The “Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory” is a nine-day prayer devotion to assist those who have passed on in their journey toward heaven. By dedicating nine days to prayer, we can ease the purification of these souls and help them attain the eternal joy of God’s presence. This act of spiritual charity not only benefits the departed but also deepens our own faith and reminds us of the communion of saints. Participating in this novena allows us to express love beyond earthly boundaries and to play a role in the divine mercy that leads souls to their heavenly home.
Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Day 1
First Day – Meditation [Prayer Video for Day 1]
Manifold are the sufferings which these Blessed Souls must endure, but the greatest of all is the reflection that their sins in life are the cause of their present torments.
First Day – Prayer
O Jesus, my Savior, I have so often deserved to be cast into Hell; how great would be my suffering if I were now cast away and obliged to think that I, myself, had caused my damnation! I thank Thee for the patience which Thou hast endured me. My God, I love Thee above all things and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee because Thou art infinite goodness. I would rather die than offend Thee again. Grant me the grace of perseverance; have pity on me, and at the same time on those Blessed Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Day 2
Second Day – Meditation [Pray Video for Day 2]
The second pain which causes these Holy Souls much suffering is the time lost in life when they might have gained merits for Heaven; and the thought that they were unable to repair this loss, because the time of life and merit is passed.
Second Day – Prayer
Woe to me, unhappy being, so many years have I already spent on earth and have earned naught but Hell! I give Thee thanks, O Lord, for granting me time even now to atone for my sins. My good God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. Send me Thy assistance that I may apply the time yet remaining to me for Thy love and service; have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Day 3
Third Day – Meditation [Prayer Video for Day 3]
Another great pain of the Holy Souls is caused by the hideous vision of their guilt, for which they now suffer. In this life the hideousness of sin is not seen as in the life to come; and this is one of the greatest sufferings in Purgatory.
Third Day – Prayer
O my God! because Thou art infinite goodness, I love Thee above all things, and repent with my whole heart of my offenses against Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Day 4
Fourth Day – Meditation [Pray video for Day 4]
The pain that afflicts these Holy Souls most, the spouses of Jesus, is the thought of having, during life, by their sins, displeased God, Whom they so ardently love. Some penitents have felt so much pain and sorrow in thinking of their offenses, that they died of grief. The Souls in Purgatory understand far better than we do the claim that God has to our love; they love Him with all their strength. Hence, at the thought of having offended Him during life, they experience pain that surpasses all other pain.
Fourth Day – Prayer
O my God! because Thou art infinite goodness, I am sorry with my whole heart for having offended Thee. I would rather die than ever offend Thee again. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity on those Holy Souls that burn in the cleansing fire and who love Thee with all their hearts. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Day 5
Fifth Day – Meditation [Pray video for Day 5]
Another great suffering of these Holy Souls is their ignorance of the hour of their deliverance from Purgatory. Though they are certain of being released one day, the uncertainty of the hour of when their Purgatorial term will end gives them great pain.
Fifth Day – Prayer
Woe to me, miserable being, if Thou, O Lord, shall cast me into eternal Hell; for from that dungeon of eternal pain there is no deliverance. I love Thee above all things, O infinite God, and I am sincerely sorry for having ever offended Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Day 6
Sixth Day – Meditation [Prayer video for Day 6]
The Holy Souls are, indeed, comforted by the recollection of the Passion of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, since they know they are saved by the Passion of Jesus Christ, and have received, and still receive, so much consolation from Holy Masses and Holy Communions. Nevertheless, they are greatly pained by the recollection of their ingratitude for these two great gifts of the love of Jesus Christ.
Sixth Day – Prayer
O my Divine Redeemer, Thou didst die for me on the Cross and hast so often united Thyself with me in Holy Communion, and I have repaid Thee only with ingratitude. Now, however, I love Thee above all things, O supreme God; and I am more grieved at my offenses against Thee than at any other evil. I would rather die than offend Thee again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Day 7
Seventh Day – Meditation [Prayer video for Day 7]
A further great sorrow of these Holy Souls consists in their ardent desire for the Beatific Vision. Slowly and painfully the moments of their Purgatorial imprisonment pass by; for they love God deeply, and desire to be delivered from their sad state in order to praise Him forever.
Seventh Day – Prayer
O God, Father of Mercy, satisfy this, their ardent desire! Send them Thy holy Angel to announce to them that Thou, their Father, art now reconciled with them through the suffering and death of Jesus, and that the moment of their deliverance has arrived. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Day 8
Eighth Day – Meditation [Prayer video for Day 8]
Another bitter sorrow of these Souls is caused by their reflection that God had bestowed upon them so many graces not granted to others, and that they compelled Him, by their sins, to condemn them to these sufferings. they had deserved Hell, but were pardoned and saved only by the mercy of God.
Eighth Day – Prayer
O my God! I also am one of these ungrateful beings, having received so many graces, and yet despised Thy love; and deserve to be cast by Thee into Hell. But Thy infinite goodness has spared me until now. Therefore, I now love Thee above all things, and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Day 9
Ninth Day – Meditation [Prayer video for Day 9]
Great are all the sufferings of the Holy Souls in Purgatory: the fire, the grief, the darkness; the uncertainty of the time of their deliverance from prison. but the greatest of all these sorrows is this: that these Holy Souls are separated from their Divine Spouse, and deprived of His Beatific Vision.
Ninth Day – Prayer
O my God! how was it possible that I, for so many years, have borne tranquilly the separation from Thee and Thy holy grace! Henceforth, I shall love Thee above all things. I am deeply sorry for having offended Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance, and do not permit that I should ever again fall into sin. Have compassion on the Holy Souls suffering in Purgatory. I pray Thee, moderate these sufferings; shorten the time of their misery; call them soon unto Thee in Heaven, that they may behold Thee face to face, and forever love Thee. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession. And pray for us also who are still in danger of eternal damnation.
[Go to Closing Prayers]
Closing Prayers
Pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary; then continue below.
On Thy Spouses have compassion, on these suffering children Thine; Make these Holy Souls partakers of Thy happiness Divine.
Prayer to our Suffering Savior for the Souls in Purgatory
O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
[As you pray for the Holy Souls in purgatory, you can also request that they pray for you. Mention the favor you hope to obtain from God during this novena through their intercession.]
Blessed Souls, we have prayed for thee; we entreat thee, 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 forever. Amen
Out of the Depths Prayer (De Profundis)
(Carries a partial indulgence)
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with You is forgiveness, that You may be revered. I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word. My soul waits for the Lord, more than sentinels wait for the dawn. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord; For with the Lord is kindness and with Him is plenteous redemption; And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.
