Rest In Peace Robin Williams

Death comes to us all.  Yesterday, Robin Williams died, the victim of an apparent suicide.  Depression can be a fatal disease.  This man who made so many of us laugh, who made us feel joy, even through our sadness, has passed into eternity.

God is the judge of each of us.  We cannot judge this man.  We can only pray for the repose of his soul.

Many people refer to the souls in Purgatory as the "poor souls." I hear that, and I think, no, not "poor souls," holy souls.  Yes, they need to make reparation for their sins, and, yes, they suffer, but their next stop is heaven.  They are not poor, they are rich!

Robin, you will be missed.  We will pray for you and for the other souls who have died. 

I remember a story about St. Padre Pio.  He would often pray for his grandparents, that they might have a holy death.  They had died many years before he began this practice.  Think of what our prayers can do for our family members who have already died.  We might be blessing them through our prayers with the gift of a very holy death.  We won't know until we reach heaven, but we do know that we can pray for anyone who has ever died, at any time. 

One of the most popular prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory is the St. Gertrude Prayer.  Our Lord promised Gertrude that whenever this prayer was said that 1,000 souls would be released from Purgatory.   Our prayers do help the souls.

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 prayer to say for the souls is this one.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

This is one of my favorite prayers::

Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins.  Save us from the fires of hell.  Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of they mercy.

Pray each day for the Holy souls in purgatory and the rest of us who are not so holy.  Pray for the salvation of everyone.  Our prayers are needed.  Pray for all those who suffer from depression.  Depression can kill.

Robin, May your soul, and all the souls of God's faithful departed, through the loving and infinite mercy of God, rest in His Loving arms and in His Peace peace.  Amen.