Saint Faustina and the Suffering Souls

[Denise]

Yes, the Church teaches us about purgatory and the need to pray for the Holy Souls. The Church even dedicates the month of November as a special time of remembrance of the souls in purgatory.

But do we have any other evidence that the deceased need prayer?

Absolutely. A number of the living have visited with the dead. Saint Faustina was one of them. The Apostle of Divine Mercy wrote in her Diary about the time her Guardian Angel led her on a visit to purgatory.

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. which said, "My mercy does not want this, but justice demands it." Since that time, I am in closer communion with the suffering souls. (Diary, 20)

She persevered in prayer for the Holy Souls throughout her life (see Diary entries 240, 274, 346, 1226-1227). Her Diary tells a number of stories of visits by the Holy Souls to beg for prayers and Masses. Often, a member of her congregation who has recently died comes to her to ask for the intercession they need to pass through Purgatory and enter heaven (see Diary, 21, 58, 594, 1185-1187). One time, she went to offer her assistance to the deceased directly - and they responded. She writes:

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." (Diary, 518)

Saint Faustina wants us to join her in devoting prayers and good works to aid the Holy Souls on their journey to God and life everlasting. One of the days of prayer in the Divine Mercy Novena is dedicated to interceding for the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. We are called to pray the Chaplet for the dying to speed them on their way home to heaven.

Join St. Faustina and the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception in bringing aid to those who cannot help themselves. Offer prayers and good works for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and set the captives free.

Want to pray for the Holy Souls but don't know where to start? Pray a Rosary for one of the groups of souls on the Marians' Purgatory Board.

Purgatory Board
You may want to use the Marian Fathers’ “Purgatory Board” to pray for a different group of departed souls each day. There are 50 different categories of departed souls in all, and we Marians post in our houses one category of souls to be remembered each day — going through all 50 on a rotating basis. The different groups of departed souls include parents, benefactors, popes, bishops, priests, and leaders of nations, and those who are forgotten or neglected.

1. For the souls of all the faithful departed.

2. For the souls of your departed parents and family.

3. For the souls of your departed friends.

4. For the souls whose memory has vanished from this world.

5. For the souls that suffer the greatest torments.

6. For the souls of those who died unexpectedly or without receiving the Holy Sacraments.

7. For the souls of those who died in war.

8. For the souls of those who died of epidemics or famine.

9. For the souls that shall be delivered from purgatory this very hour.

10. For the souls that have been long detained in purgatory.

11. For the souls that did not give proper honor to our Lord.

12. For the souls that need most prayer.

13. For the souls of those who persecuted you in your lifetime.

14. For the souls of those who did not assist others in their need.

15. For the souls of those who long lived without forgiving their enemies.

16. For the souls of those who showed great love of neighbor.

17. For the souls of those who did not give proper honor to Our Lady.

18. For the souls that are in great need of assistance.

19. For the souls that undergo severe torments for their sins against chastity.

20. For the souls that suffer in purgatory because of me.

21. For the souls of those who suffer for having engaged in sinful conversations.

22. For the souls of those who were particularly given to mortification and penance.

23. For the souls of consecrated religious who followed the rule in a very zealous way.

24. For the souls of those who valiantly gave witness to their faith before others.

25. For the souls of sinners who have become lukewarm.

26. For the souls of those who received the Holy Sacraments rarely or with indifference.

27. For the souls of those whose bodies lie in non-consecrated ground.

28. For the souls of those whose bodies lie in your neighborhood cemeteries.

29. For the souls of those who prayed little.

30. For the souls of those who suffer for having been deliberately inattentive during prayers.

31. For the souls of those who suffer for giving bad example to others.

32. For the souls of those that leave this world this very moment.

33. For the souls of those who die a disgraceful or tragic death.

34. For the souls that are in need of the Church’s prayer because they committed a sacrilege or showed disrespect toward holy objects.

35. For the souls that had a special devotion to the Most Holy Sacrament.

36. For the souls that had a special devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.

37. For the souls of those who contributed to the conversion of sinners.

38. For the souls of those who suffer because of their unyielding and arrogant attitude toward others.

39. For the souls that atone for their disregard for legitimate authority.

40. For the souls of those who suffer for having slandered, libeled or told calumnies of others.

41. For the souls of those who sought their own excessive pleasure and luxury.

42. For the souls of those who died regretting their sins but without making atonement.

43. For the souls of the leaders who neglected their duties or abused their power.

44. For the souls of those who worked for peace in the world.

45. For the souls of those who contributed to the growth of priestly and religious vocations.

46. For the souls of those who dedicated themselves to the education of the youth in piety.

47. For the souls of those who supported missionary works.

48. For the souls of the Marian Fathers and Brothers.

49. For the souls of all consecrated religious.

50. For the souls of popes, bishops, priests, and deacons.


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