Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great that the following prayer would release 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said:
O 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, for those in my own home and within my family. Amen.
It is recommended that one memorize this prayer in order to pray it more often, no matter where you may be.
Personal story
I happened upon this prayer on a prayer card a day after my mother passed away suddenly. This simple prayer has been 
a very powerful tool for me these past four years, especially during the times when I’ve felt the most powerless to help—and even when just deeply missing—those family and friends who have passed before me.
Feeling a little lost here, at least I could pray for those in Purgatory and trust that Our Lord’s message to Saint Gertrude was true.
At least I could do something that would—purely by the grace of God—release 1,000 souls from the the dreadful pains of Purgatory (according to saints who have spoken about Purgatory, including St. Teresa of Avila). Keep reading for more consolation…
An Invitation
Perhaps on this Feast of the Holy Souls, you or someone you know, will take up this little prayer and find solace therein, as part of the Mystical Body of Christ doing what we are called to do in remembering to pray for those departed from this earthly life.
This prayer card, by the way, is from Our Lady of the Rosary Library in Prospect, Kentucky, which was approved and recommended by M. Cardinal Pahiarca at Lisbon, Portugal on March 4, 1936.
Who is St. Gertrude the Great?
St. Gertrude led the mystic life of the Cloister as a Benedictine nun. She meditated on the Passion of Christ, which many times brought a flood of tears to her eyes. She did many penances and Our Lord appeared to her many times. She had also a tender love for the Blessed Virgin and was very devoted to the suffering Souls in Purgatory. She died in 1334 and her Feast day is November 16.
The Holy Souls Will Repay Us A Thousand Times Over
On the back side of this prayer card are these words… Words that have been of tremendous comfort and clarity to me.
Now who can be in more urgent need of our charity than the souls in Purgatory? What hunger, or thirst, or dire sufferings on Earth can compare to their dreadful torments? Neither the poor, nor the sick, nor the suffering we see around us have such an urgent need of our help. Yet we find many good-hearted people who interest themselves in every other type of suffering, but alas, scarcely one who works for the Holy Souls.
Who can have more claim on us? Among them too, there may be our mothers and fathers, our friends and near of kin.
When they are finally released from their pains and enjoy the beatitude of Heaven, far from forgetting their friends on earth, their gratitude knows no bounds. Prostrate before the throne of God, they never cease to pray for those who helped them. By their prayers they shield their friends from many dangers and protect them from the evils that threaten them.
RELATED RESOURCES:
- Purgatory—Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints, by This TAN Books edition of “Purgatory Explained” by Rev. Fr. F. X. Schouppe, S.J., features the complete original text, along with a supplemental reading section entitled “What Will Hell Be Like?”. We’ve also included unique hand-selected classic artwork for the reader’s enjoyment, exclusive to the eBook edition.
Purgatory Explained :
You would never dream so much is known about Purgatory. Not only is the basic teaching of the Church given here, but also countless true stories of apparitions and revelations on Purgatory from the lives of St. Margaret Mary, St. Gertrude, St. Bridget of Sweden, the Cure of Ars, St. Lidwina of Schiedam, and more.
What Will Hell Be Like?
Selections from St. Alphonsus’ writings. Covers virtually every aspect of Hell. Shows it exists, describes its torments, proves it is eternal, demonstrates it is not unjust and answers a host of questions. Best short antidote for today’s irreligion.
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