In this Camino, let us remember all who have died and seek to relieve their pain, for their sufferings are great, even though they have achieved salvation.
As we continue to walk this Camino, let us pray daily for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
(Article 12, Section III, 1030-31 Defines Purgatory as a place of purification for those who have achieved salvation, but who have not yet achieved the degree of holiness they need to enter heaven.)
Upon death, the soul of the deceased person, which will live eternally, is judged by God. A soul is either sent to heaven, hell, or purgatory. Souls who are cleansed and united with God, enter heaven. Souls who have rejected God and have refused to repent of their sins are condemned to hell. Souls who have died in the state of grace, but who have not had all of their sins expiated, are sent to purgatory.
After death, a soul is no longer able to help itself. A soul can pray for others, but it cannot pray for itself. When a soul enters purgatory for the final purgation, a soul can only hope for the prayers of those left behind to ease their sufferings. Although joyful in the knowledge that they have been saved and will enter heaven when their time of purgation is over, a soul in purgatory suffers greatly for those sins that have not been expiated.
Padre Pio said: The souls in Purgatory pray for us, and their prayers are even more effective than ours, because they are accompanied by their suffering. So, let's pray for them, and let's pray them to pray for us."
Do we know who goes to heaven, hell, or purgatory?
If we do not know where a soul goes upon death, for whom should we pray?
We should pray for every deceased person whether we knew them or not.
Are there any prayers we should say for the Holy Souls?
There are many ways and prayers to pray for the Holy Souls. Here are some suggestions.
The St. Gertrude Prayer is said to release 1,000 souls from Purgatory, each time that it is prayed.
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.
Another good prayer.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen
What else can we do for the Holy Souls?
We can have Masses offered for the souls of the deceased.
Masses are important for both the living and the dead.
We can pray Rosaries for the deceased.
Padre Pio said: ”The souls in Purgatory repay the prayers that we say for them."
Aside from prayer, is there anything else we can do for the souls in Purgatory?
We can offer our works of charity and our sufferings for them.
Increase your prayer time.
Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory daily as we walk this Camino Del Rey.
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