 (c)Bobbie 2011 used with permission Praying for families, living and dead, at the Blue Cross |
| April 13, 2012 Easter Friday
Dear Family of Mary!
"Dear children! Today I wish to call you to pray daily for souls in purgatory. For every soul prayer and grace is necessary to reach God and the love of God. By doing this, dear children, you obtain new intercessors who will help you in life to realize that all the earthly things are not important for you, that only Heaven is that for which it is necessary to strive. Therefore, dear children, pray without ceasing that you may be able to help yourselves and the others to whom your prayers will bring joy. Thank you for having responded to my call." (November 6, 1986)
We are on Day 8 of the Divine Mercy Novena - praying for the Souls in Purgatory! We know that the Souls in Purgatory often visited St. Faustina, asking for her intercession. They needed prayer and sacrifice in order to enter the presence of God and St. Faustina was very empathetic to their plight. She wrote about many of these visits in her diary, and here is one such case:
July 9, 1937. This evening, one of the deceased sisters came and asked me for one day of fasting and to offer all my [spiritual] exercises on that day for her. I answered that I would.
From early morning on the following day, I offered everything for her intention. During Holy Mass, I had a brief experience of her torment. I experienced such intense hunger for God that I seemed to be dying of the desire to become united with him. This lasted only a short time, but I understood what the longing of the souls in purgatory was like.
Immediately after Holy Mass, I asked Mother Superior's permission to fast, but I did not receive it because of my illness. When I entered the chapel, I heard these words: "If you had fasted, Sister, I would not have gotten relief until the evening, but for the sake of your obedience, which prevented you from fasting, I obtained this relief at once. Obedience has great power." After these words I heard: "May God reward you." (Diary 1185, 86, 87)
The souls are dependent upon our prayers. They can no longer earn graces, but are experiencing the deep longing for God that St. Faustina describes above. They are being purified through this longing, made ready for heaven. May we pray for them today in this powerful novena, and every day, as Our Lady asks in her message of 1986. We will gain intercessors in heaven and they will be our eternal friends!
"Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded, manifest your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way than through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion." (Diary 1227)
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2012
PS. For excellent teaching about Purgatory and how to pray for the Souls, I suggest several books written by Susan Tassone, available from Our Sunday Visitor: www.osv.com (Search under Susan Tassone) Or call 1-800-348-2440 Or check at your local Catholic Bookstore!
Here are three titles of Susan's many excellent books: Praying with the Saints for the Holy Souls in Purgatory |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.