Susan Tassone won’t admit it, but she is one of the experts on the souls in purgatory.
Her credentials speak for her. She has written six books on the subject, among them one co-written with Father Benedict Groeschel of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Cardinal Ivan Dias, former prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, wrote the foreword to her latest book, which has an imprimatur, Praying With the Saints for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. She has recently begun her seventh book.
This week, beginning today, Monday, Oct. 24, Tassone will be Johnnette Benkovic’s guest on her EWTN television show Women of Grace. Tassone will be sharing some new insights about Pope St. Gregory the Great and his connection to the holy souls and purgatory. On Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day, she will be Father Mitch Pacwa’s guest on EWTN Live.
She recently spoke about what we can do to help the souls in purgatory.
What is the best devotion to help the souls in purgatory?
The holy sacrifice of the Mass is the chief source of devotion for the holy souls.
So, the most powerful means to relieve or release a soul from purgatory is through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. You’ll find that in the Catechism. It says it in 1032: “From the beginning, the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.”
In Praying With the Saints for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, I have Pope Benedict XVI’s writings that point to having Masses offered for the souls in purgatory. [One extensive quote is from Sacramentum Caritatis (Sacrament of Charity).]
After the Mass, the next most powerful way to help the souls is the Rosary, the most powerful Marian prayer on earth — in her approved apparitions, Mary says pray the Rosary for peace in the world, in your hearts, in your family — and the Stations of the Cross, because they’re indulgenced. You have to be in the state of grace to help the souls in purgatory.
When we pray for the souls, we’ve got to remember we’re giving them paradise, the face of God, when we get them out sooner from purgatory. Our prayers are shortening this horrible suffering of being without God. They then show us their gratitude in the same proportion to their joy.
You recommend Gregorian Masses be offered for souls. What are they, how did they come about, and why are they important?
Gregorian Masses are absolutely the best way to help souls out of purgatory. The background behind them is a fascinating story.
Pope St. Gregory was a sickly man and had a physician who took care of him throughout his life. The physician, named “Justus,” was also a Benedictine monk in Rome, where the Church of St. Gregory remains today. When Justus was dying, St. Gregory told Justus’ blood brother to take care of him because he also was a physician. While taking care of him, the brother found three gold coins in Justus’ cell. Benedictines took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
The brother told the monks, and they told St. Gregory. He was really upset because he expected the monks to take the vow seriously. Because Justus violated the vow of poverty, Gregory would not allow any of the monks to visit him during his last illness and console or pray with him. Justus was crushed. He wept and was repentant for keeping the coins.
Gregory knew he was in purgatory. He ordered 30 Masses to be said for the soul of Justus. Why 30? Why not 40 or 50 Masses?
The reason is: Gregory was bringing back the tradition from the Old Testament — Israelites mourning for the dead 30 days, such as for Moses and Aaron.
After the 30th Mass, Justus appeared to his blood brother and said he was released from purgatory. The brother had no idea Masses were being said for Justus. He ran to the monastery and told the monks, who told St. Gregory, who already knew because he already had a private revelation that Justus was released from purgatory.
Word spread all over Rome. People came to the monastery to have Masses said for their loved ones — then priests from France and Spain, and then priests from all over came to Rome to offer Masses at that altar for their loved ones. That altar still exists to this day in the Church of Sts. Andrew and Gregory in Rome. These first Gregorian Masses were offered at this altar.
The altar has three panels, all in relief carvings and engraved in Latin saying St. Gregory had freed the soul of this monk by 30 Masses. The middle panel shows our suffering Lord appearing to Gregory at the altar. The third panel says, in Latin, that St. Gregory is offering Masses in this room to release souls from purgatory. It’s strikingly beautiful. I will show pictures of the altar on Father Pacwa’s show.
Is there a guarantee a soul gets released after the 30 Masses?
Although the practice is approved by the Church, there is no official guarantee. Still, it is a custom that underscores the power of the holy Mass.
A parish normally will not be able to offer 30 consecutive Masses for the same soul. Where can we get Gregorian Masses said?
You can see where on my website, SusanTassone.com.
Why do we need constant reminders to have Masses said for the dead and offer prayers for them? Why pray for the holy souls?
Because God’s justice demands expiation of their sins. Christ told St. Faustina that his mercy didn’t want to send a soul to purgatory, but his justice demands it (Diary 1226, 20).
He places in our hand the means to assist them. We are their only resource. We have an obligation to pray for our loved ones.
Can we say that one goes straight to heaven? Can we say that soul was totally pure and holy and in line with God’s will to go to heaven at once?
We don’t know what the state of the soul was at the hour of death, and we tend to canonize everybody. Only God knows the state of the soul, if it is totally in line with his will. He’s all-holy and majestic and pure.
But we’re given this great power and privilege to release souls from purgatory. Only we are the deliverers. Christ turns to the Church militant. Heaven encourages us. For whatever reason, we’ve been given this great honor and privilege. We’re responsible to pray for our dead.
But what happens if the soul then gets to heaven and you continue to have Masses and prayers offered?
The common answer is that God will apply those Masses to other souls in purgatory or to the most in need or souls in your family. But there’s more: If the soul is already in heaven, and you continue to have Masses said for them and continue to pray for them, what they get is a term we get from Thomas Aquinas — “accidental glory.”
The soul gets an increase in its intimacy with God and an increase in its intercessory power. So the lesson is this: Never stop praying for your dead, no matter how long they’ve been gone. You continue to push them up higher. The prayers are never wasted. God is never outdone in generosity.
Why do you often point out the importance of having Masses offered while the person is alive, including Masses for yourself?
I asked Father Edward McNamara, well-known professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum in Rome about that.
There are three main reasons why Masses should be offered for loved ones while alive. First, it’s an infinite gift. It never stops giving. A living person is still capable of growing in sanctifying grace, so the effect of this incredible grace is they may willingly receive it to be more Christ-like. You have to respond. When you have Masses offered for loved ones and you pray, they respond to the grace.
Second, if it’s offered as intercession for a person in the state of actual mortal sin, it may supply the grace necessary for conversion.
Third, it also fits in the sanctity of healing people.
Who do you miss the most? Who do you wish you could have done more for? Who helped you spiritually and temporally? Who had a major impact on your life? Your enemies or those who hurt you: Have Masses said for them. Have Masses said for yourself. Mass heals the living and deceased. Pray for the living now, for their eternity.
Purgatory points to the seriousness of sin and points out we have to pray and do penance in our own lives.
The Catechism says, in 958, “Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective.” They can’t help themselves, but they can pray for us. So, the more we pray for them, the more effective their intercession is for us.
Why are they called poor souls and holy souls?
They’re called poor because their poverty is the loss of the sight of God. They’re called poor because they can no longer merit; they can’t help themselves. They rely totally on us. We’re their only resource.
Nothing is done alone. The Church Militant reaches out to the Church Suffering and joins them to the Church Triumphant.
And they’re called the holy souls because they can no longer sin. They know they’re saved. They know heaven is awaiting them.
Can you tell us about the new book you’re working on?
This next book takes it into the deeper level mining purgatory. We will be talking about the will of God. It will be a comprehensive prayer book for souls in purgatory, along with thoughts on purgatory and nine reflections on purgatory from saints like Aquinas to Gregory to Catherine of Genoa; and it will include writings of Blessed John Paul II on purgatory.
How can we avoid purgatory?
St. John of the Cross said, “God provides.” So avoid sin. Pray the Rosary. Go to monthly confession. Accept trials. Forgive. The more you pray on earth — constant, fervent prayer throughout life — the closer you will be to getting out of purgatory if you go there.
Do the souls in purgatory help us in this regard?
Because of their great love for us, they’re not only anxious for leaving purgatory, they’re most concerned about our salvation, especially the salvation of their loved ones. They can intercede for us while in purgatory. Their prayers help us recognize our sins and help us understand the malice of sins. And so they reproach us through inspirations of the Holy Spirit. They want us to become holy and saints here. They don’t want us to go to the true purgatory.
Do you have any other advice? Perhaps for educating children that seems especially appropriate with Halloween and All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day coming up?
Pray for the dying. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for them. Your prayer can give a soul the grace of final repentance. Join the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Dying.
Nov. 1-8 you can receive a plenary indulgence when you visit a cemetery on those days and apply it to a soul in purgatory.
Remember the children. Teach them the meaning of All Souls’ Day. Take them to the cemeteries. Teach them to sprinkle holy water on the graves. Plant the seed of reverence for the dead, and, in due time, this will assure us of their aid.
We need to learn from purgatory, avoid purgatory and empty purgatory.
Register staff writer Joseph Pronechen writes from Trumbull, Connecticut.
Dan Burke: Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory
Edward Pentin: Vatican Announces Plenary Indulgence for Year of Faith
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I have a question. When you offer the Rosary for the souls in purgatory or when you offer Mass for them, can you offer it for many at one time, or should you offer it for one soul at a time?
I am a convert to the Catholic faith. I often worried about my loved ones. I am so thankful to the Catholic Church for the opportunity to help those who have passed away and those still here. We worry so much about ourselves and forget the loved ones who helped or hurt us. If you can pray for both individuals it really helps your internal forgiveness and love you shared. It’s wonderful to be able to continue to share that love with family and friends through prayers. Thank you for you Mercy Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank you for your intersession Blessed Mother and Saints.
Years ago I adjusted the Morning Offering to include (among other changes) the Holy Souls: Father may I offer Thee this day all my prayers, works, joys and suffering through with and in Thy Only Begotton Son in reparation for the offences commited against His Most Sacred Heart and against the Sorrowful and Emaculate Heart of Mary and for the speedy assumption of the Holy Souls to full union with Thee in Heaven. Amen
Up to now it has been mostly private but I am getting older and thought I would pass it on. Ad Mejorum Dei Gloriam!
I read in a booklet about St. Padre Pio, that the Lord promised St. Gertrude that saying this prayer would result in the release of 1,000 souls each time it was recited: “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.” What does anyone know about this? Is it correct? I realize it isn’t a “magic formula” and must be prayerfully offered to God but I’m curious what the Church actually says, if anything, about this devotion.
I use that little book of Susan’s ” The Way of the Cross for the souls in purgatory” and pray it with my 97 year old mother. Book is rather frayed at the edges now! I have recommended our parish to have a Way of the Cross for the deceased souls after Holy Mass next month. I pray that there will be people praying for me too when I am gone!!!
God bless
Marianne (Sri Lanka)
Susan is a great inspiration, but, hardly an expert! This lapel is highly overused and most of the time nonsense. I saw a booklet about Angels and the person that wrote was called an “expert”, now, how can one be an “expert” about something that can’t be seen, felt, etc.? To be a true expert, one has to know EVERYTHING about the subject, which is impossible about spiritual things. Otherwise a very wonderful article as usual and a very great big thanks to both of you! +JMJ+
Thank You. I generally pray St. Gertrude’s prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. They are dear to me because I believe some of my loved ones are there and now I hope to have Gregorian Masses said for some of them.
Great article. Susan has written a lot of good books on the subject of the Pool Souls. She is very devoted to them. She has done a lot of research so I guess that’s why she’s called an expert. She is certainly writes more on this topic than any other person in the Catholic Church. I have a devotion to the Poor Souls and have Masses said every month. There are many missionary websites that offer to say Masses for our departed. This makes it easier for me than to go to the parish office.
Don’t forget the only other Liturgy the Church has, besides Holy Mass - the Divine Office! The Office for the Dead gains a partial indulgence for those for whom it is recited. FYI, if anyone is in York (England) on Nov. 11th, there will be sung Vespers for the Dead at St. Mary’s on Bishophill Junior. For more info, go to:
http://rudgateramblings.blogspot.com/
Doctrinal errors:
re: “...and the Stations of the Cross, because they’re indulgenced. You have to be in the state of grace to help the souls in purgatory.”
You don’t have to be in the state of grace to receive an indulgence. Partial indulgences can be obtained for the Holy Souls or for oneself, the minimum requirement of which is having a contrite heart while you perform the indulgenced work (the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, etc.).
re: “The soul gets an increase in its intimacy with God and an increase in its intercessory power. So the lesson is this: Never stop praying for your dead, no matter how long they’ve been gone. You continue to push them up higher.”
Accidental glory does not have to do with saying Masses forever for a person, it has to do with the person’s merit and God’s Goodness. Saying a Mass for a saint in Heaven does not give them new glory, because that would mean Mary can be glorified, which would contradict her Queenship.
An excellent and alarming read is “Hungry Souls”, available at amazon. It is not a cheap ghost story; it is a description of how souls undergoing purgation need us, as we ourselves will need, one day.
I watched Susan today on Women of Grace. She insprired me to offer a rosary novena for my family members in purgatory. Thank you, Susan, Johnette, and EWTN.
Stephanie: I understand that one can offer a single Mass, pray a single Rosary, recite a single Divine Mercy Chaplet, and so on for >many< souls. Thank God for His Generous Mercy and Love! :-)
ALWAYS CURIOUS THAT SINCE THE MASS IS T H E PERFECT PRAYER , WHY WOULDNT THE BURIAL MASS SUFFICE TO RELEASE THAT SOUL IMMEDIATELY TO GODS PRESENCE IN HEAVEN.?? I WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY—THK YOU ......
To Stephanie, You can pray either way. Susan says (and so do Church figures) that you can pray the Rosary for one soul or for all souls. That also means you can pray a Rosary not only for one sould or all souls but for however many inn a group of souls—say, for all abandoned priest in purgatory, or the most abandoned women, or men, in puirgatory, or forgotten relatives, etc.
To Bob S. Susan says the answer is in her book “Praying wiht the Saints for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.” The reason: it’s a lengthy, detailed answer about aspects of that prayer that goes for more than 2 pages. I’ll quote one paragraph from it for you about the 1000 souls: “Theologians tell us we may not be certain of the exact number. However, the number 1000 is biblical and symbolic for infinite. We do know that Our Lord points to the efficacy of our prayers offered up for these suffering souls. A ‘thousand’ souls released means more than we can count, more than we dare to ask.”
So much important information here; I have had a devotion to the holy souls thanks to a beautiful homily from a holy priest. I will be sharing this article.
Please pardon my ignorance, but can one offer a Mass of one’s own volition - i.e. ask in prayer at the beginning of Mass for it to be offered up for said person’s soul - or must one consult the priest in advance and have it officially offered through him? I would also be curious regarding “St Gertrude’s Prayer” and what the Church’s official stance on it is. Thanks, Nick
Suffering for the poor souls was not mentioned. I have degenerate arthritis in both knees and can barely get around with a cane. No waking moment is without some level of pain. I am so happy that I have this to offer for the poor souls. I can tell you that helps me to persevere and eases the pain somewhat. We must never waste God’s graces.
Suffering is a special grace for salvation.
Offer it up as a cross in emulation.
If you want special friends to be there at death,
atone for the poor souls before your last breath.
@Joe Pronechen, 25 Oct 2011, 3:52PM [and perhaps to Nick Emm by way of coincidence]: Thank you for the info about St. Gertrude’s Prayer given her by our Lord. Never one to be legalistic or too “literal,” I’ve nonetheless been saying the prayer regularly during quiet moments in my day for a few months now. It is a beautiful prayer which somehow, when I recite it, sinks deep into me and slows me down enough to raise my mind and heart to God to ask his mercy on the holy souls in Purgatory and the whole world. I feel I’m slowly changing (I hope for the better) in the process. God bless!
re: Please pardon my ignorance, but can one offer a Mass of one’s own volition - i.e. ask in prayer at the beginning of Mass for it to be offered up for said person’s soul - or must one consult the priest in advance and have it officially offered through him? I would also be curious regarding “St Gertrude’s Prayer” and what the Church’s official stance on it is. Thanks, Nick
*
You can offer up every Mass in the world throughout the day (or night) for whoever you want, including yourself. In addition to offering up, you can ask the priest to lead the church in intercession for a certain soul during the Prayer of the Faithful. In addition offering up and the Prayer of the Faithful, you can have a private Mass celebrated for a certain soul. Such is the Infinite Mercy and Wisdom of the Lord Jesus.
*
I don’t know if St. Gertrude’s Prayer is officially approved, but, the offering up Christ’s Blood in union with the Holy Mass and the intention of relief for the Church Suffering and for poor sinners are in accordance to Catholic doctrine, namely, the Priestly Office of Christ, and are, in fact, an ancient form of Christian intercession, albeit doctrinally developed over the years, in accordance to the promise of Christ that the Spirit of Truth would lead His Church into every truth.
I need all of the friends in high places I can get! Time to say a Rosary!
since the mass is the perfect prayer of the church, why wouldnt the mass on the day of burial immediately release that soul to heaven ??
I searched the Summa and couldn’t find a mention of “accidental glory.” Could you please reference where St. Thomas taught that the saints in Heaven receive more glory on account of our prayers?
A correction to what Nick said about a doctrinal error stating a person has to be in the state of grace. The Holy See’s official Enchiridion of Indilgences, latest 3rd edition, quite clearly states (in Norms swection, 20.1), as you will find elsewhere, quote: “To be capable of gaining indulgences a person must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in a state of grace at least at the time the presecribed works are completed.”
The Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat on Tassone’s book is an official Church statement that it is free of doctrinal eror.
to Bob Rowland: Right you are Bob, about offering your suffering for the poor souls. Esxcellent adivce. There is so much to cover on this topic and only so much can fit into a web or newsprint article.
Thanks, Nick. Much appreciated.
Prayer to Saint Getrude,
it says on my prayer card
(Our Lord dictated the following prayer to St Gertrude in Great to release 1000 Souls from Purgatory each time it is said)
and at the end, Approval and recommendations (sgd). M. Cardinal Pahirarca at Lisbon, Portugal, on March 4, 1936
Prayer of St. Gertrude The Great for The HOLY SOULS in Purgatory.
Our Lord dictated the following prayer to St. Gertrude the Great to release 1000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said!
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
What a beautiful practice to recite this prayer after each decade of the rosary!
Praise you Lord for your promise of salvation for those souls longing to be in the presence of Our Almighty Loving Father!
Could you explain why we “pay” for masses said for the dead? Our parish asks $5 per mass. I like to think of it as alms for the poor, poor souls!
The St. Gertude prayer works! Years ago, while praying it, I suddenly had an interior vision of a high school classmate whom I had not even thought of for several years. He died in his early 30s due to a physical disability. I was immediately “given” his name and he said, “Thank you.”
To Terrie Lipscomb - the tradition of paying a stipend relates to your offer of a sacrifice and your contribution to the financial support of the clergy and the church. You can’t really “pay” for the mass - it is of infinite worth and value and no monetary value can be attached to it. The tradition of the stipend is well established in the church but offering to say masses for the purpose of making a profit is a sin and outlawed.
The revelation of Our Lord to St Gertrude about the release of a thousand souls may have more to do with the merit of her saintliness; I suspect prayers that the saints offer are far more effective with Our Lord than the prayers that I say due to the intertwining of their wills with His. Otherwise, there would be a lot more miracles performed at the behest of all the living and the dead.
Our prayers really do assist the Poor Souls. An acquaintance of mine had been dead nearly 19 or 20 years when he appeared to me one Sunday afternoon. He was sad and I realized he was in Purgatory. I continue to have Masses said and anxiously await the day he’s released and let’s me know. At the time I was suffering from a tremendous illness and learned to offer all my pain for him. Say the Chaplet of the Holy Wounds while concentrating on Jesus’ passion and offer each wound and it’s associated pain for the Poor Soul(s). We can’t pray enough for them. If only people knew that they could release loved ones sooner, and mitigate their pain, they would pray more fervently for them. St Therese the little flower said to trust in God’s mercy at death, and do not call down his justice upon yourself by believing you deserve the worst because we have some power over where we will end up. The more you believe in Christ’s mercy, the more chance you will have of bypassing Purgatory. God bless.
To anyone interested on Purgatory: a new documentary film is being released in 2012. Cardinal George was interviewed for it. It’s being produced by the same producer as Ocean of Mercy and Audrey’s Life. Should be great!
why do these people write books to sell then?
im not convinced sorry
i believe in God ..
but not the way you do…oh she has six books ..come on give me a break
In response to Terrie Lipscomb,the five dollars asked for the mass is for the candle lit for the soul that the mass is being offered for. it could be the offertory candle being lit or the sanctuary candle or the wine or host. I hope this helps explains the offering.
Oh pleeeeaaaassseee! And we’re so trying to stop people leaving the church and then this.
In response to Bob Collins: the burial prayer may suffice for a particular soul,But as God said we must be made perfect as He is perfect to enter into His kingdom. (Purgatory) other than his most Divine son Jesus is His last great and most merciful blessing bestowed upon a soul,it is a place of cleansing it is a place to clean what we did not clean while we were still living.And remember those in purgatory are truly Saints in waiting for they can no longer sin against their Heavenly father. I hope this helps
with your question.
The Holy Souls in Purgatory are not able to pray for themselves or do anything at all to relieve their suffering. They rely on our prayers and efforts to help them. It is permissible to believe that they can pray for their benefactors. St. John Vianney said: “If one knew what we may obtain from God by the intercession of the Poor Souls, they would not be so much abandoned. Let us pray a great deal for them, they will pray for us.” St Theresa of Avila (Spain) said that “She always obtained the favours which she asked from God, through the intercession of the Poor Souls in Purgatory. We must help the Holy Souls in Purgatory. In the bible it says that he, who stops (closes) his ears to the cry of the poor, shall cry himself and shall not be heard.
I would like to share an example of the powerful intercession of the Holy Souls in Purgatory for their benefactors, that I published along with several other examples of the their intercession for their benefactors on my Holy Souls in Purgatory web page which is at:
http://missionbell.homestead.com/Afavourgrantedbytheholysouls.html
A painful infected molar tooth
I have received the assistance of the Holy Souls in Purgatory myself. Some years ago, I was out of work and in dreadful pain because of an infected molar. I promised the Holy Souls in Purgatory that, I would have three Masses offered for them if they helped me. Within a very short time, a friend of mine arranged for me to see a dentist friend of his at no charge. He looked at the tooth and determined that he could not perform the extraction, so he asked for a favour from an oral surgeon friend of his, who performed the extraction for free. The Holy Souls in Purgatory can and do intercede for us. (This testimony is from a friend on a Catholic forum.)
There is information on the web page about the Heroic Act in favour of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, which is the ultimate way to help the poor souls.
Susan, I’d really like to see St. Therese of Lisieux’s view of purgatory explored in your writings. Fr. Philippe of the Trinity, OCD, wrote a book in French on the Doctrine of Purgatory and St. Therese. I think it was in the 1950’s. It has yet to be translated into English. See this web site for more info. http://www.franciscan-sfo.org/ap/litfwrpu.htm
Thanks for all your hard work. God bless you!
Every time you say your prayers, mass or at home; at the end of them say this: “I offer up all my prayers (can also add - pain, suffering, financial problems)at the foot of the cross today so that the Lord our God may have mercy on all the souls in purgatory, especially ........ (I always add : for the Catholic priests and those who have no one to pray for them)so that You may bestow upon them mercy, forgiveness and compassion and allow them to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven to live with You forever and ever, Amen”
You can also ask God’s permission for the people from Purgatory to go to mass with you each time and receive SPIRITUAL COMMUNION with God’s approval and grace. Weirdly enough, if you do it before mass, alot more (physical) people turn up to mass and their relatives in purgatory then attend. When I do it, I have a feeling I can barely move my arms because everyone is squashed in and yet there maybe only 60 people in the whole church.
Last but not least, no one is an expert on Purgatory, Heaven or Hell unless they are God or Our Lady; or been there themselves. I for one have been to Purgatory and brought back by Jesus Himself so that I could tell others what it is really like. You DONT want to go there!
WOW! what a wealth of information this has been for me. Starting with the article and then going to the comments, where I learned much from many of you, just to name a few; Bob S. on a 1000 Souls, David E. Spry on morning prayer, which, I wrote down and Nick on servral answers to questions, to Brad for the info. on the book Hungry Souls from Amazon and last but not least Michael concerning saying the 1000 soul prayer after each decade of the Rosary, which, I will be doing from now on. Thanks to all of you and so many I didn’t mention as they were too numerous to mention. Thanks again.
Roy
It is possible to free a soul from purgatory every day by gaining a plenary indulgence for them.
You must go to Mass and receive Holy Communion, pray the rosary (this must be said in a church if you can’t pray it in a group), pray for the Holy Father’s intentions and be within 20 days of confession.
The Holy Souls are crying out to us to be released - it’s so easy to free them! You will be repaid many times over.
Thanks be to God.
It is amazing just how many people assume that the soul of the deceased one is on the “fast track” to Heaven. Go to any funeral Mass, and “canonization has already taken place!
Many children of confirmation-age don’t even know the word, Purgatory, let alone know anything of its existence or who may be there. Our Catholic educators are not doing their job, nor are the parents. However, the parents probably don’t know anything about Purgatory either!
Greetings From Davao City,Philippines:
We have organized a community Prayer Warriors of the holy Souls under the umbrella of Chita Monfort in Manila. We just started in Davao last year.Our mission is to create and spread global awareness on the plight of the holy souls.
Thank you Joseph for this article. I watched Johnette’s Encore program all week and it was so informative. The 1/2 program was too short but thank Johnette for allowing the continuation of this great subject to be aired all week because unfortunately it is a subject not understood too well or not talked about enough at the pulpit. Praise the Living God that we have devotees like Susan Tassone who has the gift of sharing the importance of the Holy Souls in Purgatory with us. Catholicism is so rich and we are so blessed to be in the truth. May we all be one…..John 17. And may the Holy Souls intercede for us all. Refresh them Lord.
I’m confused. In some literature I read that the Souls in Purgatory cannot pray or intercede for us(my parish priest even told me this)yet in other literature and even in this article, it reads that they can pray and intercede for us. What is the correct answer and where is the correct reference please?
I love Susan Tasone,her work is wonderful and imagine how many graces she receives. I hope they are countless. I pray the Way of the Cross and the Holy Rosary for the Holy Souls by Susan and I have received so much help form the Holy Souls. The Holy Souls are like family to me. Every time time I go to Holy Mass I offer that that to some poor soul or to the Holy Souls themselves and leave Our Lord to choose the soul who needs the Mass the most. We are so fortunate to be able to be able to help the suffering souls as one day we may be there. To all who help the suffering souls what graces you receive. Its our great form of Charity.
God bless you all, never stop praying the Holy Souls our true friends.
http://www.papastronsay.blogspot.com/
Many would be interested to know that there is an Purgatorian Archconfraternity located in the United Kingdom. You can enroll your family members and every day Mass is said for them. Every Monday The Rosary is prayed for the deceased members. The above link is their web site.
Purgatory is a doctrine of the Church and not speculation. Thought not called so by name, Biblcal references to it date even to teh Book of Macabees where the Jews prayed for the dead.
Hebrews 10 describes how insufficient sacrifices are offered over and over again for sin - but Christs sacrifice on the cross was perfect and needed only to be offered ONCE FOR ALL (HEBREWS 10:10) and HEBREWS 10:18 - “THERE IS NO LONGER ANY OFFERING FOR SIN”. No More need for expiation! Christs sacrifice took care of it all! Catholics - read your bibles! The Catechism is NOT the inspired word of God!
I went to bed one night & as soon as I laid my head down, fully awake, I heard a woman say “I am dying”. I felt paralyzed & couldn’t move. The next thing I was in a grey land - no black, no white, no colour - just grey.No noise, no animals, no flowers, no people. Hedges went on forever.
There were 50 feet hedges of thorn bushes, the same that was used as a crown of thorns for Jesus on the cross. The Devil tried to grab me and drag me into hell but Jesus made me get into a medieval cart which had branches interweaved to make it like a box cart. The horse was pure white (represents God and faith), Jesus stood just behind me and gave me the reins but I could see his huge white sleeve and long pink fingers. He screamed at me to pray as we galloped away. The Devil flew beside trying to grab me and I screamed and screamed the Our Father until I woke up screaming it and then continued saying prayers for hours.
May other people I have spoken to who have also seen Purgatory; have different visions but all say the same - the devil tries to grab them; nothing black or white just grey. No animals and sometimes the wind howls incessantly.
Whenever your children or you dress up as a demonic icon (witches, warlocks, devils, demons,vampires, monster, disfigured soul etc) you physically draw demons to your children and yourself. The demonic also draws to books on the occult, witches, wiccan, paranormal; fantasy figurines, posters and artwork and anything material because they will hunt down anyone who knows this side as knowledge is power. You ALWAYS respect a demon and the devil as you would a snake - give it a wide birth and leave it alone. Remember - you cannot beat the devil or dark side, only and ONLY God can (and Mother Mary in the very end). I’m a trained Exorcist, trained Spiritual Battle Consultant amongst other things and have a deep prayer life and they STILL give me a flogging. They will take a body out physically if they have to, to stop you. The more you pray for the souls in Purgatory, the more you get to Heaven for God’s glory and peeve the dark side off so be very careful!
“This is why you must also pray for those souls who are there because without your prayers they cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven until the final Day of Judgement.
By reciting the Divine Mercy chaplet every day at 3pm I will intervene at the moment of death on your behalf no matter how much of a sinner you are and show you my mercy. I tell you this because I love you not to frighten you but to ensure you spread the truth to your families…......”
We don’t.
Do you ever pray for others, Proto? Ever?
Catholics don’t know who’s in purgatory.. but the beautiful thing is they still pray out of love, concern and devotion. It’s simple yet so powerful.
I pray for relief of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Yesterday (on November 2, the feast of All Souls) I had an operation under general anesthetic, to remove a severely impacted wisdom tooth and also a cyst which had formed around it, which three weeks ago caused an infection. If the infection had traveled to my heart it would have killed me. This operation was delayed for a whole ten years because no doctor wanted to deal with it, because it ran the risk of breaking my jaw during the operation, and of damaging a facial nerve, which would have left me with numbness for the rest of my life. Without the operation, I would have had to have stayed on antibiotics for the rest of my life. A 3D scan was taken prior to the operation, and like all the x-rays it showed up things to be grim in relation to having an operation, but because the long feared crisis (the infection) had taken hold there was no choice but to operate regardless of the outcome. I promised the Holy Souls in Purgatory that if there was no damage to the facial nerve, no broken jaw, no pain and no swelling of the face, that I would acknowledge this favour. I did have some initial pain in the first hour or so, which was taken care of with ice packs. There is a slight swelling which will go down, but I have no pain now (only some minor discomfit) and my facial nerve and jaw are fine. The operation had been a great success I was told that my face could be numb for up to two months and only then would it be known if that it was going to be permanent! Happily this did not happen at all. My recovery is rapid. Thank you Holy Souls in Purgatory for interceding for me. M.M. (Australia)
Dirk, or anyone reading, are there organizations within parishes that visit the sick with the intention of praying the Divine Chaplet of Mercy at their bedside? I believe in the Power of the Chaplet, and have witnessed it’s power with my mother-in-law who was dying last year. She passed during the 3:00 PM hour, a few minutes after we finished saying the Chaplet as a family no less—almost as if the Lord personally came and got her. I feel that so much more can be done for those who are dying. Not quite certain how to approach it though—as I dont see any such organizations in most of the parishes around where I live.
Just and FYI to my protestant friends on this site. Why are you on this site? Catholics believe in the doctrine of puragatory because it is in the Bible we read. A bible which btw was created by the Mastristrum of the Catholic Church from a review of hundreds of books in the 3-4th centuries to promote its belief system which included puragatory. The Catholic Church of that time chose not to include writings of some Apostles because of its authority! If you believe in the Bible than you are admitting the Catholic Church was divinely inspired by God for this purpose. AND remember that your belief system came about 15 centries later with Martin Luther who threw out the books of the Bible concering purgatory like the historical book Maccabees. SO with that in mind you want me to believe that the Holy Spirit was on vacation for 1500 years! Please! Stop misinterpreting things you read, and do your homework. A good encyclopedia is a start to help you with context.
I agree that masses should be offered in honor of the living and the dead. And besdies, when you offer masses to others, you also offer masses for yourself.
This may be a weird question and impossible to answer, but do the souls in Purgatory know who is praying for them on Earth? Do they find out who prayed for them once they get to Heaven and then turn around and pray for us?
You will have a very difficult time convincing any Protestant that such a place as Purgatory even exists. Your premise is “We (Catholics) believe it, so it must be true.” Protestants will ask “Where Is Your Authority?”, Biblically speaking of course. The fact that Ms. Tassone (a practicing, and no doubt devout Catholic) is considered to be an authority on the subject means even less to a Protestant, because all her books do is reinforce what Catholics already believe. They don’t persuade or convince Protestants of anything.
We Catholics don’t need to prove anything to anyone. We proclaim the truth and walk away - either you believe it or you dont. The rest is between the soul and God—to either seek God’s Truth and Mercy or keep him in a box.
Jennie, I think you have great questions. However, I don’t think anyone knows the answer. My personal opinion is that the souls do know when we pray for them. And, each time we do, they draw a little closer to Heaven and a little farther away from their pain. And, I also believe that once they get to Heaven, they could be allowed to help us in life. And, that after we die and make it to Heaven, God will show us what Good we did with our prayers & sacrifices for these souls (ex: “Store up riches in Heaven”).
Again, these beliefs are mine only. I dont believe the Church says this in doctrine, only at a higher level that if we pray for the holy souls or offer masses for them or make sacrifices, we can indeed help them.
How this specifically happens I do not know. What I do know though is that God is Good, Humble, and Merciful, and nothing is impossible with Him. Only we are the ones that like to think we can know and define Him, limit His Mercy. This is an example of Him giving us an opportunity to exercise spiritual power & strengthen our faith, since we are operating purely out of faith in God and Love when we perform this Spiritual Work of Mercy. Even though we are sinful and the lowest of the low. How he must Love us…
Praying for the living and the dead is Good, because it leads to Humility, Compassion, and above all Holiness. And therein we more clearly recognize Our Blessed Lord.
It is so wonderful to read all the comments that we should pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory,remember, NOT just in November, but throughout the year, every day, for when they get to heaven, they will prostrate before God and pray for us unceasingly till the day Our Lord calls us home,we all need every bit of help we can obtain from them while on this earth,God’s Mercy IS INFINITE.
I love this article. It has just lifted me to a higher level, learning about helping those in purgatory and helping ourselves while on earth. And prayer has always been the answer.
I sometimes will pray St. Gertrude’s prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory—I beleive if you do, youhelp 1000 souls out of purgatory.
Though I will usually utilize tradional prayers written by others, I do fel that any type of prayer said with love is just as useful. Sometimes I will do decades of the rosary with specific intentions (thank passed loved ones for their intercession, pray for souls in purgatory, etc.)
Purgatory seems to be a scarey thing…
Proto1 asks “How does a Catholic know who is in purgatory?”.
The answer is quite simple - anyone who has rejected God in life; anyone who refuses to walk towards the light and accept judgment, anyone who dies suddenly and does not accept they died. Anyone whose religious beliefs do not match what they actually see and experience in purgatory because they are scared. Those who cannot remove themselves from earthly possessions or people they have left behind, those who reject Jesus, those who were with sin when they died (our prayers help their reparation), those who died with hate, revenge, un-forgivingness, and unresolved matters such as a family divided. Those who need to beg the living for forgiveness so that God will forgive them.
We MUST always forgive, we MUST always love our enemies because it heals us as well and most times your enemy has no idea why you hate them.
You MUST not judge lest you shall be judged the same by God. You must cleanse your soul of all hurt, pain, past painful memories, forgive enemies, respect other peoples faith’s regardless of your own because it is up to God to judge them and not us. By judging the non Catholics, they will rebuke God all the more. Our Lady is currently appearing to all the Coptics and Muslims in Egypt to stop the slaughter and convert Muslims so do NOT undo all Her good work by judging other religions.
For such an expert on purgatory, I am surprised that Ms Tassone has not mentioned the promise made by Jesus to St Gertrude the Great that 1000 souls will be released by the prayer he gave her. This seems the easiest way to help the souls rather then attending 30 masses. Although, I agree that the mass is the best and most powerful way to release souls.
Please Susan, I need information about a prayer from pope St. Gregory because I found in italian and I need to know if this prayer is approved by the Church: ORAZIONE DI SAN GREGORIO PAPA PER LA LIBERAZIONE DELLE ANIME SANTE DAL PURGATORIO Dopo aver recitato per un intero mese consecutivamente questa preghiera. Anche quell’anima che sarebbe condannata fino al giorno del giudizio, verrà liberata lo stesso giorno
Thank you. God bless you
Greetings:
May I ask why is it that there some priests who don’t believe about praying for the Holy Souls,He even said that the Lord is not happy for me when I joined the PRAYER WARRIORS OF THE HOLY SOULS,this was making me a bit confused,I could not believed when he said that to me. and he said that being a Divine Mercy I should not get out of it.May you please explain it to me.God bless.
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