St. Faustina Prayer Book for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Susan Tassone

For those who have died, we pray:

      For members of my family,

      through the mercy of God may they rest in peace.

      For my friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners …

      For the priests who administered the sacraments to me …

      For the religious men and women who were a part of my life …

      For my teachers, counselors, and mentors …

      For my schoolmates and workmates …

      through the mercy of God may they rest in peace.

      For the doctors, nurses, and all health workers who gave me care …

      For those who harmed me in any way …

      For those I harmed …

      For those who on earth prayed for me …

      For those now in purgatory who are praying for me …

      For every soul in purgatory, each one Your beloved son or daughter …

      Welcome them into heaven, Dear Lord, where the perpetual light of Your mercy will shine upon them forever. Amen.

Purgatory in the Eyes of St. Faustina: Twelve Daily Meditations

      Recall loved ones who have died and, in a spirit of true charity, keep in mind other departed souls who have no one on earth to pray for them. Reflect on the reality of purgatory and those who, though so close to heaven, must still prepare to enter it.

      Pray for them!

      Begin each day of the meditations with this prayer:

       St. Faustina’s Prayer for a Merciful Heart

      O Jesus, I understand that Your mercy is beyond all imagining, and therefore I ask You to make my heart so big that there will be room in it for the needs of all the souls living on the face of the earth. O Jesus, my love extends beyond the world, to the souls suffering in purgatory, and I want to exercise mercy toward them by means of indulgenced prayers. God’s mercy is unfathomable and inexhaustible, just as God Himself is unfathomable. Even if I were to use the strongest words there are to express this mercy of God, all this would be nothing in comparison with what it is in reality. O Jesus, make my heart sensitive to all the sufferings of my neighbor, whether of body or of soul. O my Jesus, I know that You act toward us as we act toward our neighbor.

      My Jesus, make my heart like unto Your merciful Heart. Jesus, help me to go through life doing good to everyone. (692)

       Day One

      St. Faustina’s request on the day of her perpetual vows:

      Jesus, I know that today You will refuse me nothing. … Jesus, I plead with You for the souls that are most in need of prayer. I plead for the dying; be merciful to them. I also beg You, Jesus, to free all souls from purgatory. (240)

      Reflection: Our Lord wants us to pray with zeal and fervor, to ASK BIG, to BE BOLD. We, too, can ask Our Lord to empty purgatory every day. Let us ask more than we dare. Let us be BOLD in our asking. Let us give these suffering souls to Our Lord year-round. Whom do you miss the most? Have a Mass offered for them. The Mass is the most powerful means to help the holy souls.

      O immense Passion, O profound Wounds, O most bitter Death, O Most Precious Blood, O Sweetness above all sweetness, give them eternal rest. Amen.

       Day Two

      Before All Souls’ Day, I went to the cemetery at dusk. Although it was locked, I managed to open the gate a bit and said, “If you need something, my dear little souls, I will be glad to help you to the extent that the rule permits me.” I then heard these words, “Do the will of God; we are happy in the measure that we have fulfilled God’s will.” (518) I became introspective and reflected for a long time on how I am fulfilling God’s will and how I am profiting from the time that God has given me. (515)

      Reflection: There is no rebellion in purgatory. The souls there — having their wills perfectly conformed to the will of God and partaking of His goodness — remain satisfied with their condition. The holy souls live in perfect harmony with the will of God. What He wills for them is what gives them joy. At the same time, they “suffer” because they have seen God but, for a time, the Beatific Vision is taken from them. For this reason, the holy souls want us to go directly to heaven. How? Imitate St. Faustina: Do the will of God in the present moment.

      O immense Passion, O profound Wounds, O most bitter Death, O Most Precious Blood, O Sweetness above all sweetness, give them eternal rest. Amen.

       Day Three

      It was at that time that I asked the Lord for whom else should I pray for. Jesus said that on the following night He would let me know for whom I should pray.

      [The next night] 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 to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid. The flames which were burning them did not touch me at all. My Guardian Angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God. I saw Our Lady visiting the souls in Purgatory. The souls call her “The Star of the Sea.” She brings them refreshment. I wanted to talk with them some more, but my Guardian Angel beckoned me to leave. We went out of that prison of suffering. [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. (20)

Look to the Star

      It isn’t just the souls in purgatory that turn to “The Star of the Sea” but those of us still on earth, too.” In the twelfth century, St. Bernard of Clairvaux wrote:

      If the winds of temptation arise;

      If you are driven upon the rocks of tribulation look to the star, call on Mary;

      If you are tossed upon the waves of pride, of ambition, of envy, of rivalry, look to the star, call on Mary.

      Should anger, or avarice, or fleshly desire violently assail the frail vessel of your soul, look at the star, call upon Mary.

      Reflection: The angels are active in purgatory consoling the holy souls, and inspiring friends and relatives to offer a Mass and practice good deeds for their dearly departed. The angels tell those in purgatory who, on earth, is praying for them. Later, they escort the souls to heaven with the speed of lightning. Have a great devotion to your guardian angels. Ask their help to purify your soul here on earth. Their charge is to get you home to heaven. They are intent obtaining all the graces and favors from God for your eternal welfare.

      The Blessed Virgin fulfills her role as Mediatrix of Mercy. God distributes His mercies through her. She exercises her maternal role to the holy souls in purgatory by bringing them refreshment and hastening their release. Entrust your life to Mary, the most holy Star of the Sea, so she may lead you to Jesus.

      O immense Passion, O profound Wounds, O most bitter Death, O Most Precious Blood, O Sweetness above all sweetness, give them eternal rest. Amen.

       Day Four

      On April 29, 1926, the soul of Sister Henry, who had recently died, asked St. Faustina to have one Mass offered for her and say the Eternal Rest Prayer three times for her. After St. Faustina had done that, Sister Henry’s soul returned and said