Souls in Purgatory Need You!

 Souls in Purgatory are Counting on YOU! 

November has been a month dedicated to prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. A community of sisters known as the Visitation Order had a mystic amidst the Annecy community who had a special mission to these Holy Souls. She was Sister Marie Denise de Martignat, of the Visitation, who died in the Convent at Annecy, in 1653. From her experiences we can be reminded of this “state of soul” after our passing and that of those for whom we pray.

Sr Marie Denise told a superior of a soul from purgatory who had visited her and had talked about the continuance in the pains of Purgatory for a longer period of time than had commonly been thought.  Sr Marie teaches there are four reasons souls are detained in suffering; first, because of the inconceivable purity which the soul must have before it can present itself before Him who is essential sanctity and purity, and who receives no one into His glorious city who is not as pure as the city itself.  Secondly, because of the innumerable multitude of venial faults which we commit in this life, and the little penance which we do for the mortal sins we have confessed. Thirdly, because of the inability of these souls to help themselves; and, fourthly, because of the lukewarmness and negligence of the greater part of Christians in praying and doing good works for these souls, as the dead fade from the memory of the living almost as soon as they have vanished from their eyes; while true charity will follow those it loves, through the flames of Purgatory till the joys of Paradise.

So let’s not forget family and friends who have died and may still be in need of our help.

You can gain on behalf of the souls in Purgatory special indulgences* for every half hour spent in the Adoration Chapel.  Don't wait ... go today ... go often!

(*know the prerequisites for gaining indulgences - display the Page entitled "The Gift of the Indulgence" listed in the left column)

“To Love God is to Love what God Loves”

Adoration - A Plenary Indulgence

A Plenary Indulgence is the remission before God of ‘all’ the temporal punishment due to be suffered for already-forgiven sins.

A Catholic, being in the state of grace, can gain a Plenary Indulgence by many different prayers and works of piety, including:

Making a visit to the Blessed Sacrament to adore Him for at lease one half hour.

In addition to the Visit, these three conditions are required:

1. Confession
2. Holy Communion
3. Prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions.
   (One Our Father and one Hail Mary suffice)

The three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the prescribed work; it is fitting, however, that Communion be received and the prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be recited on the same day the work is performed.

In addition, to gain a Plenary Indulgence, a person’s mind and heart must be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin.

If one tries to gain a Plenary Indulgence, but fails to fulfill all the requirement, the indulgence will be only partial.

(From the leaflet “How to Gain a Plenary Indulgence,” TAN, Imprimature Most Rev. Thomas G. Doran, Bishop of Rockford, March 31, 1998)