A listing of prayers and devotions to St. Gertrude for her powerful prayers and intercession. As Catholics, we believe in the intercession of the saints, who readily pray and assist us from Heaven.
St. Gertrude the Great was a 13th-century German Benedictine nun and mystic whose profound visions and writings about the Sacred Heart of Jesus deeply influenced Catholic spirituality and devotion. Given to the monastery of Helfta at age five for education, she showed remarkable intellectual gifts but initially focused more on secular studies than spiritual matters. At age 25, she experienced a powerful conversion through a vision of Christ, leading to an intense mystical life documented in her writings, particularly “The Herald of Divine Love.” Christ reportedly told her that to pronounce her name gave him joy, and he revealed to her his heart as a burning furnace of love. She was one of the first saints to advocate devotion to the Sacred Heart and was known for her special concern for the souls in purgatory, with Christ telling her that each time her prayer “O Sacred Heart of Jesus” is said with love, 1,000 souls would be released. Despite never being formally canonized, she was proclaimed a saint through centuries of cultus (popular devotion), and her feast day is celebrated on November 16th. She is often depicted in Benedictine habit with a flaming heart, symbolic of her mystical union with Christ.
The “Prayer for the Release of 1000 Souls from Purgatory“ is based on a promise made by Jesus to St. Gertrude for each time the prayer is prayed.
St Gertrude the Great was a 13th century Benedictine nun who had a deep mystical prayer life. She reported having numerous visions of Jesus Christ and the saints during her life. One of her most celebrated visions involved Jesus appearing to Gertrude and making a special promise regarding the release of souls from purgatory.
In this vision, Jesus told St Gertrude that each time a person recited the prayer, He would release the souls. This promise was said to be applicable every day, even if the prayer was repeated multiple times on the same day.
This vision from Jesus gave St Gertrude and subsequent Catholics great encouragement to pray frequently for the souls in purgatory. The promise of quantifiable relief for the suffering souls in purgatory through prayer motivated St Gertrude and many other Catholics to pray often for their benefit. This vision and promise continue to inspire Catholics to pray diligently for the holy souls in purgatory centuries after St Gertrude’s lifetime.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners within the universal Church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen.
The “Prayer for the Release of Souls from Purgatory“, commonly known as the Prayer of St Gertrude, is a prayer that was giving to St Gertrude the Great by Jesus in which He promised the release of 1,000 souls from Purgatory every time it is reverently prayed. The prayer is recited ten times for the release of 10,000 souls.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released}
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released – 2,000 total released}
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released – 3,000 total released}
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released – 4,000 total released}
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released – 5,000 total released}
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released – 6,000 total released}
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released – 7,000 total released}
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released – 8,000 total released}
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released – 9,000 total released}
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. {1,000 souls have been released – 10,000 total released}
The Chaplet of St. Gertrude is a devotional prayer that offers the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ for the souls in Purgatory, sinners, and the Church. It includes prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the conversion of sinners, invokes the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and concludes with the Glory Be. This powerful chaplet reflects St. Gertrude’s deep concern for the souls in Purgatory and the conversion of sinners.
[This chaplet is prayed using regular Rosary beads]
On the Cross, pray the “Apostle’s Creed”: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
Then pray 1 “Our Father”, 3 “Hail Marys” and 1 “Glory be”: Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Continue to the five decades. For each of the following five decades… (1.) Pray the “Our Father” on the large bead.
(2.) On each of the 10 small beads, pray: Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen.
(3.) Conclude each decade with the following three prayers: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, open the hearts and minds of sinners to the truth and light of God, the Father.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for the conversion of sinners and the world.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
