When someone we love dies, prayer is one of the few gifts we can still give them. This short prayer for the souls in purgatory is for anyone who wants to remember a husband, a mother, a friend, or the forgotten dead before God. We can pray it on any day of the year, and especially in November, with trust in His mercy.
Who Are the Holy Souls in Purgatory?
The holy souls in purgatory are the faithful departed who died in God’s grace and friendship but still need to be purified before entering the joy of heaven (CCC 1030–1031). Although death separates us from our loved ones in this earthly life, we remain united in the communion of saints. From the earliest centuries, the Church has prayed for the dead, especially through the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice. We pray for the faithful departed because the Church teaches that our prayers and other works of suffrage can assist them on their journey toward the fullness of life with God (CCC 1032).
When Should We Pray This Prayer?
- In the first days after the death of someone we love
- On the anniversary of a death, or on a birthday we now keep in silence
- Throughout November, and above all on All Souls’ Day (November 2)
- For those who died suddenly, far from home, or without the sacraments
- For the forgotten souls, who have no one left to pray for them
- At a grave, or after receiving Holy Communion
Powerful Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory
Merciful Father,
You are the God of the living and of the dead.
You know each name we carry in our hearts today.
(Say the name or names here.)
We place them in Your hands.
Where there is something left to be healed, heal it with Your love.
Where there is something left to be forgiven, forgive it with Your mercy.
Lord Jesus, You wept at the tomb of Your friend, so You know the ache we feel.
By Your Passion and Your Precious Blood, open the doors of Your house to every soul that waits for You.
Mary, Mother of Mercy, stay beside them as you stood beside your Son at the Cross.
Holy souls, pray for us, too, for we are also on the way home.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.
How to Use This Prayer
You can pray this prayer daily for three days, or for nine days as a personal devotion. You may accompany it with a lit candle, a photograph of your loved one, or a rosary. Pray slowly, remembering the departed by name and entrusting them to God’s mercy.
From November 1–8, the Church grants a plenary indulgence applicable to the souls in purgatory for the faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the departed, subject to the prescribed conditions. These include sacramental confession, Holy Communion, prayer for the Pope’s intentions, and detachment from all sin. Consult the Church’s current guidance on indulgences for the complete requirements.
Related Prayers
- All Souls Novena: nine days of prayer for the faithful departed
- Prayer to Mary, Queen of the Holy Souls: a Marian prayer for the souls in purgatory
- Why We Pray for the Dead: what the Church teaches and why it matters
Share this prayer with someone who is grieving, or save it on Pinterest so it is there when you need it.
