Novena for the Holy Souls (St. Alphonsus)

FIRST DAY.

O Jesus, my Saviour, I have so often merited hell: if I were now among the damned, how great would be the pain which I should feel in thinking that I was the cause of my own damnation? I thank Thee for the patience with which Thou hast borne me. My God, because Thou art infinite goodness, I love Thee above all things and I am sorry from my heart for having offended Thee. I promise Thee rather to die than ever to offend Thee again. Have pity on me, and have pity also on those blessed souls who burn in that fire. Mary, mother of God, succor them by Thy powerful prayers.

Let us here say a Pater and Ave for these souls. Then all the people shall say the following prayer:

“O Jesus, for mercy’s sake console these souls, these spouses whom Thou lovest so tenderly, and who are so severely tormented.”

SECOND DAY.

Ah, unhappy me, who have lived so long, and have acquired merits only for hell! I thank Thee, O Lord, for having given me time to repair the evil which I have done. I am sorry for having offended so good a God. Help me to spend the remainder of my life in loving and serving Thee. Have pity on me, and have pity also on those holy souls who burn in that fire. O Mary, mother of God, succor them by Thy powerful prayers.

Pater. Ave. O Jesus, for mercy’s sake, &c., as above.

THIRD DAY.

O my God, because Thou art infinite goodness, I love Thee above all things, and I am sorry, from the bottom of my heart for having offended Thee, I promise Thee to die rather than ever to offend Thee again. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity also on those holy souls who burn in that fire. O mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers.

Pater. Ave. O Jesus, for mercy’s sake, &c.

FOURTH DAY.

O my God, because Thou art infinite goodness, I am sorry, with my whole heart, for having offended Thee. I promise to die rather than ever to offend Thee again. Give me holy perseverance: have pity on me, and have pity on all those holy souls who burn in that fire, and love Thee with all their hearts. O Mary, mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers.

Pater. Ave. O Jesus, for mercy’s sake, &c.

FIFTH DAY.

Unhappy me! O Lord, if Thou hadst sent me to hell I should be certain of never leaving that prison of torture. I love Thee above all things, O infinite goodness, and I am sorry, with my whole heart, for having offended Thee. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity also on those holy souls who burn in that fire. O Mary, mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers.

Pater. Ave. O Jesus, for mercy’s sake, &c.

SIXTH DAY.

O my God, Thou hast died also for me, and hast given Thyself so often to me in the holy communion. And I have always repaid Thee with ingratitude! But now, I love Thee above all things, O my sovereign good, and I am sorry, with my whole heart, for having offended Thee. I promise to die rather than ever to offend Thee again. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity also on all those holy souls who burn in that fire. O Mary, mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers.

Pater. Ave. O Jesus, for mercy’s sake, &c.

SEVENTH DAY.

Who, O Lord, more ungrateful than I have been? Thou hast waited for me with so much patience, Thou hast often pardoned me with so much love, and I, after so many promises, have again offended Thee! Ah, do not send me to hell. I am sorry, O infinite goodness, for having offended Thee; I promise to die rather than ever to offend Thee again. Give me holy perseverance; have mercy on me, and have mercy also on those holy souls who burn in that fire. O Mary, mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers.

Pater. Ave. O Jesus, for mercy’s sake, &c.

EIGHTH DAY.

Behold, O my God, I am one of those ungrateful souls, who, after having received from Thee such great favors, have despised Thy love, and have forced Thee to condemn me to hell. O infinite goodness, I now love Thee above all things, and I am sorry, with my whole heart, for having offended Thee. I promise Thee to die rather than ever to offend Thee again. Give me holy perseverance; have mercy on me, and have mercy also on those holy souls who burn in that fire. O Mary, mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers.

Pater. Ave. O Jesus, for mercy’s sake, &c.

NINTH DAY.

O my God, how have I been able to live so many years at a distance from Thee, and bereft of Thy grace? O infinite goodness, I love Thee above all things, and I am sorry, with my whole heart, for having offended Thee. Give me holy perseverance, and do not permit me ever again to see myself Thy enemy. Have mercy, I entreat Thee, on these blessed souls; alleviate their pains, and abridge the time of their exile, by calling them soon to love Thee face to face in paradise. O Mary, mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers: pray also for us, who are still in danger of being lost for ever.

Pater. Ave. O Jesus, for mercy’s sake. &c.

PRAYERS TO JESUS CHRIST,

For these souls, through the pains which He suffered during His passion.

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the garden of Gethsemani, have mercy on these blessed souls.

The People shall answer:

Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel crucifixion, have mercy on them, &c.

R. Have mercy on them, &c.

Let us recommend ourselves to the souls in Purgatory, and say:

Blessed souls, we have prayed for you: we entreat you, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for us miserable sinners, who are in danger of being damned, and of losing God for ever.

LET US PRAY.

O God, the author of mercy, the lover of the salvation of mankind; we address Thy clemency, in behalf of our brethren, relations, and benefactors, who are departed this life, that by the intercession of blessed Mary, ever a virgin, and of all the saints, Thou wouldst receive them into the enjoyment of eternal happiness; through Christ our Lord. Amen.