How We Can Help the Holy Souls
1) Nothing helps the Poor Souls more than Masses. So, when you are able to do so, have one or more Masses offered for the souls of your deceased family members - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Assist at Masses with the intention of offering up all of the benefits and Graces of the Mass for one or more Poor Souls, or just the Poor Souls in general without mentioning anyone.
2) Pray for the Poor Souls.
3) Gain indulgences, especially Plenary Indulgences for them.
4) Recite the Holy Rosary, make the Stations of the Cross, etc. for the Poor Souls.
It is said that Saint John Massias released more than a million souls from Purgatory primarily by saying the Rosary and offering the Rosary indulgences for them.
5) Brief prayers, called ejaculations, are quick and easy to say. Offer up the indulgences attached to them to the Poor Souls. Some people have the custom of saying 500 or 1,000 times each day the little ejaculation: "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee" or the one word, "Jesus" These are most consoling devotions and bring oceans of graces to those who practice them and give immense relief to the Holy Souls.
Those who say the ejaculations 1,000 times a day would gain 300,000 days Indulgences. What a multitude of souls they can thus relieve! What will it not be at the end of a month, a year, or 5 years or 10 years or more? But, if they do not say the ejaculations, what an immense number of graces and favors they shall have lost. It is quite possible and even easy to say these ejaculations 1,000 times a day. But if one does not say them 1,000 times, let him say them 500 or 200 times.
6) "Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, with all the Masses being said all over the world this day, for the Souls in Purgatory."
Our Lord showed Saint Gertrude a vast number of souls leaving Purgatory and going to Heaven as a result of this prayer which the Saint was accustomed to say frequently during the day.
6) Prayerfully consider making The Heroic Act of Charity. It consists in offering to God in favor of the Souls in Purgatory all the works of satisfaction we practice during life and all the suffrages that will be offered for us after death. If God rewards so abundantly the most trifling alms given to a poor man in His name, what an immense reward will He not give to those who offer all their works of satisfaction in life and death for the souls He loves so dearly.
This Act does not prevent Priests from offering Mass for the intentions they wish, or the Laity from praying for any persons or other intentions they desire. We counsel everyone to make this act.
7) Give alms to help the Poor Souls. Saint Martin gave half of his cloak to a poor beggar, only to find out afterwards that it was to Christ he had given it. Our Lord appeared to him and thanked him.
Blessed Jordan of the Dominican Order could never refuse an alms when it was asked in the name of God. One day he had forgotten his purse. A poor man implored an alms for the love of God. Rather than refuse him, Jordan, who was then a student, gave him a most precious belt or cincture which he prized dearly. Shortly afterwards, he entered a church and found his cincture encircling the waist of an image of Christ Crucified. He, too, had given his alms to Christ. We all give our alms to Christ.
Give whatever alms you can afford, but consider using the money first and foremost for Masses for the Poor Souls because Masses and many times much more powerful than alms to help the Poor Souls.
8) Offer up your pain and sufferings for the relief of the Poor Souls.
In doing these things, you will deliver countless souls from Purgatory, who will repay you many, many times over and you will also gain a much higher place in Heaven, too!!!
http://www.shrineofsaintjude.net/home1606.html#13. To Avoid Purgatory, Do as Follows
Topic: Praying for the souls in purgatory not necessary (Read 54001 times)