Bringing the Holy Souls to Work With Us This Week...continued

We're continuing with our effort to bring the Holy Souls in Purgatory to work with us this week. We're doing that with the Litany for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. It will help us all - at least from time to time - turn our minds to our suffering friends who so need our thoughts and prayers. If you don't know this Litany, I think you'll find its detail and thoroughness quite stunning. Consider, if you will, the individuals you've known in your life who might be described here. Then offer up your prayers and sacrifices, as well as any difficulties you might encounter in your work today.

The Litany continues. Again, don't rush through these. Maybe you consider a few at a time. You'll see why as you work your way down the list. It's quite comprehensive. (We answer each petition with "My Jesus Mercy!")

Those whose release is near at hand,
Those who desire most to be united to Thee,
Those who endure the greatest sufferings,
Those whose release is most remote,
Those who are least remembered,
Those who are mos deserving on account of their services to the Church,
The rich who are now the most destitute,
The mighty, who are now powerless,
The once spiritually blind, who now see their folly,
The frivolous, who spent their time in idleness,
The poor who did not seek the treasures of heaven,
The tepid who devoted little time to prayer,
The indolent who neglected to perform good works,
Those of little faith, who neglected the frequent reception of the Sacraments,
The habitual sinners, who owe their salvation to a miracle of grace,
Parents who failed to watch over their children,
Superiors who were not solicitous for the salvation of those entrusted to them,
Those who strove for worldly riches and pleasures,
The worldly minded, who failed to use their wealth and talent for the service of God,
Those who witnessed the death of others , but would not think of their own,
Those who did not provide for the life hereafter,
Those whose sentence is severe because of the great things entrusted to them,
The popes, kings, and rulers,
The bishops and their counselors,
My teachers and spiritual advisors,
The priests and religious of the Catholic Church,
Those who died on the battlefield,
Those who fought for their country,
Those who died of apoplexy,
Those who died of heart attacks,
Those who suffered and died of cancer,
Those who died suddenly in accidents,
Those who died without the last rites of the Church,
Those who shall die within the next twenty-four hours,
My own poor soul when I shall have to appear before They judgment seat.

We conclude with this:
Prayer

   Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them: For evermore with Thy Saints, because Thou art gracious.
   May the prayer of Thy suppliant people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, benefit the souls of Thy departed servants and handmaids: that Thou mayest both deliver them from all their sins, and make them to be partakers of Thy redemption. Amen.
   Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine on them. Amen.
   May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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