Cardinal Piacenza - a note for priests but of interest to laity

H/T (Hat tip) to Fr Simon Henry of Offerimus Tibi Domine for this message from His Eminence....

"Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, has issued a message to clergy for the beginning of Advent".

"In this special time of Grace the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Icon and Model of the Church, wants us to be introduced to that vigilance which is the constant attitude of Her Immaculate heart.

In fact, the Virgin lived constantly in prayerful vigilance.

In vigilance, She received the announcement that changed the history of humanity. In vigilance, She kept and contemplated, more than any other, the Almighty who became her Son. In vigilance, filled with loving and grateful wonder, She gave birth to the Light Himself and, together with St Joseph, became a disciple of He to whom She had given birth.

He was adored by the shepherds and the kings, welcomed in jubilation by Simeon and the prophetess Anna, feared by the doctors in the temple, loved and followed by the disciples and opposed and condemned by His people.

In the vigilance of her maternal heart, Mary followed Christ right up to the foot of the cross where, in the immense sorrow of a pierced heart, She accepted us as her new sons.

In vigilance, She waited with certainty for the Resurrection and was Assumed into Heaven.

Dearest friends, Christ constantly watches over His Church and over every one of us! We are all called to enter into that vigilance, that passionate observation of reality that moves us between two fundamental directions: the recollection of meeting Christ in our lives and the great mystery of being His priests and the openness to the 'category of possibility'.

The Virgin Mary, was in fact 'recollected', which means that in her heart She constantly relived what God had done for Her and, in the certainty of this reality, She lived the duty of being the Mother of the Almighty.

The Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary, was then constantly willing and open to the 'possible', to that materialisation of God's Will in daily circumstances and also in those that are most unexpected.

Also today, from heaven, the Virgin keeps us in Christ's living memory and continually opens the possibility of Divine Mercy to us.

Dearest Brothers and Friends, let us ask Her for a heart that is able to relive Christ's coming in our lives, a heart able to contemplate the way in which the Son of God, on the day of our Ordination, radically and definitely marked our entire existence immerging us in His priestly heart.

He renews us daily in the Eucharistic Celebration so that our own lives become transfigured into Christ's coming for humanity.

Finally, let us ask for an attentive heart able to recognise the signs of Jesus' coming in the lives of every man, especially to the young who are entrusted to us, so that we are able to recognise the sign of that special coming which is the vocation to the Priesthood.

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Priests and Queen of the Apostles, always grants those humble requests for that priestly paternity which is the only thing able to "accompany" the youth on the joyful and enthusiastic journey to follow Christ.

In the “Yes” of the Annunciation, we are also encouraged to be coherent to the “Yes” of our ordination.

In the Visitation to Saint Elisabeth, we are encouraged to live that divine intimacy in order to bring Christ's presence to the others and to translate it into joyful service without the limits of time and space. In the Holy Mother's act of wrapping the Baby Jesus in swaddling clothes and adoring Him, we learn to treat the Most Holy Eucharist with an ineffable love.

By conserving every event within our own hearts, we learn from Mary how to gather around the Only Necessity.

With these sentiments I assure all the dear Priests around the world of a special remembrance in the Celebration of the Holy Mysteries. I ask everyone for the prayerful support for the ministry that was entrusted to me and, before the crib, let us implore the ability to become that what we are every day".

Start now! Novena for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Fr Jason Jones has asked me to feature this novena to Our Lady in readiness for the great Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th

 "Que soy era Immaculada Concepciou"

Say this novena every day up to the Feastday on December 8th -

                                Novena to the Immaculate Conception

 

Immaculate Virgin! Mary, conceived without sin!
Remember, you were miraculously preserved from even the shadow of sin, because you were destined to become not only the Mother of God, but also the mother, the refuge, and the advocate of man; penetrated therefore, with the most lively confidence in your never-failing intercession, we most humbly implore you to look with favour upon the intentions of this novena, and to obtain for us the graces and the favours we request.
 
You know, O Mary, how often our hearts are the sanctuaries of God, Who abhors iniquity. Obtain for us, then, that angelic purity which was your favourite virtue, that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone, and that purity of intention which will consecrate every thought, word, and action to His greater glory.
Obtain also for us a constant spirit of prayer and self-denial, that we may recover by penance that innocence which we have lost by sin, and at length attain safety to that blessed abode of the saints, where nothing defiled can enter.
 
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.
V. You are all fair, O Mary.
R. You are all fair, O Mary.
V. And the original stain is not in you.
 R. And the original stain is not in you.
V. You are the glory of Jerusalem.
R. You are the joy of Israel.
V. You are the honour of our people.
R. You are the advocate of sinners.
V. O Mary, Virgin, most prudent
R. O Mary, Mother, most tender.
V. Pray for us.
 R. Intercede for us with Jesus our Lord.
V. In your conception, Holy Virgin, you were immaculate.
R. Pray for us to the Father Whose Son you didst bring forth.
 V. O Lady! aid my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
 
Let us pray, Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and mistress of the world, who forsakest no one, and despisest no one, look upon me, O Lady! with an eye of pity, and entreat for me of your beloved Son the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate, with devout affection, your holy and immaculate conception, so, hereafter I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness, by the grace of Him whom you, in virginity, didst bring forth, Jesus Christ Our Lord: Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, lives and reigns, in perfect Trinity, God, world without end.
Amen.

Bye bye Latin Mass!

Just a reminder that our last EF Mass in the West of Menevia Diocese will be next Sunday 4th December at Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan at 3pm.

It will be a Missa Cantata and Monsignor Johnson's last EF Mass prior to retirement.
There will be a second collection for the Monsignor.

An Advent hymn

CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.

Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

At Whose dread Name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O Thou Whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.

Thanks to Dylan Parry for this post

Advent: Preparing for Our Lord's Nativity and for his coming as Judge of the living and the dead

Posted by A Reluctant Sinner

A voice crying out in the wilderness, make straight the
way of the Lord 

Throughout the year, the Church seeks to aid her children by offering them seasons and times that concentrate on some aspect of Our Lord's life. By meditating on the various mysteries of Christ's life and ministry, we who do so grow in our love for him, become more attached to him and enjoy the benefits of the salvation that he has gained for us. Each year we are given the grace to delve deeper and deeper into the mystery of Jesus Christ as we follow the liturgical seasons and feasts that he himself has given us through his Church.

Advent is a special season in that it helps Christians to prepare for the coming of Christ - his advent. At Christmas, which is what Advent prepares us for, Jesus will be born once more in our hearts. But Advent also prepares us for that other coming of Christ, his Second Coming, when he will come again to "judge the living an the dead." He who comes to set captives free and who comes as the Daystar of our lives is also the judge who is already standing at the door (cf James 5:9). He will grant to our souls at Christmas the same graces which he gave the Shepherds and the Magi at that first Christmas. When he comes again in glory at the end of time, he will judge us on how we used these graces - these free gifts of salvation. Advent is therefore a time of preparation both for the many graces already won for us and still being offered to us through the Incarnation as well as for the day on which we will stand before Jesus Christ face to face. If we love him, we will rejoice in calling out during Advent, "Come Lord Jesus, do not delay!"

In former times, on this First Sunday of Advent, the people of Rome would join their Bishop, the Pope, for a celebration of Solemn Mass at Santa Maria Maggiore (a basilica I mentioned a few days ago on my own blog). This particular church was chosen because it is the Blessed Virgin Mary who gave us Jesus at Christmas and because the relics of the crib in which she placed him are preserved at Santa Maria Maggiore. Of course, Our Lady prepared for Christ's coming more than anyone else - her pregnancy was a precursor to our Advent and along with her fellow Jews she was full of expectation for the promised Messiah, the Saviour. Let us therefore ask Mary, our Mother, to guide us throughout this Advent season - so that, both at Christmas and at the end of time itself, she may show unto us the blessed fruit of her womb, Jesus.

℣ Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum
(Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just)
℟ Aperiatur terra et germinet salvatorem
(Let the earth be opened and send forth a Saviour)

Mary With Child

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli
Porta manes, et stella maris, sucurre cadenti,
Surgere qui curat populo: tu quae genuisti,
Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Usque ad diem 23 decembris:

℣ Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae.
℟ Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.

Oremus. Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut, qui, angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

A die 24 decembris:

℣ Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti.
℟ Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis.

Oremus. Deus, qui salutis aeternae, beatae Mariae virginitate fecudna, humano generi praemia praestitisti: tribue, quaesumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus auctorem vitae suscipere, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum. Amen.

O Loving Mother of our Redeemer

O loving Mother of our Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea,
Hasten to aid thy fallen people who strive to rise once more.
Thou who brought forth thy holy Creator, all creation wond'ring,
Yet remainest ever Virgin, taking from Gabriel's lips
that joyful "Hail!": be merciful to us sinners.

Up until the day before Christmas Eve:

℣ The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
℟ And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

From Christmas Eve onwards:

℣ Thou gavest birth without loss of thy virginity:
℟ Intercede for us, O holy Mother of God.

Let us pray. O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast offered unto the human race the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech thee, that we may know the effects of her intercession, through whom we have deserved to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Amen.

Posted by Dylan Parry A Reluctant Sinner
Image attribution for this post can be found on my blog

Latin Mass next Sunday 27th November

 The first Sunday of Advent.......

3pm at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Morriston

The Rosary Petition grows.......

As at 17.22 hours today we have 293 pledges to say the Rosary for the Mass to return to West Wales and on behalf of the intentions of Bishop Burns....

....Do you have a Rosary or two to add to the 'bouquet?'

Please email me on r.collinsassoc@btinternet.com or leave a pledge in the comment box.......1 Rosary is good......10 makes us very happy

NB 1 Rosary equals 5 decades

Thank you.

Missa Cantata at Cardigan - the last in West Wales

Join us at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Taper at 3pm on Sunday 4th December for the last EF Mass to be celebrated by Mgr Johnson before his retirement that month. It will also be the last Latin Mass to be celebrated in West Wales.

And please.................................join in pledging a rosary or ten so that we may leave our petition for Latin Masses to return to the west of the Diocese  and present the Bishop with a spiritual bouquet.

Just email r.collinsassoc@btinternet.com and state a number, no need to write at length.
We shall collect all the rosary promises and send them to our Bishop.

Thank you

OTHER NOTICES

There will be a second collection at Mass on 4th December so that the Confraternity may thank Mgr Johnson by providing a special Mass to be said for his intentions.

PLUS......

The next Latin Mass will be on Sunday 27th November at 3pm at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Morriston - celebrant: Fr Jason Jones

Notes from A Reluctant Sinner

A Reluctant Sinner is arguably, the UK's leading lay blogger and is from Anglesey.
He now lives in London and acts as a volunteer at Westminster Cathedral.
He has kindly given SM permission to reproduce some of his posts.

Here is the first to be featured...you may wish to visit his blog at http://areluctantsinner.blogspot.com/

The Pope's visit to Benin - The event's logo reminds us that Christians should pray facing the East, ad orientem

Today, Pope Benedict XVI will visit Benin, a small West African country bordered by Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Niger. During his visit, the Pope is expected to reflect on economic justice, the need for peace as well as the important role Africa has to play in securing Christianity's global future. He will also sign an Apostolic Exhortation on Africa in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Ouidah. This important document is the culmination of the 2009 African Synod, which was held in Rome.

The logo created for the Pope's visit to Benin is highly symbolic, and is therefore well worth dwelling upon. For those who can read French, there is an informative explanation of the logo in the missal provided for the visit. What I have written below is my interpretation of the logo's meaning, based upon the official literature.

For me, one of the most interesting things about the image used for the Apostolic Visit to Benin is the fact that the blue dove, which is also an illustration of the continent of Africa, is heading towards the East. According the official handbook for the journey (pp 13 - 14) , this dove, which is primarily a symbol of peace, "is the perfect illustration of the central theme of the Pope's visit in Benin." The fact that the dove is seen soaring towards the East is of primary importance, for "[t]he East in the Holy Scriptures symbolizes the place of God's presence." The handbook goes on to say that following the ancient customs and traditions of our faith, "Christian[s] ... turn to the East to pray," and by doing so they choose to face "Jesus Christ, source of all light."

By now we are all aware of the fact that Pope Benedict XVI wishes Christians to (re)direct their worship ad orientem, towards the East. Sadly, the Church seems to have forgotten why we should all face eastwards, towards the Risen Christ, during our common worship - especially so during the celebration of Mass. Writing in his excellent book The Spirit of the Liturgy (Ignatius 2000), the future Pope Benedict XVI reminds us why celebrating the Mass ad orientem is so important: -

"Despite all the variations in practice that have taken place far into the second millennium, one thing has remained clear for the whole of Christendom: praying towards the East is a tradition that goes back to the beginning. Moreover, it is a fundamental expression of the Christian synthesis of cosmos and history, of being rooted in the once-for-all events of salvation history while going out to meet the Lord who is to come again. Here both the fidelity to the gift already bestowed and the dynamism of going forward are given equal expression..."

"...[A] common turning to the East during the Eucharistic Prayer remains essential. This is not a case of something accidental, but of what is essential. Looking at the priest has no importance. What matters is looking together at the Lord. It is not now a question of dialogue, but of common worship, of setting off towards the One who is to come. What corresponds with the reality of what is happening is not the closed circle, but the common movement forward expressed in a common direction for prayer." (emphases mine)

Bearing this in mind, and aware that the liturgical literature surrounding the Papal visit to Benin refers explicitly to the ancient custom of praying towards the East, one wonders whether the Pope might be subtly using his visit to invite all African Catholics to start worshipping ad orientem once more?

The dove in the logo creates a trail of colours: green, yellow and red. These represent both the flag of Benin, as well as Africa as a whole - for green, yellow and red appear in the flags of most African countries. The cross that forms the heart of the continent of Africa in the Papal visit's logo is coloured gold and white, to symbolise the papacy and the Holy See. Gold is also symbolic of the Resurrection, and points to the Christian hope that one day the whole of Africa, which is a continent well accustomed to suffering, will be filled with that true joy and salvation which the Risen Prince of Peace brings.

Benin itself is also coloured white in the logo, which represents the Pope's presence amongst that nation's people. It also symbolises purity, which it is hoped will spread throughout the whole of Africa both during and after the Apostolic Visit. The West African country is also depicted in white to remind us that Christ is the light, the new dawn, who has overcome darkness, death and sin. In the words of the official missal, it is hoped that "[t]he Pope's visit will rise over Africa from Benin," and will prove to be "the dawn of a new world of reconciliation, justice and peace."

The three arches that flow from the dove represent a rainbow, reminding us of God's covenant with Noah (cf Genesis 9). The rainbow in the logo is comprised of three colours, which speak of reconciliation, justice and peace - all of which will be important themes during the Papal visit. The logo's predominant colour, though, is blue - which is the colour chosen to represent both the dove and the African continent. Blue, of course, reminds us of Our Lady, whose prayers and motherly protection are constantly invoked by her African children, whom she loves dearly.

One has to concede that the logo for Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Visit to Benin is most instructive, and those who designed it are to be congratulated for their efforts. In fact, meditating on this logo seems to have given me more insight into the nature and purpose of the Papal visit.

Releasing the Holy Souls - a target for the next 12 days

This month provides a great opportunity to pray especially for the Holy Souls in Purgatory; those who have died in God's grace but who still have to repay the debt "of sin committed here".

And by undertaking to release those in Purgatory we contribute to our own future; even to the extent of possibly avoiding Purgatory altogether and going straight to Heaven.

What must we do?

1. Pray for the Holy Souls and say the prayers that carry an indulgence -

               "O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee"

It takes but a few seconds but it could free a soul; pray it a hundred or a thousand times a day.

2. Undertake acts of penance or charity on behalf of the Holy Souls

3. Go to Confession, Holy Communion and Mass for them.

4. Visit the Blessed Sacrament, even for a few minutes

5. Say the Rosary

6. Recite the prayer of St Gertrude:

    "Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Jesus,  
    with all the Masses being said all over the world this day, for the
    Souls in Purgatory"

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen

PLEASE NOTE:

THE NEXT EF MASS WILL BE ON SUNDAY 20TH NOVEMBER AT 2PM

AT ST BENEDICT'S CHURCH, CLYDACH - CELEBRANT FR JASON JONES

Remembrance Sunday in Port Talbot

A goodly sized congregation came to hear a Sung Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Paul Brophy who was in excellent voice despite having a bad cough.

The choir of just five sang as though they were 55 (in numbers, that is, they are all much younger than that!)

Sadly, I forgot to take my camera along so the very moving Mass went unrecorded, (on earth, at any rate).

Thanks go to Fr Paul and to his parishioners who made us all very welcome and who provided a very lavish after Mass spread.

And thanks also to the Choir and a warm welcome to Luke whose support is greatly appreciated. I wish I could find another way to say that they sang like angels but I can't!

Seamus, Corey and Owain served beautifully.

Mass next Sunday is very definitely at 2pm and not 2.30pm. It is at St Benedict's Clydach, Nr Swansea.

If you wish to read regular posts (articles) about the Faith

Visit the blogsite of The Guild of Blessed Titus Brandsma (click HERE to go straight there).



Blessed Titus Brandsma, the journalist
priest who was unafraid of writing the
truth. As he was about to be murdered by the Nazis,
he made a gift of his Rosary
to his executioner -
Blessed Titus -  Ora pro nobis!



The Guild is a group of bloggers who write specifically in line with the teachings of the Church and in accord with the Magisterium - the Holy Father and the Cardinals of the Church.

Remember Remembrance Sunday!

A Sung Requiem High Mass to commemorate the dead of both World Wars will be celebrated by Fr Paul Brophy at St Therese of Lisieux Church, Sandfields, Port Talbot, next Sunday (13th November) at 5pm - thank you Fr Paul - and advance thanks to the choir also.

OTHER MASSES FOR NOVEMBER......

Sunday 20th November - please note new Winter time - 2pm at St Benedict's Clydach

Sunday 27th November (First Sunday of Advent) TBA

Remember! remember! The 6th of November.....

Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Newcastle Emlyn at 3pm.

Sunday 6th November - The twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Special thanks to Monsignor Johnson for all the Masses he has offered this year at Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn.

The Confraternity wishes him a very happy retirement.

                                        Ave Maria gratia plena....

Do you know this man?

From the Guild of Blessed Titus Brandsma blog

 

                                

                                                      One Solitary Life 

 

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.  He grew up in another obscure village. 

 He worked in a carpenter’s shop until He was 30 years old and then for 3 years He was a travelling preacher. 

He never wrote a book, He never held an office, He never owned a house, He never had a family, He never went to college. 

He never put his foot inside a big city except one.  He never went 200 miles from the place where He was born.

 

He never did one of the things which usually accompanies greatness. 

 He had no credentials but himself.  Whilst still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against Him.

  His friends ran away, some of them denied Him, He was turned over to His enemies, He went through the mockery of a trial.  He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. 

 His executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had upon earth while he was dying; and that was his garment.  When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave, through the kindness of a friend. 

20 centuries have come and gone.  He is the cornerstone of the human race and the keystone of the Kingdom of God. 

When I say that all the armies that ever marched and all the navies that were ever built and all the parliaments that have ever sat and all the kings that have ever reigned have not affected the life of man as powerfully as that one solitary life, none will ever be found to disagree.

Unknown

The Feast of the Holy Souls

A soul is carried up to Heaven

See A Reluctant Sinner's post for a very beautiful account of those souls most in need.

Through our intercession, by means of prayer, we can aid the release of souls from the torments of Purgatory.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.
Dies irae, dies illa
Day of wrath and doom impending,
David's word with Sibyl's blending,
Heaven and earth in ashes ending!

O what fear man's bosom rendeth,
When from Heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth!

Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth,
Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth,
All before the throne it bringeth.

Death is struck, and nature quaking,
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.

Lo! the book exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded;
Thence shall judgment be awarded.

When the Judge His seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.

What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?

King of majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us!

Think, kind Jesu!-----my salvation
Caused Thy wondrous Incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation.

Faint and weary Thou hast sought me,
On the Cross of suffering bought me;
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution
Grant Thy gift of absolution,
 Ere that day of retribution.

Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning!
Through the sinful woman shriven,
Through the dying thief forgiven,
Thou to me a hope hast given.

Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying.

With Thy sheep a place provide me,
From the goats afar divide me,
To Thy right hand do thou guide me.

When the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to shame and woe unbounded,
 Call me, with Thy Saints surrounded.

Low I kneel, with heart's submission,
See, like ashes my contrition!
Help me in my last condition!

Ah! that day of tears and mourning!
 From the dust of earth returning,
Man for judgment must prepare him:

Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!
Lord, all-pitying, Jesu blest,
Grant them Thine eternal rest. Amen.

MOST loving Jesus, I humbly beseech Thee, that Thou Thyself wouldst offer to Thine eternal Father on behalf of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, the Most Precious Blood which poured forth from the sacred Wounds of Thine adorable Body, together with Thine agony and death. And do thou likewise, O sorrowful Virgin Mary, present unto Him, together with the dolorous Passion of thy dear Son, thine own sighs and tears, and all the sorrows thou didst suffer in His suffering, in order that, through the merits of the same, refreshment may be granted to the Souls now suffering in the fiery torments of Purgatory, so that, being delivered from that painful prison, they may be clothed with glory in Heaven, there to sing the mercies of God for ever and ever. Amen.Absolve, O Lord, the Souls of all the faithful departed from every bond of sin, that with Thy gracious assistance they may deserve to escape the judgment of vengeance and enjoy the blessedness of everlasting light.

Prayer for Deceased Parents

O God, Who hast commanded us to honour our father and our mother, in Thy mercy have pity on the souls of my father and mother, and forgive them their trespasses, and make me to see them again in the joy of everlasting brightness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Prayer for the Faithful Departed

O Most compassionate Jesus, have mercy on the Souls detained in Purgatory, for whose redemption Thou didst take upon Thyself our nature and endure a bitter death. Mercifully hear their sighs, look with pity upon the tears which they now shed before Thee, and by virtue of Thy Passion, release them from the pains due to their sins. O most merciful Jesus, let Thy Precious Blood reach down into Purgatory and refresh and revive the captive souls who suffer there. Stretch out to them Thy strong right hand, and bring them forth into the place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.