# Praying for the souls in purgatory: the chaplet and novena of divine mercy
*2021-07-09*

> Bill Young leads a prayer session focused on the eighth day of the Novena to Divine Mercy, specifically interceding for the souls detained in purgatory.

## Intercessions for the Departed

Good afternoon. This is Bill Young. Today is Friday, and we begin our prayer time by seeking perpetual indulgences for the souls in purgatory. I want to offer special attention to those in Surfside who have passed away or are still missing. It is a heartbreaking situation for those families; one day you are talking to your loved ones, and the next, they are gone. I believe the last count was around 50 retrieved and perhaps 75 still missing. We pray that these families find resolution and that their loved ones are found.

## The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

At the three o'clock hour, we enter into the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. We begin by invoking the blood and water that gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us. Following the opening prayers, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed, we pray Psalm 130: 'Out of the depths I have cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice.'

We continue through the decades of the Chaplet, offering the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. We conclude the Chaplet by proclaiming: 'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.'

## The Eighth Day of the Novena

Today marks the eighth day of the Novena to Divine Mercy, which is dedicated to the souls detained in purgatory. Jesus tells us that the torrents of His blood can cool the scorching flames of purgatory and that these souls are greatly loved by Him. We are called to draw from the treasures of the Church to bring them relief.

We pray: 'Most Merciful Jesus, you yourself have said that you desire mercy. So I bring into the body of your most compassionate heart the souls in purgatory. May the streams of blood and water which gush forth from your heart put out the flames of purgatory, that there too, may the power of your mercy be celebrated.'

## Litany of Divine Mercy and Final Prayers

We move into the Litany of Divine Mercy, acknowledging that His mercy is the greatest attribute of God and the only hope for despairing souls. We respond to each petition with 'I trust in you.'

We also include the Fatima prayer, offering up our sufferings and mortifications for the conversion of poor sinners and in reparation for offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Finally, we begin the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, meditating on the Agony in the Garden and praying for the fruit of sorrow for sin.

*Through the Chaplet and Novena of Divine Mercy, we can offer spiritual relief to the souls in purgatory and trust in the endless compassion of God.*