Act of Hope
My God, I hope in Thee, because Thou art infinitely good.

Act of Charity
My God, I love Thee with all my heart, and above all things,
because Thou art infinitely perfect;
and I love my neighbour as myself, for the love of Thee.

(Indulgence 7 years, 7 quarantines, each time.  Benedict XIV, Jan. 28, 1756.
Plenary once a month, if said every day.  Benedict XIII, Jan. 15, 1728)

During the long captivity of the Jews in Babylon, God's people, sitting on the shores of the Euphrates, moaned and cried in remembering Sion.  So the Souls in Purgatory, plaintive and doleful, long for the joys of the heavenly mansion.  They have had a glimpse of its glory and happiness, but because they were too much attached to earthly pleasures, they will be deprived, perhaps for a long time, of the celestial joys.  They remember all the negligence of their former life, which now obstructs their way to Heaven.  What sorrows! what remorses! because they have preferred a moment of pleasure  to the enjoyment of Heaven.  Then the poor, desolate Souls accuse themselves, saying with the Prophet: "For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me." (Ps. 50, 5).

Since God has granted us the power of paying the debts of the Poor Souls with our works, let us appreciate this immense privilege.  A noble heart should be delighted in relieving the poor, in consoling the afflicted, in bringing peace and happiness to those who suffer.  Such is the privilege of those who assist the Souls suffering in Purgatory, because they deliver them from the hardest captivity and they open to them the gates of Heaven.

Moreover our charitable deeds for the Poor Souls will secure for us the gratitude of God Himself.  "When," said our Lord to His holy servant Gertrude, "a Soul is liberated by your prayers, I accept it, as if I had been Myself liberated from captivity, and I will assuredly reward you according to the abundance of My mercy."

Perform today an act of mortification or obedience for the relief of the Poor Souls.

Be faithful in little things.  Everything is great which is done for the glory of God.

At the close of September, 1870, there died in a town in France, a banker, renowned for his piety and his charity.  By divine permission his soul appeared to his daughter, a member of a sisterhood in Belgium, to implore the assistance of her prayers.  At first he was seen surrounded by flames, saying: "Have pity on your father, my child!  If Purgatory were known, everyone would strive to escape its torments."  Sometimes he would loudly complain: "I thirst!  I thirst!"

Fervent prayers were offered for him at the convent, and he appeared again, enveloped in a dark cloud, but free from fire.  He said to his daughter: "It seems that I am here during a century.  My great suffering now is the thirst for the Vision of God and the enjoyment of His presence.  I rush to Him and I am incessantly repulsed into the abyss because I have not yet paid all my debt to the Divine Justice."  Prayers were continued and on Christmas night he was seen in a halo of light and addressing his daughter, said: "My pains are over.  I owe this favour to the prayers offered for me.  I come to thank you and your community.  I will not forget you in Heaven."

Psalmus 129.  De profundis

De profúndis  clamávi ad te, Dómine: * Dómine, exáudi vocem meam :
2  Fiant aures tuæ intendéntes: * in vocem deprecatiónis meæ.
3  Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine: * Dómine, quis sustinébit?
4  Quia apud te propitiátio est: * et propter legem tuam sustínui te, Dómine.
5  Sustínuit ánima mea in verbo ejus: * sperávit ánima mea in Dómino.
6  A custódia matutína usque ad noctem: * speret Israël in Dómino.
7  Quia apud Dóminum misericórdia: * et copiósa apud eum redémptio.
8  Et ipse rédimet Israël: * ex ómnibus iniquitátibus ejus.

Psalm 129.  De profundis

Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; * Lord, hear my voice.
2  Let thine ears be attentive * to the voice of my supplication.
3  If thou, O Lord, shalt observe our iniquities , * O Lord, who shall endure it?
4  For with thee there is merciful forgiveness; * and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
5  My soul hath relied on His word: * my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
6  From the morning watch even until night, * let Israel hope in the Lord.
7  Because with the Lord there is mercy, * and with Him plentiful redemption.
8  And he shall redeem Israel * from all his iniquities.

V.  Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine.
R.  Et lux perpétua lúceat eis.

V.  Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R.  And let perpetual light shine upon them.

V.  A porta ínferi.
R.  Erue, Dómine, ánimas eórum.

V.  From the gate of hell.
R.  Deliver their souls, O Lord.

V.  Requiéscant in pace.
R.  Amen.

V.  May they rest in peace.
R.  Amen.

V.  Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.
R.  Et clamor meus ad te véniat.

V.  O Lord, hear my prayer.
R.  And let my cry come unto Thee.

V.  Dóminus vobíscum.
R.  Et cum spíritu tuo.

V.  The Lord be with you.
R.  And with thy spirit.

V.  Requiéscant in pace.
R.  Amen.

V.  May they rest in peace.
R.  Amen.

Let us pray for Bishops and Priests deceased:
O God, Who hast deigned to raise to the pontifical or sacerdotal dignity Thy servants, N. N., grant us the grace of enjoying with them eternal felicity.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

V.  Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R.  And let perpetual light shine upon them.

V.  May they rest in peace.
R.  Amen.