodily pains in expiation for their sins.

• We can offer our spiritual sufferings, our disappointments and fears, our discouragement and estrangement from those we love.

• We can offer our vocal prayers, like the Rosary, the Memorare, the Angelus, the recitation of the Divine Office.

• We can offer our mental prayers, like the Way of the Cross, our daily meditation and examination of conscience.

• We can offer our mortifications, like giving up some delicacy at table, or performance of some unpleasant work.

But the most effective offering

 we can make for the Poor Souls 

is the Holy Eucharist 

at the Sacrifice of the Mass, 

Holy Communion and 

adoration of the Blessed Sacrament....

Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. recommends that during the month of November, we make a list of all the deceased persons whom we wish to specially remember in our Masses, prayers and sacrifices for the repose of their souls. 

Add to this list as those enter eternity whom you wish to specially commend to the mercy of God. This, by the way, is called a Necrology. Every Catholic diocese in the world has a Necrology of its deceased priests. Every family should have its own Necrology of deceased members whom we daily remember to our merciful Lord.

Every time you say the grace after meals, be sure to add the invocation, "May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen." In every Rosary you recite, do not forget to say after each decade, " O, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and bring all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy mercy."

Remember that devotion

 to the Poor Souls

 is really a covenant 

between them and us. 

We pray and sacrifice for them, 

They can pray and suffer for us. 

They appreciate whatever help 

we give them, to lessen their suffering

 and to shorten their stay in Purgatory. 

They will continue to show their appreciation 

when we join them in a heavenly eternity."

http://www.therealpresence.org/chapel/poorsoul.htm

The Museum of Purgatory 

(Museo del Purgatorio)

Little Museum of Purgatory in the Sacred Heart of Suffrage Church, Rome

Do we have any signs to prove that Purgatory exist????

There is a place for which proof or evidence of supernatural origin of the reality of Purgatory are found in the “Little Museum of Purgatory” in Rome.  “They bear the signature of souls who have appeared from Purgatory to ask for mercy, revealing something about themselves and their condition of suffering and doing penance.” 

Documented paranormal evidence to be found in relation to contacts with the dead.  The authenticity of the apparition stories linked to each of the specimens in the museum has been verified by critical priests, theologians, and trustworthy         witnesses.   There are many other examples as well that are not in the museum in which I will give some examples later on...

In Rome at the church named the Sacred Heart of Suffrage there is to be found ten specimens or relics, exhibited behind glass each left behind by their owners who were suffering the fires of Purgatory.  Father Jouet built a chapel in the same site of the present church and founded the Archconfraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Aid to the Holy Souls.

Face burned into wood (top left)

In November 1897, the altar in the chapel caught fire.  Many people who were present thought they discerned through the flames the face of an anguished person. (pic)  One can see the distorted features of this face on the wall, which was conserved when the chapel was demolished and the present church completed in 1917.  It was the museum’s first “exhibit”.

Display of Objects from Museum of Purgatory in Rome

Father Jouet began to collect testimonies, documents, and objects that could help to incite devotion to the poor souls.  The pieces that are presently in this little museum span over two centuries.  The oldest belongs to an apparition from 1696, the most recent from 1919.  

There has been more documented cases of apparitions of souls from Purgatory in recent times, but they have not so far been added to the collection in the museum.  The specimens shown are from western European countries; Germany, Belgium France, Austria, and Italy.  Pope Pius X and Pope Benedict XV supported and patronized the work of the arch-confraternity founded by Father Jouet as well as the building of the church of the Sacred Heart of Suffrage.

Items showing burn marks from hands of souls in Purgatory

The ‘specimens’ are actual burn marks left on prayer books and other objects of hand prints and even a face.  Of course there are many skeptics that say they are frauds but many conscientious priests and other investigators looked for the truth concerning them.  As well there are well-documented and witnessed evidence by reliable people of the time that these were indeed real cases and real signs of Purgatory...

Excerpts from Hungry Souls: Supernatural Visits, Messages and Warnings from Purgatory.