ffraprB (Hiilf Jfatoena) praa Ym it*-» v»+* New York THE PAULIST PRESS 401 West 59th Street Prayers for the Dead (With Novena) From APPROVED SOURCES New York THE PAULIST PRESS 401 West 59th Street Nihil Obstat Arthur J. Scanlan, S.T.D., Censor Librorum . Imprimatur : Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop of New York. New York , August 19, 1932. Picture on cover is reproduced with the permission of the copyright owners, N. G. Basevi, Inc., New York. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED IN THE U. S. A. BY THE PAULIST PRESS, NEW YORK, N. Y. Copyright, 1940, by The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle in the State of New York. FOREWORD The doctrine of Purgatory gives to Cath- olics comfort and joy. They feel the black gulf of death is bridged across and they are still knit together to those near and dear to them in the bonds of love and sympathy. The sting of death and the sharpness of its sorrow is mitigated by the thought they are still bound to these departed by the golden chain of prayer. Death is thus robbed of much of its terror and the separation of friends becomes endurable. With this beautiful belief the Catholic stand- ing at the open grave is no longer mute and puzzled but finds vent for his grief in earnest petitions to God on behalf of his loved ones. Funeral services are no longer an empty pag- eant with lengthy eulogies designed to glorify the departed and sympathize with the living. These and other pious devotions become clothed with deep and real significance and are used as a practical means of assisting the souls of the dead to arrive at their heavenly home. There are none of us who expect to be lost. We know and feel the greatness of the risk we are running but to expect to be lost would be the sin of despair. Hell is only practical to us as a motive of greater diligence, greater strict- ness, greater circumspectness, greater fear. But it is not so with Purgatory. All of us 3 4 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD expect or think ourselves sure, to go there. If we do not think much of the matter at all, then we may have some vague notion of go- ing straight to heaven as soon as we are judged. But if we seriously reflect upon it, upon our own lives, upon God’s sanctity, upon what we read in books of devotion and the lives of the Saints, it is hard to conceive any one of us expecting to escape Purgatory, and not rather feeling that it must be almost a stretch of the divine mercy which will get us even there. It would more likely be vain pre- sumption than heroic hope, if we thought otherwise. Now, if we really expect that our road to heaven will be through the punish- ments of Purgatory, for surely its purification is penal, it very much concerns us to know the teaching of the Church on this doctrine. The Council of Trent tells us “That there is a Purgatory and that the souls there detained are assisted by the suffrages of the faithful, but especially by the most acceptable sacrifice of the altar.” The Council of Florence defined “If men have died penitent in the love of God, and be- fore they have made satisfaction by fruits worthy of penance for sins of omission and of commission, their souls are purified after death by the pains of Purgatory and to the relief of these pains avail alms and other offices of piety.” It will be noticed how guarded and exact PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 5 is the Church’s doctrine on the subject. All we are compelled to believe as part of the faith is: 1. There is a Purgatory. 2. Souls suffer there after death for their sins. 3. We can help relieve them. To these simple dogmatic statements there are other points of belief held in general con- cerning the purgatorial state though not de- fined as articles of faith. It is certain the holy souls are saved. There is no possibility of them ever losing the state of grace for they cannot sin in the least degree nor is there a source or cause of sin present to them. As to the punishment the holy souls un- dergo it is certain they suffer the pain of loss, i. e. y are debarred for a time through their own fault from enjoying the vision of God in heaven. This suffering is undoubtedly keener than any other. It is the common teaching that the holy souls undergo some pain of sense, some positive suffering through the ap- plication of fire, and it is most generally be- lieved that it is a real material fire, though such has never been defined as a dogma of faith. We do not know where Purgatory is, neither can any man tell the length of time during which a soul may be detained there. The only way the holy souls can discharge their debt, i. e.y satisfy for the punishment due to 6 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD their sins on earth, is through suffering on their own part or by being assisted by the prayers and good works of the faithful on earth, by indulgences gained and applied to them and above all by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass . The souls can merit nor satisfy no more; the time for that ended with death. They can do nothing to help themselves and so they look to us to assist them in discharging their debt to the last farthing. Devotion for the dead does not rest in words and feelings, nor does it merely lead to action indirectly and at last. It is action it- self, and thus it is a substantial devotion. It speaks and a deed is done, it loves and a pain is lessened, it sacrifices and a soul is delivered. Nothing can be more solid. The royal devotion of the Church is the Works of Mercy and see how they are all satisfied in this devotion for the dead. It feeds the hungry souls with Jesus, the Bread of Angels. It gives them to drink, in their in- comparable thirst, His precious Blood. It clothes the naked with a robe of glory. It visits the sick with mighty powers to heal, and at the least consoles them by the visit. It frees the captive with a heavenly and eternal freedom, from a bondage dreader by far than death. It takes in the strangers and heaven is the hospice into which it receives them. It buries the dead in the Bosom of Jesus, in everlasting rest. PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 7 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD (JVith Novena) NOVENA FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY By St. Alphonsus de Liguori Let us commend to Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother the souls in Purgatory, in par- ticular those of our relatives, benefactors, friends and enemies ; especially those for whom we are bound to pray; and let us offer the following considerations and prayers for them, pondering over the great sufferings which these spouses of Christ endure. First Day Manifold are the sufferings which those blessed souls must endure, but the greatest of all is the reflection that their sins in life are the cause of their present torments. Prayer 0 Jesus, my Saviour, I have so often de- served to be cast into hell; how great were my suffering if I were now cast away and obliged to think that I myself, had caused my damnation. I thank Thee for the patience with which Thou hast endured me. My God, 8 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD I love Thee above all things and I am heartily sorry for having offended' Thee because Thou art infinite goodness. I will rather die than offend Thee again. Grant me the grace of perseverance; have pity on me, and at the same time on those blessed souls suffering in Purgatory. Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession. Our Father , Hail Mary. Prayer to Our Suffering Saviour for the Souls in Purgatory (To Be Said Every Day During the Novena) V . 0 most sweet Jesus, through that sweat of blood which Thou didst suffer in the Gar- den of Gethsemane, have mercy on these holy souls. R. Have mercy on them, 0 Lord, have mercy on them. V. 0 most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Scourging, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, 0 Lord, have mercy on them. V. 0 most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful Crowning with Thorns, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, 0 Lord, have mercy on them. PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 9 V. 0 most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy Cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them. V. 0 most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, 0 Lord, have mercy on them. V. 0 most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter Agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them. V. 0 most sweet Jesus, through the im- mense pain which Thou didst suffer in breath- ing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, 0 Lord, have mercy on them. (Here recommend yourself to the souls in Purgatory and mention the favor you wish to obtain by this Novena.) Blessed Souls, we have prayed for you; we entreat you, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for us miserable sinners, who are in danger of being damned and of losing God forever. Amen. 10 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD Second Day The second pain which causes these holy souls much suffering, is the time lost in life, when they might have gained merits for heaven; and the thought that they are unable to repair this loss, because the time of life and merit is passed. Prayer Woe to me, unhappy being, so many years have I already spent on earth and have earned naught but hell! I give Thee thanks, O Lord, for granting me time even now to atone for my sins. My good God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. Send me Thy as- sistance, that I may apply the time yet re- maining to me for Thy love and service; have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. 0 Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession. Our Father , Hail Mary ... 0 most sweet Jesus, etc. Third Day Another great pain of the holy souls is caused by the hideous vision of their guilt, for which they now suffer. In this life the hide- ousness of sin is not seen as in the life to come; and this is one of the greatest suffer- ings of Purgatory. PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 11 Prayer 0 my God! because Thou art infinite good- ness, I love Thee above all things, and repent with my whole heart of my offenses against Thee. Grant me the grace of holy persever- ance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. And thou, Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful in- tercession. Our Father , Hail Mary ... 0 most sweet Jesus, etc. Fourth Day The pain that still more afflicts these holy souls, the spouses of Jesus, is the thought of having, during life, displeased by their sins that God Whom they so ardently love. Some penitents have felt so much pain and sorrow in thinking of having, by their sins, offended so good a God, that they died of grief. The souls in Purgatory understand far better than we do, the claims that God has to our love; they love Him with all their strength. Hence, at the thought of having offended Him during life, they experience pain that surpasses all other pain. Prayer 0 my God! because Thou art infinite good- ness, I am sorry with my whole heart for 12 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD having offended Thee. I promise to die rather than ever offend Thee more. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity on those holy souls that burn in the cleansing fire and love Thee with all their hearts. 0 Mary, Mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers. Our Father, Hail Mary ... 0 most sweet Jesus, etc. Fifth Day Another great suffering is caused these holy souls by the ignorance of the time of their de- liverance. They are certain of being one day released, yet the uncertainty of the time when their purgatorial term will have ended , gives them great pain. Prayer Woe to me, unhappy being, if Thou, 0 Lord, hadst cast me into hell; for from that dungeon of eternal pain there is no deliver- ance. I love Thee above all things, 0 infinite God and I am sincerely sorry for having of- fended Thee again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffer- ing in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful in- tercession. Our Father, Hail Mary ... 0 most sweet Jesus, etc. PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 13 Sixth Day The holy souls are, indeed, comforted by the recollection of the passion of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, since they know they are saved by the passion of Jesus Christ, and have received, and still re- ceive, so much consolation from Holy Masses and Holy Communions. Nevertheless, they are greatly pained by the recollection of their ingratitude for these two great gifts of the love of Jesus Christ. Prayer O my Divine Redeemer, Thou didst die for me on the Cross, and hast so often united Thyself with me in Holy Communion, and I have repaid Thee only with ingratitude. Now, however, I love Thee above all things, 0 su- preme God; and I am more grieved at my offenses against Thee than at any other evil. I will rather die than offend Thee again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. Mary, Mother of God, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession. Our Father, Hail Mary ... 0 most sweet Jesus, etc. 14 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD Seventh Day A further great sorrow of these holy souls consists in their ardent desire for the beatific vision. Slowly and painfully the moments of their purgatorial imprisonment pass by; for, they love God deeply, and desire to be de- livered from their sad prison in order to praise Him forever. Prayer 0 God, Father of Mercy, satisfy this their ardent desire! Send them Thy holy Angel to announce to them that Thou, their Father, art now reconciled with them through the suf- fering and death of Jesus, and that the mo- ment of their deliverance has arrived. Our Father , Hail Mary ... 0 most sweet Jesus , etc. Eighth Day Another bitter sorrow of these souls is caused by the reflection that God had dis- tinguished them by so many graces not granted to others, and that they compelled Him, by their sins, to condemn them to these sufferings, and that they had deserved hell, and were pardoned and saved only by the mercy of God. Prayer 0 my God! I also am one of these un- grateful beings, having received so much grace, and yet despised Thy love and deserved to be cast by Thee into hell. But Thy infinite good- PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 15 ness has spared me until now. Therefore, I now love Thee above all things, and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I will rather die than ever again offend Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. Mary, Mother of God, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession. Our Father , Hail Mary ... 0 most sweet Jesus , etc. Ninth Day Great are all the sufferings of the holy souls ; the fire, the grief, the darkness, the uncer- tainty of the time of their deliverance from prison; but the greatest of all these sorrows is this, that these holy souls are separated from their divine Spouse, and deprived of His beatific vision. Prayer 0 my God! how was it possible that I, for so many years, have borne tranquilly the separation from Thee and Thy holy grace! 0 infinite Goodness, how long-suffering hast Thou shown Thyself to me! Henceforth, I shall love Thee above all things. I am deeply sorry for having offended Thee; I promise rather to die than to again offend Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance, and do not permit that I should ever again fall into sin. 16 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD Have compassion on the holy souls suffer- ing in Purgatory. I pray Thee, moderate their sufferings; shorten the time of their misery; call them soon unto Thee in heaven, that they may behold Thee face to face, and forever love Thee. Mary, Mother of Mercy, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession, and pray for us also who are still in danger of eternal dam- nation. Our Father , Hail Mary ... 0 most sweet Jesus * GENERAL PRAYERS A Prayer for the Souls Suffering in Purgatory 0 God of all consolation, sole author of the salvation of souls! have mercy on those who suffer in Purgatory. Look with compassion on the greatness of their torments; they are more keenly devoured by their ardent desire of being united to Thee, than by the purging flames wherein they are plunged. With them, I adore Thy avenging justice, and confess the equity of Thy judgments. But since Thou art pleased favorably to hear the prayers which the members of Thy holy Church offer to Thee in behalf of their brethren, graciously * Novena prayers reprinted by permission from the Manual of the Purgatorian Society. PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 17 hear the supplications which I now address to Thee for those suffering souls. Remember, 0 Lord! Thou art their Father, and they are Thy children. Forget the faults, which through the frailty of human nature, they have com- mitted against Thee, during the course of their mortal pilgrimage. Adorable Jesus! vic- tim of propitiation both for the living and the dead! vouchsafe, in Thy quality of Re- deemer, to apply the merits of Thy passion and death to the relief of those souls, whom Thou punishest as their sovereign judge. Re- member Thy faithful followers and Thy Spouses. Let some drops of that Precious Blood, which Thou first shed for their salva- tion, flow on those devouring flames; and let the infinite price of that Sacred Blood afford a full satisfaction for their offenses. Deliver them, 0 most merciful God ! from that place of darkness and torture, and call them to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Grant them the possession of the sovereign good, after which they so ardently sigh, and for which Thou hast created them. Receive them into Thy paternal bosom, where they will praise and love Thee, to all eternity. Amen. A Brief Daily Exercise in Aid of the Souls in Purgatory For Sunday : 0 Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy divine 18 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD Son Jesus shed in the garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and specially amongst them all, that soul which is the most destitute of aid, and bring it to Thy glory, there to praise and bless Thee forever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary. De Profundis Out of the depths, I have cried to Thee, 0 Lord, Lord hear my voice. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If Thou, 0 Lord, shalt mark our iniquities; 0 Lord who shall stand it? For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness; and by reason of Thy law I have waited for Thee, 0 Lord. My soul hath relied on His word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch even unto night, let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy; and with Him plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Eternal rest grant unto them, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them; may they rest in peace. Amen. For Monday: O Lord God Almighty. T pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 19 deliver the souls in Purgatory, and amongst them all, that soul specially which is nearest to its entrance into Thy glory, that so it soon may begin to praise and bless Thee forever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis. For Tuesday: 0 Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and in particular amongst them all, deliver that one which would be the last to issue out of those pains; that it tarry not so long a time before it come to praise Thee in Thy glory and bless Thee forever and ever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis. For Wednesday: 0 Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed through the streets of Jerusalem when He carried the Cross upon His sacred shoulders, deliver the souls in Pur- gatory, and specially that soul which is richest in merits before Thee; and so, in that throne of glory which awaits it, it may magnify Thee and bless Thee forever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis. For Thursday : 0 Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee by the precious Body and Blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus, which He gave with His own hand upon the eve of His passion to 20 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD His beloved apostles to be their meat and drink, and which He left to His whole Church to be a perpetual sacrifice and life-giving food of His own faithful people, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and specially that one which was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love; that with the same Thy Divine Son and with Thy Holy Spirit, it may ever praise Thee for this Thy wondrous love in Thy eternal glory. Amen. Our Father , Hail Mary, De Profundis. For Friday: 0 Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son shed on this day upon the wood of the Cross from His most sacred Hands and Feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and specially that soul for which I am most bound to pray; that the blame rest not with me that Thou bringest it not forthwith to praise Thee and Thy glory, and to bless Thee forever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis. For Saturday: 0 Lord God Almighty, I be- seech Thee by the Precious Blood which burst forth from the Side of Thy Divine Son Jesus, in the sight of, and to the extreme pain of His Most Holy Mother, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and specially that one amongst them all which was ever the most devout to this great Lady; that it may soon attain unto PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 21 Thy glory, there to praise Thee in her and her in Thee, world without end. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis. One hundred days’ Indulgence to all who say once a day the Prayers in the exercise for each day in the week. These indulgences ap- plicable to the souls in Purgatory. . . . Pope Leo XII, November 18, 1826. FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED 0 most compassionate Jesus! have mercy on the souls detained in Purgatory for whose redemption Thou didst take upon Thee our nature and endure a bitter death. Mercifully hear their groanings; look with pity on the tears which they now shed before Thee, and by the virtue of Thy Passion release them from the pains due unto their sins. 0 most pitiful Jesus, let Thy Precious Blood flow down into Purgatory, and refresh and revive the captive souls suffering there. Stretch out unto them Thy strong right hand, and bring them forth into the place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen. Efficacious Prayers Have mercy, 0 gentle Jesus! on the souls detained in Purgatory. Thou Who for their ransom didst take upon Thyself our human nature and suffer the most cruel death, pity 22 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD their sighs and the tears they shed when they raise their longing eyes toward Thee; and by virtue of Thy Passion cancel the penalty due to their sins. May Thy Blood, 0 tender Jesus, Thy Precious Blood, descend into Pur- gatory to solace and refresh those who there languish in captivity! Reach forth Thy hand to them, and lead them into the realms of refreshment, light and peace. Amen. My God, Thou hast taken from me those very dear to me in this world. Vouchsafe Thyself to supply the place of all in my re- gard and to replace them in my heart; they deserved my attachment; I was devoted to them, and I hoped to enjoy their love and assistance much longer. Thou hast disposed otherwise. May Thy Holy Will be accom- plished! The great consolation which I have in their loss, is the hope that Thou hast re- ceived them into the bosom of Thy mercy, and that Thou wilt vouchsafe one day to unite me to them. If a deficiency of satisfac- tion for their sins detain them in suffering, I offer Thee for their intention all my prayers and good works, and above all my resignation in the loss which I have experienced; render this resignation complete and worthy of Thee. Amen. PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 23 SPECIAL PRAYERS* For Father or Mother 0 God, Who hast commanded us to honor our father (or mother ), in Thy loving kind- ness have mercy on the soul of my father , and forgive him his sins, and grant that I may see him face to face amid the joys of life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. For Others Do Thou, 0 Lord, we beseech Thee, deliver the soul of Thy servant N from every bond of sin, that rising from the grave in the glory of the resurrection, he (or she) may find repose in the company of Thy saints and Thy elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 0 God, Who by Thy very nature dost al- ways show mercy and forgive; we humbly entreat Thee for the soul of Thy servant N whom Thou hast (this day) summoned from the world; deliver him (or her) not into the hands of the enemy, nor forget him forever; but command Thy holy Angels to receive him and take him to heaven his true home; that, having put his faith and trust in Thee, he may not suffer the pains of hell, but enjoy a place in paradise. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. These prayers are taken from the Missal. 24 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy servants, men and women, who are gone before us with the sign of faith, and sleep the sleep of peace. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, we beseech Thee grant a place of re- freshment, light and peace. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 0 God, by Whose mercy the souls of the faithful are at rest, we entreat Thee for N , Thy servant, and for all who here and everywhere have fallen asleep in Christ, grant them the forgiveness of their sins, so that cleansed of every stain they may rejoice with Thee forevermore. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. For Deceased Brethren, Friends and Benefactors 0 God, Whose mercies are without number, in Thy loving kindness give ear to the prayers of our lowliness, and in virtue of these sacra- ments which were appointed for the salva- tion of us all, grant the forgiveness of all their sins to the souls of our brethren, friends and benefactors, on whom Thou didst bestow the grace to confess Thy holy name. O Almighty and Merciful God, grant, we beseech Thee, by virtue of this sacrament, to the souls of our brethren, friends and bene- factors, in behalf of whom we have now offered to Thy divine majesty the sacrifice of PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 25 praise, the pardon of all their sins and the happiness of being, through Thy* mercy ad- mitted to look upon Thee Who art light ever- lasting. For a Woman Deceased We beseech Thee, O Lord, in Thy mercy, to have pity upon the soul of Thine hand- maiden; do Thou, Who hast freed her from the perils of this mortal life, vouchsafe to number her forever among the saved. May the soul of Thine handmaiden, 0 Lord, we beseech Thee, have her lot and part in light everlasting; for to her Thou didst vouch- safe in this world to share in the mysteries of Thine everlasting mercy. For Deceased Bishops and Priests Receive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, for the souls of departed Bishops and Priests, Thy servants, the sacrifice we offer; in this world Thou didst raise them to pontifical and sacer- dotal rank, bid them now to enter into the company of Thy saints. May, O Lord, the abundance of Thy mer- cies to which we have made appeal, avail Thy servants departed who were Bishops and Priests. In Thee they hoped, in Thee they be- lieved; may they, in Thy mercy, be united to Thee forevermore. 26 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD For a Man Other Than a Priest Deceased Listen, 0 Lord, to the prayers we humbly put to Thy mercy, beseeching Thee to vouch- safe to appoint to the soul of Thy servant, called by Thee out of this world, a place of light and peace, and to bid him enter into fellowship with Thy saints. Be gracious to us, 0 Lord, and grant that this offering up of the sacrifice, by which Thou didst wash away the sins of the whole world, may be of avail to the soul of Thy servant. Deliver, 0 Lord, the soul of Thy servant from every bond of sin, so that in the glory of the resurrection, he may rise to new life with Thy saints and Thine elect. INDULGENCED PRAYERS (Applicable to the Holy Souls) By a decree of the Congregation of Indul- gences of March 9 , 1904, His Holiness Pope Pius X has granted a plenary indulgence at the moment of death to all the faithful who , on any day they may choose, will receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion and make the following act of the love of God: “My Lord God, even now resignedly and willingly I accept at Thy hand with all its PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 27 anxieties, pains and sufferings, whatever kind of death it shall please Thee to be mine.” 1. My loving Jesus, I, N. , give Thee my heart, and I consecrate myself wholly to Thee out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and as a reparation for all my unfaithfulness; and with Thy aid, I purpose never to sin again. (One hundred days ’ indulgence , once a day, for all who recite the above prayer devoutly and with a contrite heart before a picture of the Sacred Heart. Plenary Indulgence, once a month, for those who have thus recited it daily for a month, on a day at choice, on the usual conditions.) 2. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine. (Five hundred days’ indulgence.) 3. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere. ( Three hundred days’ indul- gence.) 4. May the Heart of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every mo- ment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. ( Three hundred days’ indulgence.) 5. Jesus, my God, I love Thee above all things. (Three hundred days’ indulgence each time.) 28 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 6. My Jesus, mercy. ( Three hundred days’ indulgence.) 7. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Pre- cious Blood of Jesus Christ in satisfaction for my sins, for the relief of the holy souls in Purgatory, and for the wants of the Holy Church. (Five hundred days’ indulgence.) 8. Sweet Heart of Jesus, I implore that I may ever love Thee more and more. ( Three hundred days’ indulgence each time. Plenary Indulgence , once a month , on a day at choice, and on the usual conditions, to all who daily recite it.) 9. Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us. ( Three hundred days’ indulgence.) 10. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. (Three hundred days’ indul- gence.) 11. 0 Mary, who didst come into this world free from stain, obtain of God for me that I may leave it without sin. ( Three hundred days’ indulgence.) 12. St. Joseph, foster father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and true Spouse of Mary ever Virgin, pray for us. ( Three hundred days’ indulgence.) 13. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary and PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 29 Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. (Seven years for each invocation.) 14. Almighty and eternal God, give us an increase of faith, hope and charity, and make us love what You command that we may de- serve what You promise. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Five years’ indulgence.) 15. 0 most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pour down Thy blessings upon Thy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; give perseverance to the just, convert sin- ners, enlighten unbelievers, bless our parents, friends and benefactors, help the dying, free the souls in Purgatory, and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen (Five hundred days’ indulgence.) 16. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (One hundred days’ indulgence every time for making the sign of the Cross, using the above words. Three hundred days if made with holy water.) 17. 0 Jesus our Saviour give us Your bless- ing, save us from eternal death, help Holy Church, give peace to all nations and re- lease the souls suffering in Purgatory. (Five hundred days’ indulgence.) 18. 0 Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (Three hundred days’ indulgence.) 30 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 19. Eternal rest give unto them, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. (Three hundred days’ indulgence.) ROSARY OR CHAPLET OF THE DEAD The chaplet consists of four decades , that is forty beads in honor of the forty hours our Lord remained in Limbo , to deliver and con- duct to heaven the souls of the holy persons who died before Him. THE ROSARY is recited as follows: ON THE CROSS is said the De Profundis (See page 16). If one does not know this psalm, one Our Father and Hail Mary may be said in place of it. ON THE LARGE BEADS, instead of the Our Father the following is said: Eternal rest grant unto them, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. And the Acts of Faith, Hope and Charity. An abridged form of the Acts of Faith, Hope and Chanty has been approved for the chaplet. ACT OF FAITH: 0 my God, I believe in Thee, because Thou art truth itself. ACT OF HOPE: I hope in Thee because Thou art infinitely good. ACT OF CHARITY: I love Thee with all my heart and above all, because Thou art in- PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD 31 finitely perfect, and I love my neighbor as myself for love of Thee. ON THE SMALL BEADS, instead of the Hail Mary is said the following invocation: Sweet Heart of Mary be my salvation. CONCLUDING PRAYER: After the last bead of the last decade the De Profundis is repeated or as previously one Our Father and one Hail Mary. Indulgences : There is attached to the reci- tation of the Acts of Faith , Hope and Charity seven years and seven quarantines each time they are said. An indulgence of three hun- dred days every time the invocation “Sweet Heart of Mary be my salvation” is said. HEROIC ACT OF CHARITY The Heroic Act of Charity consists in a spontaneous offering of the faithful, in favor of the souls in Purgatory , of all the satisfac- tory works during life and of all the suffrages that may be applied to his own soul after death. Great God, Thou seest my sincere and ar- dent desire of withdrawing from the flames of Purgatory the souls of my brethren and to open to them the gates of heaven, to procure an additional glory to Thy adorable Majesty, to give to Thee as my Sovereign Benefactor signal tokens of my gratitude, to repair as far 32 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD as within me lies, the injury done to Thee, by my infidelities and disobedience, and finally to render agreeable homage to Jesus Christ Thy only Son, to the Blessed Virgin, His Mother, to St. Joseph and all the Saints. I offer Thee in behalf of all the afflicted souls or for some of them in particular, not only all the prayers and all the good works that I will do today or that others will do for me; but also all that I will do during my life, and that others, whoever they may be, will do for me, whether during my life or after my death. I give them entirely, whatever right I may possess, inasmuch as Thou wiliest, and it be acceptable to Thee, and that it may contribute to Thy greater glory. Amen. Indulgences : Pius IX by decree of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences on the 30th of September, 1852, has enriched this pious practice with precious spiritual favors. 1. Priests who have made the Heroic Act of Charity may enjoy a privileged altar person- ally, every day of the year. 2. All the faithful who have made the same act may gain a Plenary Indulgence applicable only to the souls in Purgatory: (a) Each time they receive Holy Communion, and (b) every Monday by hearing Mass for the relief of the souls in Purgatory. Prayers must also be said in a church for the intention of the Holy Father in order to gain the indul- gences.