An Intercessory Prayer of the Church Militant
for the Church Suffering in Purgatory.




Intercession for the Faithful Departed.

"He himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire."--1 Cor. iii. 15

Help, Lord, the souls which Thou hast made, The souls to Thee so dear, In prison, for debt unpaid Of sins committed here. Those holy souls, they suffer on, Resigned in heart and will, Until Thy high behest is done, And justice has its fill. For daily falls, for pardoned crime, They joy to undergo The shadow of Thy cross sublime, The remnant of Thy woe.

Oh, by their patience of delay, Their hope amid their pain, Their sacred zeal to burn away Disfigurement and stain; Oh, by their fire of love, not less In keenness than the flame, Oh, by their very helplessness, Oh, by Thy own great Name, Good Jesu, help! sweet Jesu, aid The souls to thee most dear, In prison, for tho debt unpaid Of sins committed here.

Supplication to Jesus for the Faithful Departed

"Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath touched me.''--Job xix. 21

The souls, O Lord, by justice torn from Thee, Who penitent ardently crave for Thee, Wrapped in sin-cleansing flame who mourn for Thee, Let Thy sweet mercy now recall to Thee O Jesu! Miserere Domine. Font that dost wash all stains of earth away, And none so dark, but Thou mak'st clear as day, The pangs of these meek suffering souls allay, Streteh out Thy hand; raise up the dead, we pray. O Jesu! Miserere Domine.

O Jesus! who in mercy redeemed all, Release Thy captives from their fiery thrall; E'en the least worthy, lamed by many a fall, With saints and martyrs to Thy banquet call. O Jesu! Miserere Domine. O Jesu! spare these souls so dear to Thee, Who, in prison, so calmly wait for Thee; Hasten, O Lord, and bid them come to Thee, Their glorious home, to gaze ever on Thee! O Jesu! Miserere Domine.

Supplication to our Lady for the Souls in Purgatory

""How canst thou, O Mary, refuse to relieve the miserable, since thou art the Queen of Mercy?"--St. Bernard.

O Turn to Jesus, Mother, turn, And call Him by His tenderest names; Pray for the holy souls that burn This hour among the cleansing flames. Ah! they have fought a gallant fight; In death's cold arms they persevered; And after life's uncheery night The harbour of their rest is neared. In pains beyond all earthly pains, Favourites of Jesus! there they lie, Letting the fire wear out their stains, And worshipping God's purity. Spouses of Christ they are, for He Was wedded to them by His blood; And angels over their destiny In wondering adoration brood.

They are the children of thy tears; Then hasten. Mother! to their aid; In pity think each hour appears An age while glory is delayed. See, how they bound amid their fires; While pain and love their spirits fill; Then with self-crucified desires Utter sweet murmurs and lie still. O Mary, let thy Son no more His lingering spouses thus expect; God's children to their God restore, And to the Spirit His elect. Pray, then, as thou hast ever prayed, Angels and souls all look to thee; God waits thy prayers, for He hath made Those prayers His law of charity.