We aim to publish twice yearly, offering an article about Saints with special devotion to the Holy Souls, news of religious services and events here in Ireland and abroad specifically devoted to the Holy Souls, and some prayers that can be recited for the Souls in Purgatory. 

This issue discusses the close links with Saint Faustina, the Divine Mercy and the Holy Souls. Many of you already have a great love of the Prayers of the Divine Mercy but for those who don’t know too much about these powerful prayers we hope to stir some interest for you, particularly where there is a need for conversion within your own homes, parishes, countries and, most especially, the whole world. 

Our Blessed Lord asked Saint Faustina to promote a novena of prayers for Mercy to commence on Good Friday and continuing for nine days. He requested that the following day, the Sunday after Easter Sunday, be designated as the Feast of the Divine Mercy in the Church throughout the whole world. He told Saint Faustina to tell her spiritual director to announce to the whole world that: “Whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy.”

And so, in order to avail of this great promise of Jesus, all we need to do is make a good confession during the week before or after the Feast of the Divine Mercy, to receive Communion worthily and to perform an act of Mercy. 
(See the Corporal Works of Mercy).

Two other points of interest within this issue:

1. The Holy Souls Crusade is organising a Night Vigil for the Holy Souls at the Knock Shrine, County Mayo on Saturday night, 14th May at 9pm to 3am on Sunday, May 15th 2005 (Pentecost Sunday). Further details at the back.

2. The whole area of gaining indulgences for the Holy Souls can be a little confusing. Recently Fr. Edward McNamara gave a clear and concise response to a question about indulgences gained during the Year of the Eucharist. We have kindly been given permission to reproduce his reply, published in ZENIT, an international news agency providing objective coverage of events, documents and issues emanating from or concerning the Catholic Church and the words, meetings and journeys of the Holy Father.

Brief History of the Divine Mercy

In 1931 a young Polish nun, Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy, saw a vision of Jesus with rays of light pouring from His heart. He asked her to have an image made of Him just as she saw Him and beneath it to write the words “Jesus I Trust in You”. For the next seven years Sr. Faustina kept a diary of her inner locutions and meetings with Jesus, all her experiences and her reflections on all that was said. She died at 33 years of age on October 5th 1938. Her legacy is her diary and her promise to Our Divine Lord to spread devotion to His Divine Mercy.

In 1935 Sr. Faustina wrote for her Spiritual Director: "The time will come when this work which God so commends, (will be) as though in complete ruin, and suddenly the action of God will come upon the scene with real power which will bear witness to the truth. It will be as a new splendour for the church, though it had for some time been dormant in it". 

This indeed came to pass. On the 6th March 1959, the Holy See, acting on information that was inaccurately presented, prohibited "the spreading of images and writings advocating devotion to the Divine Mercy in the form proposed by Sr. Faustina." As a result, there followed almost twenty years of total silence.

On the 15th of April 1978, the Holy See, after a thorough examination of original documents previously unavailable to it, completely reversed its decision and again permitted the devotion. The one man principally responsible for the reversal was Karol Wojtyla, the Archbishop of Sr. Faustina's home diocese of Kracow. On October 16th, 1978, he was elevated to the See of St. Peter as Pope John Paul II.

In 1965 Archbishop Wotjyla delegated Bishop Julian Groblicki to start the Informative Process relating to the life and virtues of Sr. Faustina thus making her worthy of the title, Servant of God. By 1968 the Informative Process was presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the process for the Beatification of the Servant of God, Sr. Faustina was started. 

On  the first Sunday after Easter in 1993 Pope John Paul II Beatified Sr. Maria Faustina Kowlaska and on April 30th 2000 the Blessed Servant of God was canonised by Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. The celebrations took place on Divine Mercy Sunday during the great Jubilee Year of 2000. During his homily, Pope John Paul II said:

“The Second Sunday of Easter from now on throughout the Church will be called ‘Divine Mercy Sunday’”

Saint Faustina’s Visions of Purgatory

In 1925, as a postulant, Sr. Faustina fell ill and while recuperating in Skolimow she asked Our Divine Lord who else she should be praying for. His reply was that on the following night He would let her know for whom she should be praying. She writes in her diary:

“[The next night] I saw my Guardian Angel, who ordered me to follow him. In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid. The flames, which were burning them, did not touch me at all. My Guardian Angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God. I saw Our Lady visiting the souls in Purgatory. The souls call Her “The Star of the Sea”. She brings them refreshment. I wanted to talk with them some more, but my Guardian Angel beckoned me to leave. We went out of that prison of suffering. [I heard an interior voice which said] ‘My mercy does not want this, but justice demands it." Since that time, I am in closer communion with the suffering souls.” (Diary, 20)

Is it not significant that this vision of Purgatory was experienced so early in Saint Faustina’s ‘mystical journey with Christ’? Jesus called Saint Faustina His ‘Apostle of My Mercy’, and yet one of her earliest visions should be that of Purgatory. And so there is a link with the Divine Mercy prayers and with Purgatory. 

Divine Mercy Prayers for Conversion of Sinners

Saint Faustina writes: 

"The Lord said to me, The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness. You always console Me when you pray for sinners. The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion of sinners. Know, My daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered." (Diary, 1397)

People who pray for the souls in Purgatory do so for their brothers and sisters in the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church Suffering. We need to be always conscious of our brothers and sisters in the Church Militant too – those of us here on earth. 

There's a huge link between praying for the Holy Souls and praying for God's Divine Mercy. When we pray for the Holy Souls we pray them out of Purgatory and into Heaven. When we pray for God's Divine Mercy on sinners we pray for conversion of hearts thus praying souls into Purgatory and away from the gates of hell! Then we can pray them out of Purgatory and into Heaven!

Hardened sinners need the Grace of God to be able to change their hearts. God will never impose His will on anyone but all He needs is the smallest inkling of remorse to open the floodgates of His Mercy. We can provide that tiny inkling through our prayers for conversion of sinners, even at the point of death.

Our Divine Lord promised that the Divine Mercy Chaplet offered up for anyone on their death-bed who is in great need of God's Mercy will be saved. Imagine it, by just taking about 10 minutes a day to recite the Chaplet we can save souls from hell. 

He also gave Saint Faustina a lovely short prayer to be recited at three o'clock, as He said Himself - 'the time of My greatest Mercy' - His death upon the cross. Jesus said to her:

“I desire that you know more profoundly the love that burns in My Heart for souls, and you will understand this when you meditate upon my Passion. Call upon My Mercy on behalf of sinners; I desire their salvation. When you say this prayer with a contrite heart, and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give him the grace of conversion. This is the prayer:

‘O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You’”

We all have prayers of intercession, asking God for conversions – for our children, spouse, friends, neighbours, work colleagues etc. The most important focus for our prayers is that we, and our own, will get to Heaven, worldly needs take second place

But there is a larger group of people, too, who needs prayers for conversion – sinners the world over, government leaders who defy the laws of God; decision-makers whose decisions affect the most vulnerable - the poor and the weakest citizens of the world; those in international organisations whose policies adversely affect the poor, the weak  the vulnerable and the elderly; those in the world of finance whose economic policies leave devastation in its wake; those in corporate business whose sole purpose is to use people as production units forgetting their dignity as human beings; those in the world of armaments supplies who sell to both sides of conflicts; those in the commercial world whose only purpose is to increase profits at huge human cost; those whose life's work is to destroy God's creatures’ those who justify the destruction of life by 'finding cures',  - the list is endless.

While on this earth we will never know the benefits of our prayers, both for conversions and for the Holy Souls. That joy awaits us when we reach Heaven. And not one of our prayers is ever wasted on ‘lost causes’, our Merciful God re-directs them to where they are most needed.
 

Divine Mercy Novena Each day of the Novena we are asked to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and to bring a special group to Him in prayer. Saint Faustina wrote that she began the Novena for the conversion of the whole world that all may recognise God's Mercy and that all souls may speak of His Goodness. Jesus said:

"I desire the confidence of My people. Let not even the weak and very sinful fear to approach Me, even if their sins be as numerous as all the sands of the earth they will be forgiven in the fathomless pit of My Mercy." 

“By this novena I will grant every possible Grace to souls” (Diary 796)

She received instructions on how to make this Novena:

First Day

"Today bring to me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of my mercy. In this way you will console me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges me."

Second Day

"Today bring to me the souls of Priests and Religious and immerse them in my unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure my bitter passion. 
Through them, as though channels, my mercy flows out upon mankind."

Third Day

"Today bring to me all devout and faithful souls and immerse them in the ocean of my 
mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."

Fourth Day

"Today bring to me those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know me. I was thinking also of them during my bitter passion, and their future zeal comforted my heart. Immerse them in the ocean of my mercy."

Fifth Day

"Today bring to me the souls who have separated from my Church and immerse them in the ocean of my mercy. During my bitter passion they tore at my body and Heart, that is, my Church. As they return to unity with the Church, my wounds heal, and in this way they alleviate my passion."

Sixth Day

"Today bring to me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children and immerse them in my mercy. These souls most closely resemble my Heart. They strengthened me during my bitter agony. I saw them as earthly angels, who will keep vigil at my altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving my grace. I favour humble souls with my confidence."

Seventh Day

"Today bring to me the souls who especially venerate and glorify my mercy and immerse them in my mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my passion and entered most deeply into my spirit. They are living images of my compassionate heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death."

Eighth Day

"Today bring to me the souls who are detained in purgatory and immerse them in the abyss of my mercy. Let the torrents of my Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are really loved by me. They are making retribution to my justice. It is in your power to  bring them relief. Draw all indulgences from the treasury of my Church and offer them on  their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for  them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt for my justice."

Ninth Day

"Today bring to me souls who have become lukewarm and immerse them in the abyss of my mercy. These souls wound my Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: "Father, take this cup away from me, if it be Your will". For them the last hope of salvation is to run to my mercy."

Each day of the novena has its own prayer for that particular group and is said following the Chaplet. The novena can be said over any nine-day period but is most efficacious from Good Friday ending on Saturday, the ninth day and the day before Divine Mercy Sunday. 

And so, those of us who have devotion to the Holy Souls and their needs can understand the close link between the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena and the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Our Divine Mercy prayers for the conversion of hearts could be the very souls we are praying for in Purgatory too.

Fr. McNamara and ZENIT have kindly given us permission to use the Indulgences article published in February 2005. It is below in its entirety and helps explain how we can gain indulgences for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The whole issue of gaining partial or plenary indulgences can be confusing. When 2004-2005 was dedicated as the Year of the Eucharist, some people had some questions about indulgences that could be gained during this special year. 

Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University, responds to various liturgical questions for ZENIT. (See below for more information.) Here is a question and Fr. McNamara's extensive response to the whole area of indulgences, of particular interest regarding indulgences which can be gained for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:

A: The new indulgence (its decree was published Jan. 14) may be obtained in two ways. First, "each time the faithful participate attentively and piously in a sacred function or a devotional exercise undertaken in honour of the Blessed Sacrament, solemnly exposed or conserved in the tabernacle." 

Second, it is granted "to the clergy, to members of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, and to other faithful who are by law obliged to recite the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as to those who customarily recite the Divine Office out of pure devotion, each and every time they recite -- at the end of the day, in company or private -- vespers and night prayers before the Lord present in the tabernacle." 

This latter norm created some confusion as even the Latin text was not perfectly clear. One of the advantages of living in Rome is that one can pick up a phone and ask for clarifications. This process resolved several doubts. 

One regarded the expressions "at the end of the day." Did this mean that vespers (Evening Prayer) and Night Prayer had to be prayed together one after the other? Another was the doubt highlighted by our reader regarding two plenary indulgences. 

The reply was that although both offices must be prayed before the Blessed Sacrament in order to gain the plenary indulgence, they may be prayed at different moments of the evening.

With this point clear, the other followed naturally: We are dealing with a single plenary indulgence that requires two distinct moments of prayer. Hence, the norm that one may obtain only one plenary indulgence a day, applicable to oneself or to a soul in purgatory, remains in force.

No. 1471 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."

No. 1479 adds: "Since the faithful departed now being purified are also members of the same communion of saints, one way we can help them is to obtain indulgences for them, so that the temporal punishment due for their sins may be remitted." 

The decree reminds the faithful that to obtain a plenary indulgence it is necessary to observe the "usual conditions": 

1. Sacramental confession, usually within a week before or after obtaining the indulgence. One sacramental confession is sufficient for several indulgences. 
2. Eucharistic Communion. Unlike confession, only one indulgence may be obtained for each Communion. Although this Communion may be fulfilled several days before or after obtaining the indulgence, it is preferable that this condition be fulfilled the same day. Thus, those who practice regular confession and daily Mass may obtain a plenary indulgence practically every day. 
3. Prayer in keeping with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. Like Communion, prayer for the Pope's intentions must be recited for the gaining of each plenary indulgence. Although there are no prescribed prayers the condition is satisfied by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary. 
4. Having the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin. This is the most difficult condition as even attachment to venial sin precludes the possibility of obtaining the indulgence. However, note that the condition is not freedom from all venial sin, but from attachment to sin; that is, that there is no sin which the soul is unwilling to renounce.

Apart from the above, here are some of the principal concessions of plenary indulgences within reach of most Catholics.

1. Remain in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at least half an hour. 
2. The participation in the Adoration of the Cross, on Good Friday.
3. Spiritual exercises of at least three days.
4. Those who make their first Communion or who assist at another's first Communion.
5. Praying at least five decades of the rosary in a church or chapel, or else in family, a religious community or a pious association. The conditions are that the five decades be prayed without interruption; meditation on the mysteries must be added to the vocal recitation; and in public recitation the mysteries must be announced according to approved local custom.
6. Celebrating or assisting at a priest's first solemn Mass, or at his 25th, 50th or 60th anniversary Mass. The priest should also renew before God his proposal to faithfully fulfil the obligations of his vocation. 
7. Visiting a church or altar on the day of its dedication and praying an Our Father and a Creed. 
8. Renewing one's baptismal promises during the Easter Vigil or on the anniversary of one's baptism. 
9. Reading sacred Scripture as spiritual reading with the devotion due to God’s Word for at least a half-hour. 
10. Making the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross. This must be done at legitimately erected stations, which require 14 crosses to which other images or statues may be added.
The Way of the Cross usually consists of 14 sacred readings, to which some vocal prayers may be added. 
However, to fulfil the pious exercise it is enough to meditate on the Lord's passion and death, with no need to make a particular consideration regarding each individual station. Thus, one may also meditate on episodes of the Passion that differ from the traditional 14 stations. 
It is also necessary to move from one station to the next, although, if during a public celebration the whole group cannot easily move, it is sufficient that the person who guides the stations move from one station to the next. 
If someone is legitimately impeded from doing the stations, he or she may obtain the same indulgence through pious reading and meditation on the Lord's passion and death for about 15 minutes or so.
11. Devoutly receiving a papal blessing including those imparted "urbi et orbi" (to the city of Rome and the world) such as is customary at Easter and Christmas, and received through live transmission by radio, television or Internet.
The local bishop may also impart the apostolic blessing three times a year on dates of their choosing, at the end of a specially solemn Mass.
12. Each Friday of Lent a plenary indulgence is granted to those who piously recite the prayer "Look down Upon Me, Good and Gentle Jesus" after Communion, before an image of Christ crucified. This prayer is among those offered in the missal for thanksgiving after Communion. 
13. "To the faithful in danger of death, who cannot be assisted by a priest to bring them the sacraments and impart the Apostolic Blessing with its plenary indulgence, Holy Mother Church nevertheless grants a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death, provided they are properly disposed and have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross to gain this indulgence is praiseworthy. 

"The condition, provided they have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime, supplies in such cases for the three usual conditions required for the gaining of a plenary indulgence. 

"The plenary indulgence at the point of death can be acquired by the faithful, even if they have already obtained another plenary indulgence on the same day." (Enchiridion of Indulgences)

Apart from the plenary indulgences, Catholics do well to be aware that most of their habitual prayers, sacrifices and habitual service to others, from the sign of the cross to the Hail Mary, are endowed with partial indulgences which increase their weight before God and give them an opportunity to exercise selfless charity in offering their prayers in benefit of the souls in purgatory."

-- Activities of John Paul II, such as his travels, documents and audiences

-- The Vatican, including diplomatic activity, humanitarian efforts, and profiles of Church leaders

-- Interviews with and features about leading lay Catholics, including researchers, politicians, writers and entertainers 

If you would like to receive the ZENIT newsletter by email in any of the following languages: Español, English, Français, Deutsch, Italiano, Português, you can subscribe from their website: www.zenit.org

1. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the highest form of prayer that we can offer for the needs of the Holy Souls. It has been quoted that one Mass attended in our lifetime is worth hundreds offered for us after our death. 
2. Healing the Family Tree Masses are most beneficial both to those who attend and the ancestors of those attending. Many wonderful healings have been reported.
3. If possible, parishes could aim to have a monthly Mass specifically for the Holy Souls.
4. Spend some time in Eucharistic Adoration specifically for the Souls in Purgatory and perhaps organise a special time of Eucharistic Adoration just for the Holy Souls.
5. Pray the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Chaplet of the Holy Souls daily, if possible.
6. Recite special prayers for the Holy Souls like the one given to St. Gertrude below which carries the promise of the release of 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time it is prayed.
7. Offer this invocation throughout the day: “Jesus and Mary I love You, save souls”.
8. Form prayer groups which include prayers for the Holy Souls. Arrange parish Rosaries, Stations of the Cross or Eucharistic Adoration for the Holy Souls.
9. Offer up aches, pains and sufferings for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and for the conversion of sinners.

Prayer of Saint Gertrude the Great

Eternal Father, I offer You the most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for all sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in 
my own home and within my own family. Amen 

8pm Saturday 14th May to 1am Sunday 15th May.
Knock Shrine, County Mayo, Ireland
Confessions, much prayer and singing, Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.
Fr. Denis O’Sullivan SMA – main celebrant and speaker.
Concelebrating priests for Mass (and confessions) most welcome.

Please try to arrange buses from your area and make this a special night of prayer during Pentecost for the Holy Souls. 

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The Holy Souls Crusade has published a small pocket-sized prayer booklet and these are available from the addresses below or by emailing us. We also have available a special Rosary for the Holy Souls. As a small voluntary organisation we are just beginning the process of registering as a Charity. This will allow us to accept cheque donations towards the cost of printing and postage. Postal charges are astronomical and yet we feel it of huge benefit to be able to send prayer leaflets to every new Member, as they, in turn, can then promote the needs of the Holy Souls in their own area. 

We aim to arrange special prayer days for the Holy Souls twice a year – a Night Vigil in the late Spring and the Sunday within the Octave of the Feast of the Holy Souls. (Pentecost Eve May 14th 2005 and Sunday 6th. November 2005) As this is our first Night Vigil we pray for its success and ask you to keep this in your prayers also. Our next newsletter will be published well in advance of the Feast of the Holy Souls and for those who have an email address we would ask that you contact us please. This will allow us to send the Newsletter by email, thus cutting down on costs. God Bless you all and thank you for your prayers for the Holy Souls. Your intentions are included in Masses for the Members of the Holy Souls Crusade.

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We invite additions to this column to promote special Masses and prayers for the Holy Souls in your area. Below is just a start to this column, with your help it will grow and as it does we hope to start a country-by-country and parish-by-parish list on the website showing Masses, Rosaries, Prayer Groups etc. dedicated for the Holy Souls. Please send us your information and we will include it:

http://www.holysoulscrusade.org/
Email:

Ireland:

St. Cornan’s Church, Kilcornan, Clarinbridge, County Galway
Every Thursday at 3pm – Fr. Martin Keane
Healing the Family Tree Mass and Eucharistic Adoration

Abbey Parish, Loughrea
The third Thursday of the month 8pm – Fr. Cathal Stanley
Healing the Family Tree Mass

Northern Ireland:

Monthly Rosary and Prayers for the Holy Souls
St. Bridget’s Church, Carnhill, Derry – 1st Sunday of the month at 5pm
Longtower Church, Derry – 1st Sunday of the month at 5pm
Contact Matt Dalton, Ph: 00353 74 9368014

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CONTACTS

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