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)

The Souls in Purgatory cannot help themselves; they are unable to shorten their captivity.  This reason alone should urge us to come to their assistance.

After death there is no more place for mercy, the time for justice commences.  The soul is no longer free to choose between good and evil, therefore she cannot obtain any merit and her sufferings are accounted only as a payment for her debts.  Alas! to be condemned to such sufferings, to be afflicted perhaps during centuries!  How bad it is for those Poor Souls.

Could we see an unfortunate man, lying on the road, wounded, bleeding and would we pass and abandon him?  We hold the key of a prison, crowded with prisoners; they crave for liberty and shall we leave them in their pitiable situation!  So we have received from the mercy of God the privilege of liberating the Souls detained in Purgatory.  We may say that we are the Providence of the dead; we, and we alone, may open the gates of Heaven to the Souls who are longing for their deliverance.  It is the teaching of the Church, that the prayer of the living can be applied to the Souls in Purgatory.  As your prayers ascend to Heaven, graces come down as a refreshing shower, bringing to the Souls forgiveness, liberty, and glory.  The supplications of Mary and Martha obtained the resurrection of Lazarus.  Let us address our prayers to the heart of Jesus, and we will deliver from their pains our dear departed ones.  Shall we not be guilty if we do not employ our credit in favour of the unfortunate prisoners in Purgatory?

St. John Chrysostom recommended to every Christian family that they have a box at some convenient place in the house and that they put into it pennies, which will be used to have Masses said for the Poor Souls.

Pray today for the most abandoned Souls.

At the Benedictine monasteries, when one of the monks died, his ordinary meals are distributed among the poor during thirty days.  In the year 830, when a terrible plague was raging, many religious died.  The abbot Rabanun Maurus gave the order to distribute the alms, according to the ancient usage, but the procurator did not obey.  One night the stingy monk, having been delayed by his work, to shorten his way to his cell, passed through the Chapter room.  There he was surrounded by all the monks, recently dead, who whipped him, leaving him half dead on the floor.  Early the next morning he was found by the religious, who were going to the chapel.  He related the event, made his confession, received the Last Rites, and died two days afterwards.

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:
We humbly beseech Thee, O Lord, to release the Souls of Thy servants, in order that they may obtain the glory of the resurrection and that they may be joined to the saints and elect in Heaven.  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.