# Novena for the holy souls in purgatory and the chaplet of divine mercy
*2021-11-08*

> Bill Young and John O'Rourke lead a communal prayer session focusing on the souls in purgatory, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and special intentions for priests and religious.

## Prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

We begin our prayer today with the novena to the holy souls in purgatory. We ask for God's infinite goodness and mercy upon those burning in the cleansing fire of love, longing to be with Him. We seek the assistance of Mary, Mother of God, through her powerful prayers.

Following the Our Father and Hail Mary, we offer the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior. We reflect on the bloody sweat in the Garden of Gethsemani, the cruel scourging, the crowning of thorns, the carrying of the cross, the crucifixion, and the bitter agony of the cross. For each of these sufferings, we respond: 'Have mercy on them, O Lord.'

Our community joined together to offer specific intentions for the souls in purgatory, including those who lost their lives to coronavirus, deceased relatives and friends, and all those lost through violence, war, and sickness.

## The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

At the three o'clock hour, we transition to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. We begin by invoking the ocean of mercy to open upon the whole world, trusting in the blood and water that gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us.

After reciting the Apostles' Creed and Psalm 130, we move through the beads of the Chaplet. On the large beads, we pray: 'Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.' On the small beads, we pray: 'For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.'

We conclude the Chaplet by proclaiming three times: 'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.'

## Interceding for Priests and Religious

As part of the Novena to Divine Mercy, we focus on day two, which asks us to bring the souls of priests and religious to the Lord. Jesus asks that we immerse them in His unfathomable mercy, as it was through them that He received strength to endure His bitter Passion and through them that His mercy flowed to all mankind.

We pray that God increases His grace in the men and women consecrated to His service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy and glorify the Father of Mercy in heaven.

## Litanies and Devotional Prayers

We continue with the Litany of Divine Mercy, repeating 'I trust in You' as we contemplate the attributes of God's mercy—from the mystery of the Blessed Trinity to the sacrament of Holy Baptism and the conversion of sinners.

We also reflect on the Sacrificial Prayer from Our Lady of Fatima: 'Oh Jesus, this is for the love of You, for the conversion of poor sinners and in reparation for offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.' This simple prayer allows us to offer up our daily sufferings and mortifications for the benefit of others.

## Closing Petitions and the Holy Spirit

Our session concludes with a variety of personal petitions, including prayers to Saint Anthony and a request for a greater love of God to transform our deeds. 

Finally, we pray an ancient prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking for guidance and strength. We pray that the Holy Spirit teaches us the path to follow, removes the burden of our weakness, and helps us combine goodness with firmness so that we may live in harmony with the truth.

*We must feel and search for the presence of God every moment of our lives.*