All the day long my enemies reproached me: and they that praised me did
swear against me.
For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
Because of Thy anger and indignation: for having lifted me up, Thou hast
thrown me down.
My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like grass.
But Thou, O Lord, endurest forever: and Thy memorial for all generations.
Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have mercy on
it, for the time is come.
For the stones thereof have pleased Thy servants: and they shall have pity
on the earth thereof.
And the Gentiles shall fear Thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of the
earth Thy glory.
For the Lord hath built up Sion: and He shall be seen in His glory.
He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble: and He hath not despised
their petition.
Let these things be written unto another generation: and the people that
shall be created shall praise the Lord.
Because He has looked forth from His high sanctuary: from heaven the Lord
hath looked upon the earth.
That He might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that He might
release the children of the slain.
That they might declare the name of the Lord in Sion, and His praise in
Jerusalem.
When the people assemble together, and the kings, to serve the Lord.
He answered Him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the fewness of
my days.
Call me not away in the midst of my days: Thy years are unto generation
and generation.
In the beginning, O Lord, Thou foundest the earth; and the heavens are the
works of Thy hands.
They shall perish, but Thou remainest: and all of them shall grow old like
a garment:
And as a vesture Thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed. But
Thou art always the self‐same, and Thy years shall not fail.
The children of Thy servants shall continue: and their seed shall be
directed forever.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Psalm CXXIX.
_De profundis._
Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities, Lord, who shall stand?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness; and by reason of Thy law I
have waited for Thee, O Lord!
My soul hath relied on His word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with Him plentiful redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Psalm CXLII.
_Domine exaudi._
Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in Thy truth: hear me
in Thy justice.
And enter not into judgment with Thy servant: for in Thy sight no man
living shall be justified.
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the
earth.
He hath made me to dwell in the darkness as those that have been dead of
old: and my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is
troubled.
I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all Thy works: I meditated
upon the works of Thy hands.
I stretched forth my hands to Thee: my soul is as earth without water unto
Thee.
Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away.
Turn not away Thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into
the pit.
Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning: for in Thee have I hoped.
Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my
soul to Thee.
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord; to Thee have I fled: teach me to do
Thy will, for Thou art my God.
Thy good Spirit shall lead me into the right land: and for Thy name’s
sake, O Lord, Thou wilt quicken me in Thy justice.
Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble: and in Thy mercy Thou wilt destroy
my enemies.
And Thou wilt cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am Thy servant.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
_Ant._ Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents, and
take not revenge of our sins.
Efficacious Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory.
A Daily Exercise For The Relief Of The Poor Souls.
O most loving God, Father of mercies, God of infinite goodness, behold me
humbly prostrate before Thy throne; I pray and beseech Thee to have pity
on the holy souls that are in the pains of purgatory. Cast on them a look
of mercy, free them from their pains, and put them in possession of the
inheritance of heaven. Remember that they are the work of Thy hands,
redeemed by the most precious blood of Thy divine Son Jesus: deal with
them according to Thine infinite mercy. Hear, O Lord, the prayer I make to
Thee with all confidence, through the merits of the Passion and death of
Thy most dear Son Jesus, that they may be consoled, and may enjoy without
delay that immortal glory which Thou hast prepared for Thine elect. O
merciful Lord, have pity upon them, according to our trust in Thee. Amen.
_Prayers._
1. O most sweet Jesus, through the sweat of blood which Thou didst suffer
in the Garden of Gethsemani, have pity upon the holy souls in purgatory,
and in particular upon the one which was most devout to the most Holy
Trinity.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal rest, etc.
O turn to Jesus, Mother! turn,
And call Him by His tenderest names;
Pray for the holy souls that burn
This hour amid the cleansing flames.
2. O most sweet Jesus, through the torments which Thou didst suffer in Thy
most cruel scourging, have pity upon those dear souls, and particularly
upon the one which was the most devout to Thy most amiable Heart.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal rest, etc.
O turn to Jesus, etc.
3. O most sweet Jesus, through the pangs which Thou didst suffer in Thy
most painful crowning with thorns, have pity upon those dear souls, and
particularly upon the one which was most devout to the immaculate heart of
Mary.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal rest, etc.
O turn to Jesus, etc.
4. O most sweet Jesus, through the afflictions which Thou didst suffer in
carrying the cross to Calvary, have pity upon those dear souls, and
particularly upon the one which is nearest to its departure from that most
painful prison.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal rest, etc.
O turn to Jesus, etc.
5. O most sweet Jesus, through the tortures which Thou didst suffer in Thy
most cruel crucifixion, have pity upon those dear souls, and especially
upon that one which Thou knowest to be of them all the most destitute of
special suffrages.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal rest, etc.
O turn to Jesus, etc.
6. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in the
most bitter agony which Thou didst undergo upon the cross, have pity upon
those dear souls, and particularly upon the one which among them all would
be the last to depart out of such excruciating pains.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal rest, etc.
O turn to Jesus, etc.
7. O most sweet Jesus, through that intense anguish which Thou didst
suffer, when Thou didst breathe out Thy blessed soul, have pity upon those
dear souls, and particularly upon the one which has the greatest claims on
me for help.
Have pity upon them, O Jesus, have pity upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Eternal rest, etc.
O Mary, let thy Son no more
His lingering spouses thus expect:
God’s children to their God restore,
And to the Spirit His elect.
They are the children of thy tears;
Then hasten, Mother, to their aid;
In pity think each hour appears
An age while glory is delayed.
Pray, then, as thou hast ever prayed;
Angels and souls, all look to thee;
God waits thy prayers, for He hath made
Those prayers His law of charity.
O turn to Jesus, Mother! turn,
And call Him by His tenderest names;
Pray for the holy souls that burn
This hour amid the cleansing flames.
Supplication To The Most Holy Mary.
To thee, O most holy Virgin Mary, my Mother, I turn in supplication, and
through that sword which pierced thy heart, when thou didst behold thy
beloved Son Jesus Christ bow down His head and give up the ghost, I pray
and implore thee, with the greatest confidence, to succor the poor holy
souls in purgatory, and particularly those of which an especial
commemoration has been made. O Mother of sorrows, O Queen of martyrs, for
the love of Jesus Who died for us upon the cross, do thou with thy
powerful prayers give succor also unto us, who are in danger not only of
falling into purgatory, but even of losing ourselves forever. O Mary, our
dear Mother, Mother of grace, Mother of mercy, have pity upon us.
_Ejaculation to be repeated every day during the Octave._
O eternal Father, through the most precious blood of Jesus, and through
the most bitter dolors of Mary, have pity and mercy upon the holy souls in
purgatory. Amen.
Prayers for Each Day for the Souls in Purgatory.
For Sunday.
O Lord God almighty, I pray Thee, by the precious blood which Thy divine
Son Jesus shed in the Garden; set free the souls in purgatory, and, among
them all, especially the one which is most friendless, and conduct it to
Thy glory, where it may praise Thee and bless Thee for eternity. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Psalm, _De Profundis_.
_Prayer._
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of
Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through pious
supplications they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired;
Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
_V._ Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.
_R._ And let perpetual light shine upon them.
_V._ May they rest in peace.
_R._ Amen.
Monday.
O Lord God almighty, I pray Thee, through the precious blood which Thy
divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging; set free the souls in
purgatory, and, among them all, especially the one which is nearest to its
entry into Thy glory, in order that it may speedily begin to praise Thee
and to bless Thee for eternity. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Psalm, _De Profundis_.
O God, the Creator, etc., etc.
Tuesday.
O Lord God almighty, I supplicate Thee, through the precious blood which
Thy divine Son Jesus shed in His bitter crowning with thorns; set free the
souls in purgatory, and in particular, among them all, the one which would
have to be the last to depart from such grievous pains, to the end that it
may not delay so long to praise Thee in Thy glory, and to bless Thee
forever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Psalm, _De Profundis_.
O God, the Creator, etc., etc.
Wednesday.
O Lord God almighty, I pray Thee, through the precious blood which Thy
divine Son Jesus shed through the streets of Jerusalem, in carrying the
cross on His sacred shoulders; set free the souls in purgatory, and
especially the one which is the richest in merits before Thee, in order
that in the sublime height of glory which it expects, it may loudly praise
Thee and bless Thee forever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Psalm, _De Profundis_.
O God, the Creator, etc., etc.
Thursday.
O Lord God almighty, I supplicate Thee, through the precious body and
blood of Thy divine Son Jesus, which He Himself on the eve of His Passion
gave erewhile for meat and drink to His dear apostles, and left to all His
Church as a perpetual sacrifice and lifegiving food for His faithful; set
free the souls in purgatory, and most of all the one most devout to this
mystery of infinite love; in order that it may praise Thee for it with Thy
divine Son, and with the Holy Ghost in Thy glory forever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Psalm, _De Profundis_.
O God, the Creator, etc., etc.
Friday.
O Lord God almighty, I pray Thee, through the precious blood which Thy
divine Son Jesus shed on this day on the altar of the cross, especially
from His most holy hands and feet; set free the souls in purgatory, and
especially the one for which I ought most to pray to Thee; in order that
it may not be owing to my fault that Thou dost not quickly take it to
praise Thee in Thy glory, and to bless Thee forever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Psalm, _De Profundis_.
O God, the Creator, etc., etc.
Saturday.
O Lord God almighty, I supplicate Thee, through the precious blood which
poured forth from the side of Thy divine Son Jesus, in the sight and to
the exceeding suffering of His most holy Mother; set free the souls in
purgatory, and especially, among them all, the one which was most devout
to this great Queen; in order that it may speedily come to Thy glory to
praise Thee in her, and her in Thee for all eternity. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Psalm, _De Profundis_.
O God, the Creator, etc., etc.
Indulgence of a hundred days each time; applicable to the dead.
An Invocation of the Most Holy Trinity for the Souls in Purgatory.
O God of all goodness, Father of mercies, Who, at the prayers and fastings
of Thy faithful people, didst vouchsafe to send Thy angels to break
asunder the fetters of Thy holy apostle Peter, and to open the doors of
his prison; hear even also on this day the prayers and supplications of
Thy Church, and send Thy angel to the souls for whom we pray, that, the
doors of their prison being opened wide, they may be happily received into
the bosom of Thy mercy.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc., etc.
O Son of God, Saviour of souls, Who didst refresh the three children in
the burning fiery furnace, pour down upon the souls that cry to Thee from
the flames, Thy heavenly dew. Thy precious blood alone can quench the
flames of purgatory; oh, let it now flow down upon these suffering souls,
and do Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon them.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc., etc.
O Spirit of love, have compassion on the cruel torment which these souls
endure, that are filled with the purest charity, and, aspiring without
ceasing towards their God, cry aloud in their distress, “I thirst: I
thirst after my God!” and yet cannot attain unto the object of their love,
nor receive the least drop of that torrent of pure delights. O Holy
Spirit, grant that, having felt the fiercest pangs of love, they may taste
its heavenly delights in a blessed eternity. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc., etc.
Prayer that may be used by Surviving Friends.
Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that while we lament the departure of Thy
servant, we may always remember that we are most certainly to follow him
[her]. Give us grace to prepare for that last hour by a good and holy
life, that we may not be taken unprepared by sudden death, but may be ever
on the watch, that, when Thou shalt call, we may go forth to meet the
Bridegroom, and enter with Him into glory everlasting. Through the same
Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
O most wise and merciful Lord, Who hast ordained this life as a passage to
the future, confining our repentance to the time of our pilgrimage here,
and reserving for hereafter the state of punishment and reward; vouchsafe
to us who are yet alive, and have still the opportunity of reconciliation
with Thee, the grace so to watch over all our actions, and to correct
every slightest wandering from the true way to heaven, that we may not be
surprised with our sins uncancelled or our duties unfulfilled; but when
our bodies shall go down into the grave, our souls may ascend to Thee, and
dwell with Thee forever in the mansions of eternal bliss. Through Jesus
Christ Our Lord and only Saviour. Amen.
Litany of the Faithful Departed.
(_For Private Devotion Only._)
Lord, have mercy on us.
_Christ, have mercy on us._
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
_Christ, graciously hear us._
God the Father of heaven, _Have mercy on the suffering souls._
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, _Have mercy on the suffering souls._
God the Holy Ghost, _Have mercy on the suffering souls._
Holy Trinity, one God, _Have mercy on the suffering souls._
Holy Mary, _Pray for the suffering souls._
Holy Mother of God, _Pray for the suffering souls._
Holy Virgin of virgins, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Michael, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye holy angels and archangels, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye choirs of celestial spirits, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. John the Baptist, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Joseph, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Peter, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Paul, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. John, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye holy apostles and evangelists, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Stephen, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Laurence, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye holy martyrs, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Gregory, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Ambrose, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Augustine, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Jerome, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye holy pontiffs and confessors, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye holy doctors, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye holy priests and Levites, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye holy monks and hermits, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Mary Magdalen, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Catharine, _Pray for the suffering souls._
St. Barbara, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye holy virgins and widows, _Pray for the suffering souls._
All ye saints of God, _Pray for the suffering souls._
Be merciful unto them,
_Pardon them, O Lord._
Be merciful unto them,
_Hear us, O Lord._
From all evil, O _Lord, deliver them._
From Thy wrath, _O Lord, deliver them._
From the rigor of Thy justice, _O Lord, deliver them._
From the gnawing worm of conscience, _O Lord, deliver them._
From fearful darkness, _O Lord, deliver them._
From their mourning and tears, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy incarnation, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy nativity, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thine own sweet name, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy baptism and holy fasting, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy most profound humility, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy perfect submission, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy infinite love, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy anguish and torment, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy bloody sweat, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy bonds and chains, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy crown of thorns, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy ignominious death, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy sacred wounds, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy cross and bitter Passion, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thy glorious resurrection, _O Lord, deliver them._
By Thine admirable ascension, _O Lord, deliver them._
By the coming of the Paraclete, _O Lord, deliver them._
In the day of judgment, _We beseech Thee, hear us._
Sinners as we are, _We beseech Thee, hear us._
Thou Who didst absolve the adulteress, and pardon the good thief, _We
beseech Thee, hear us._
Thou Who savest by Thy grace, _We beseech Thee, hear us._
Thou Who hast the keys of death and of hell, _We beseech Thee, hear us._
That it may please Thee to deliver our parents, friends, and benefactors
from tormenting flames, _We beseech Thee, hear us._
That it may please Thee to deliver all the faithful departed, _We beseech
Thee, hear us._
That it may please Thee to have mercy on all those who have none in this
world to remember or pray for them, _We beseech Thee, hear
us._
That it may please Thee to have mercy on all, and to deliver them from
their pains, _We beseech Thee, hear us._
That it may please Thee to fulfil their desires, _We beseech Thee, hear
us._
That it may please Thee to admit them amongst Thine elect, _We beseech
Thee, hear us._
King of dreadful majesty, _We beseech Thee, hear us._
Son of God, _We beseech Thee, hear us._
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, _Give them rest!_
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, _Give them rest!_
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, _Give them eternal
rest!_
Jesus Christ, hear us.
_Jesus Christ, graciously hear us._
Our Father, etc.
_V._ From the gate of hell.
_R._ O Lord, preserve their souls.
_Let Us Pray._
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls of
Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, to the end that
they may obtain, by the humble supplications of Thy Church, that pardon
which they have always desired of Thy mercy. Thou Who, being God, livest
and reignest forever and ever. Amen.
_V._ Give them, O Lord, eternal rest.
_R._ And let perpetual light shine upon them.
_V._ May they rest in peace.
_R._ Amen.
Psalm CXXIX.
_De Profundis._
Out of the depths I have cried unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of Thy law I
have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on His word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night: let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy: and with Him plentiful redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
_V._ Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord.
_R._ And let perpetual light shine upon them.
_V._ May they rest in peace.
_R._ Amen.
An indulgence of fifty days can be gained thrice in the same day by all
the faithful who shall devoutly recite the _De Profundis_, with the
versicles and responses. Plenary indulgence once a year, after confession
and communion.