Saying a prayer for souls in purgatory is a powerful tool to help those who are suffering in purgatory. By offering these prayers to God on behalf of these souls we can bring them closer to God and help them on their journey to heaven. Purgatory is a place of healing and forgiveness, and by praying for these souls, we can help make their time there shorter and easier.
Prayer is a way of allowing you to support those who desperately need you and cannot ask for that help. It allows you to support those who desperately need you and cannot ask for that help themselves.
I say this prayer on a daily basis for those who have been in purgatory for a while and for the new souls who have just entered that place.
Let us pray.
Prayers for Souls in Purgatory
Short Prayer
Merciful Father, I humbly pray for the souls in Purgatory who await Your eternal embrace. Please grant them relief from their suffering and bring them swiftly into Your heavenly kingdom. Amen.
📖 2 Maccabees 12:46
"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins."
Prayer for Souls in Purgatory
Heavenly Father, I believe that Your love is infinite and that Your mercy knows no bounds. I trust that You desire all souls to be with You in paradise, and I humbly ask that You welcome those who are currently in purgatory. Grant them the grace to purify their souls and to enter into Your presence and be by Your side. I also ask that You comfort their loved ones who are still on Earth. May they find consolation in knowing that their loved ones are safe in Your care. I offer all of our prayers and petitions through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen.
📖 1 Corinthians 3:15
"If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
St Gertrude’s Prayer for Souls in Purgatory
Oh, dear St Gertrude, I come to you in prayer ladened with a heavy heart. I bet for your intercession on behalf of the souls in Purgatory. They are suffering and I can do nothing to ease their pain. I know that you have the ear of God and that you are a powerful intercessor. I implore you to plead for these poor souls, that they may be released from their torment and allowed to enter into the presence of God. May He have mercy and love towards these souls. Let them be freed from their torment and find eternal rest with you in heaven. Hear their criest St Gertrude. Let your compassion guide them home to the side of God. Amen.
📖 Matthew 12:32
"And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
St Bridget Prayer for Souls in Purgatory
Dear Saint Bridget, I turn to you today for intercession on behalf of the souls in Purgatory. I know that you have a special place in your heart for those who have passed from this life, and I ask that you would intercede for them before the throne of God. I pray that their suffering would be eased quickly and that they would be soon released from their purgatorial wait. Hear their cries and deliver them into the light of the presence of God. Please, Saint Bridget, intercede on their behalf. Hear my prayers and have mercy on those souls.
📖 1 John 5:16
"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it."
Divine Mercy Prayer for Souls in Purgatory
Dear Lord I trust in your judgment implicitly. I know you are right to judge who is worthy to enter the kingdom of heaven and who is not. In your grace and mercy, you do not condemn all those who have not fully atoned for their sins. You have created purgatory as a way of extending hope to those who have not fully transgressed your laws deeply, and those who have not fully atoned. This short prayer for souls in purgatory is my offering to you on their behalf, it is my fervent hope that helps themes atone. I beg you to show mercy and allow them to join you in your house of many rooms. I understand why some people must spend time being denied your light and love so that we all may learn what path we have to take to earn our seat at your table. Being denied access to your eternal grace and presence is a severe punishment to bear. I hope by offering up this prayer in my daily prayer practice that in a small way I help them atone for their sins and failure to follow your teachings and for not asking your forgiveness in life. Father, I am one of your imperfect children. I try to be your humble and faithful servant in my actions and through my words. I know that I too have to work to show you love and gratitude for all the gifts in my life that you have given to me. I know that I have to live a sin-free life as possible and serve and honor you in whatever way I can At some time you may deem fit that I may join with my brothers and sisters in purgatory. If that time comes, I fervently hope that someone offers prayers on my behalf. I offer my time in prayer now upon my knees humbly appealing to your immense love and forgiving nature. Please look favorably upon the souls who need your attention and love Lord as they suffer in purgatory. You are all-powerful Lord and I respect your sense of justice in not condemning these souls to hell. You have allowed them the opportunity for redemption and through their suffering, you bid them forward. All I seek to do with this daily prayer and time in devotion is to hasten their journey towards your loving arms. Please accept this humble offering of my prayer for souls in purgatory and know that the small sacrifice of daily time in honoring you Lord and dedicating my prayer for these unfortunate souls is meant to serve your will. I hope this prayer helps lift at least one soul upwards and that soul finds release and love in finally knowing you. Lord God almighty, you sacrificed your son to bring us forth from sin and to demonstrate that you believe in our goodness and capacity to live sin-free lives. These souls in purgatory may well have shown weakness in life, and have failed to atone sufficiently here on earth. You believe in their redemption as do I lord. I offer a prayer for those souls as they cannot be heard and I seek to lessen the burden of my fellow man, those with souls in purgatory. They are denied the ultimate ascension into heaven until their souls have been cleansed of sin either by their actions or by prayers offered on their behalf. In asking us to pray for these lost souls you are asking us to act in a selfless way, to show love to strangers, to show love to those who have not lived completely perfect lives. Through this act of prayer for those in purgatory we follow your teaching and learn to sacrifice for others. We learn through this to put others first. Listen to my simple prayer, and extend your all-merciful presence to those who are being denied your warmth right now, suffering in purgatory. Please hear this plea and lift one soul into your arms today Lord. You are pure love Lord, lift one soul out of purgatory and show them everlasting life. Allow me the grace of this request. This I pray. Amen.
📖 Revelation 21:27
"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."
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Prayer Points for Souls in Purgatory
Use these prayer points to guide your personal prayer time:
- Pray for the swift release of souls from purgatory into the glory of heaven
- Ask God to have mercy on the souls undergoing purification and shorten their suffering
- Pray for souls who have no one on earth to pray for them
- Ask the Lord to apply the merits of Christ's sacrifice to cleanse these souls completely
- Pray for recently departed souls who have just entered purgatory
- Ask God to grant eternal rest and peace to all souls awaiting heaven
- Pray for family members and loved ones who may be in purgatory
- Ask the Divine Mercy of Jesus to flow abundantly over souls in purgatory
- Pray for the souls who have been forgotten and have been in purgatory the longest
- Ask God to accept your prayers and sacrifices as offerings for these holy souls
- Pray that the Blessed Virgin Mary intercedes powerfully for souls in purgatory
- Ask God to grant these souls the beatific vision and eternal joy in His presence
- Pray for the healing and purification process to be completed swiftly for all souls
- Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen souls undergoing purification
- Pray that all souls in purgatory may soon join the saints in praising God forever
Watch: Prayer for Souls in Purgatory Video
Bible Verses for Souls in Purgatory
Find strength and comfort in these scriptures:
2 Maccabees 12:46
"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins."
1 Corinthians 3:15
"If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
Matthew 12:32
"And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
1 John 5:16
"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it."
Revelation 21:27
"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."
Hebrews 12:14
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Philippians 2:10-11
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Job 1:5
"And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."