Pray For The Holy Souls

(From the Catechism of the Catholic Church)

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned...

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.

V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.

V. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. 

 O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of Hell 

and from the deep pit; deliver them from the lion's mouth, that Hell may not swallow them up, 

and may they not fall into darkness; but may the holy standard-bearer Michael lead them into the holy Light 

which Thou didst promise to Abraham and to his seed of old. 

We offer to Thee, O Lord, sacrifices and prayers; do Thou receive them on behalf of those souls 

whom we commemorate this day. Grant them, O Lord, 

to pass from death to that Life which Thou didst promise to Abraham and to his seed of old.

O Almighty God, with whom live the souls of the perfect, 

and in Whose holy keeping are placed the souls of those 

that depart hence in an inferior degree of Thy grace- they being, by their imperfect character, 

unworthy of Thy presence and therefore detained in a state of grief and suspended hopes-

as we bless Thee for the saints already admitted to Thy glory, 

so we humbly offer our prayers for Thine afflicted servants, 

who continually wait and sigh for the day of their deliverance. 

Pardon their sins, supply their want of preparation, and wipe away the tears from their eyes, 

that they may see Thee, and in Thy glorious sight rejoice eternally, 

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in satisfaction for my sins, 

in supplication for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and for the needs of the Holy Church. Amen.