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)

How grand and consoling is the doctrine of the Communion of Saints!  While we, in this world, are struggling for the celestial crown, and assist our brethren in Purgatory, we are protected by those who are triumphing in Heaven.  We form, in reality, but one and the same family here below, in Purgatory, and in Heaven.  If a member of our body is suffering, all other members come to its assistance.  God loves the souls in Purgatory as His dear spouses.  He would open to them the gates of Heaven, but there are barriers.  Let us present to His justice our prayers, our good works, and the obstruction will be removed; God will be satisfied.

It is often an obligation of justice to pray for the Poor Souls, but it is always a duty imposed by charity and by the compassion which we owe to one another.

There are in Purgatory Souls abandoned even by their parents and their friends, and for whom no one cares.  Forgotten is their life, no thinking of it anymore; forgotten is their name; forgotten is their grave, which is visited no more; forgotten is their Soul, which is lingering in the fire of Purgatory.  How their pain is increased by such neglect; They may say with the Prophet: "I am clean forgotten as a dead man out of mind; I am become like a broken vessel." (Ps. 30, 15-16).

Let us pray often and do some good works for the most abandoned Souls.  Let us be to them like a father, a mother, a sister, a friend.

To offer the abandonment of our Lord Jesus, in His passion, for the most abandoned Souls.

Catherine of Cortona was hardly eight years when her father died.  One day he appeared to her, wrapt in fire.  "My daughter," said he, "I will be plunged in fire till you have done penance for me."  Then the child, with a rare courage, decided to practise the hardest mortifications, in order to pay the spiritual debts of her father.  She succeeded.  Her father appeared again, as bright as a saint, saying: "God has accepted your suffrages and your satisfactory works, my daughter.  I am going to enjoy eternal happiness.  Do not cease to offer yourself as a victim for the salvation of Suffering Souls.  This is the will of God."

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 those who rest in the cemetery:
O God, by whose mercy the Souls of the departed rest in peace, we beseech Thee to grant to Thy servants, and to all who rest in the Lord, the forgiveness of their sins, and life everlasting. 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.