📝 HYMN 📝
HAVE MERCY UPON THE SUFFERING SOULS
Hear ye not the spirits' moaning
From the depths of cleansing fire ?
Know ye not the burning anguish
Of these souls—their hearts' desire?
Hear them cry in bitter sorrow,
Sighing, weeping in their pains,
While they call on us who love them,
"Break our heavy prison chains!"
Though their lives on earth were holy,
And their virtue manifest,
Yet some stains of imperfection
Still prevent their perfect rest.
And they weep in mournful numbers,
Pleading for our fervent prayer,
Oh, take pity on their sorrow,
Let their solace be your care.
Place your prayer, your pious offering
For these suffering souls, so poor,
In the hands of our dear Mother,
Of sweet Mary Virgin pure.
With a mother's love and mercy
She will lead them to her Son ;
And their pain shall turn to glory
There, before the Heavenly throne.
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📝FIRST DAY 📝
PRAYERS FOR THE HOLY SOULS
One of the most consoling doctrines of the Catholic Church is that of the Communion
of Saints. All men the saints in Heaven , we upon earth, the souls in Purgatory, are members of one great family. By this "bond of perfection" which unites the Suffering and Triumphant Church with the Militant Church upon earth, incorporating them into one body, mutual charity becomes an obligation. This reciprocal love, being the duty of all men, renders it imperative that all should pray for one another, for in this general prayer, offered mutually,
Christian charity is most beautifully and eloquently expressed.
From this general obligation we derive the special duty to pray for the suffering souls in Purgatory, who are unable in their extreme distress to do aught for their own relief. It has always been the belief of Holy Church that the faithful, united in the Communion of Saints, can mutually assist each other. As the saints in Heaven pray for us, so must we also offer our
petitions for the suffering souls in Purgatory, that God in His goodness and mercy, may mitigate and shorten their punishment, and hasten their entrance into Heaven. It is the doctrine of the Church that the faithful upon earth are really able to relieve the temporal punishment of the holy souls in Purgatory. "In this," says the Roman Catechism, "we must praise the infinite goodness and mercy of God with greatest thankfulness, that He has granted to human weakness the grace that one can make satisfaction for another."
↷ Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Who hast said, "Where there are two or three gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them," (Matth. xviii. 20) look mercifully upon Thy holy Church, who implores Thy clemency in behalf of her suffering members. End their intense pain, and open unto them the portals of the heavenly Jerusalem, that they may
praise and bless Thee forever and ever. Amen.
↷ Special Intercession: Pray for those who, during the course of their earthly lives, did most to relieve the souls in Purgatory. Lord grant them eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. (200 days' Indulgence to all who recite this prayer three times everyday.)
↷ Practice: Attend the public devotion for the suffering souls.
