OPENING PRAYER: HAVE MERCY ON THE SUFFERING SOULS
(To be repeated each day)
Hear ye not the spirits’ moaning
From the depths of cleansing fire?
Know ye not the burning anguish
Of these souls – their hearts’ desire?
Hear them cry in bitter sorrow,
Sighing, weeping in their pains,
While they call on us who love them,
“Break our heavy prison chains!”
Though their lives on earth were holy,
And their virtue manifest,
Yet some stains of imperfection
Still prevent their perfect rest.
And they weep in mournful numbers,
Pleading for our fervent pray’r,
Oh, take pity on their sorrow,
Let their solace be your care.
Place your pray’r, your pious off’ring
For these suffering souls, so poor,
In the hands of our dear Mother,
Of sweet Mary Virgin pure.
With a mother’s love and mercy
She will lead them to her Son;
And their pain shall turn to glory
There, before the Heav’nly throne.
CLOSING PRAYER
(To be repeated each day)
V. O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemani, have mercy on these blessed souls.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them.
V. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them.
V. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them.
V. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy Cross to Calvary, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them.
V. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them.
V. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them.
V. O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy blessed soul, have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord, have mercy on them.
(Here recommend yourself to the souls in Purgatory, and mention the favor you wish to obtain by this Novena)
Blessed souls, we have prayed for you; we entreat you, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for us miserable sinners, who are in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.
