Devout Prayers for the Faithful Departed

O Eternal Father, whose nature is goodness, and whose work is mercy, cast thy compassionate eyes on the poor soul of this our departed brother or sister (or on the poor soul’s sufferings in Purgatory), and remembering it to be thy own creature, redress its miseries, remit its punishment, release it from its imprisonment. Receive, O gracious Sovereign, the superabundant sufferings of thy Son Jesus for a full satisfaction of thy divine justice, and for his dear sake pardon this, thy poor servant’s past impieties, forget his frailties, cancel all his omissions, commissions, and ingratitudes. I humbly acknowledge, great Lord of heaven and earth, that if thou lookest only on his deserts he must needs be a long time the object of thy anger and rigor, but if in mercy thou wilt be pleased to look on Jesus, his Redeemer, and apply to him the merits of his bitter death and Passion, thou wilt soon free him from all his miseries, and bring him to the enjoyment of thy eternal felicity. O my God! that I were capable of satisfying thy divine justice in behalf of this poor soul for whom I now petition thy mercy; how willingly would I enact in my person that which causes his delay in Purgatory, and though my unworthiness may hinder this desired effect, yet such is thy goodness, O my gracious Sovereign! that I may hope to have my will accepted, my petition granted, and this poor soul pardoned, and speedily admitted to praise, love, and honor thy Sacred Majesty, with the rest of thy celestial citizens, for evermore. O Jesus, the saviour of our souls! whose inclination to do good to poor mankind is so. great that thou often pressest him to ask, and promisest to grant his petitions, receive, I beseech thee, this prayer, which I most humbly present to thy throne of mercy, in behalf of my departed brother or sister (the souls suffering in Purgatory); remember, O most compassionate Redeemer, that it is a soul bought with thy blood, designed to thy glory, intended to be a co-heir with thee in thy heavenly kingdom; look on it, sweet Jesus! as the noble conquest of thy cross, and the sacred trophy by thy power taken from the devil, and, as such, afford it some solace in its sufferings, free it from those flames, fetters, and prisons which hinder it from enjoying that glory to which thy mercy has predestined it, which thy sacred Passion has purchased, and which thy goodness has prepared for it. If the tears of Mary and Martha did so pierce thy tender heart that they obtained the raising of their dead brother Lazarus, be not less favorable and flexible, O my dear Saviour, to these my sighs, tears, and prayers, which I now pour forth before thee, for the soul of N. (or souls, &c). Speak only the word, O all-powerful Redeemer! “ Come forth out of those flames,” and Purgatory will render thee a most prompt obedience, and the delivered soul will eternally magnify thy mercies.

Glorious Mother of Jesus! I most humbly salute thee great queen of heaven and earth, powerful advocate of mankind, and compassionate comforter of the afflicted: these blessed titles embolden me, thy unworthy servant, to beg thy prayers for the poor soul of N. (or souls) suffering in Purgatory; I petition thee, that thou wilt be pleased to employ the power, the privileges, and the friendship thou hast with thy divine Son, my Saviour, in his behalf, his release, comfort, and pardon. O great and glorious Virgin Mother! consider this suffering soul, as by thy Son redeemed, and by thyself beloved, and since thou hast interest in the salvation and joy of the souls purchased with the price of thy Son’s precious blood, take pity on this soul, longing to behold thy Son and thyself in glory, and to sing forth divine praises with the blessed Saints, for all eternity. Amen.