November, the month dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory, is fast approaching.
So many here on CI, when we die, will have no one to pray for us as our friends and families have long forgotten tradition.
Now is the time to make friends with the Church Suffering.
There is a little book, in print continuously since the 1800's, that is a great help for developing a devotion to the relief of these suffering souls.  It is from the writings of St. Alphonsus de Ligouri by the Redemptorists.

Your can view it here.
https://www.catholickingdom.com/s_Library/Books/M/Manual_of_the_Purgatorian_Society_OCR_CK.pdf

There are 31 little sermons on Purgatory, a short prayer, an intention and a practice after which you pray the Eternal Rest Prayer three times for each day of the month.
It is good for November to read the whole entry and the rest of the year you could just go directly to the prayer, intention etc.

The book contains other prayers, psalms, litanies, Heroic Act of Love etc., 285 pages.
There are now several reprints but for daily use the paper backs just won't hold up.  Though
expensive on Ebay , Loreto Press has the best deal and it's leather.

https://loretopubs.org/purgatorian-manual-the-clone.html

If we don't forget them they won't forget us.

bumping since November is soon.

This reminds me that I have a question.  Over the years, I have seen the Souls in Purgatory described as "Poor" or "Holy".  Should we use "Poor"?  Or is it proper/traditional for either description? I'm not sure if I heard "Holy" in the NO or not.

visit a cemetary and church

Is it necessary to visit both?

I was planning to just go with a friend and pray the Rosary at a cemetery. Also, is there a special prayer for offering the Rosary in suffrage for the poor souls? Or should we offer the Rosary with that general intention?

Ave María

It's been my understanding you visit both.  On another thread someone mentioned when they were young they'd ride their bikes from one to the other several times.  In the '50's we were fortunate the cemetery was right next to the church so we made several trips that day.

The traditional custom was to visit the cemetery, sprinkle holy water on the graves of loved ones or others, pray the eternal rest prayer, the De Profundis or any prayer, then go to the church and pray five Paters, Aves and Glorias for the intentions of the Holy Father. The Holy Water is optional. That is the procedure that is indulgenced.

No special prayer for offering the Rosary.  You could offer it for someone you knew  or give it to Our Lady to apply to whomever she pleases.

Thank you

There are quite a few different indulgences in the Raccolta.
On All Souls Day and every day of the octave a plenary indulgence applicable to the dead may be gained on the usual conditions just by visiting a cemetery and praying, even mentally, for the dead. This indulgence is also contained in the 1968 reform.
On All Souls Day itself, and the Sunday immediately following, a plenary indulgence may also be gained for the souls in purgatory every single time you visit a church to pray for the dead on the usual conditions, plus the recitation of six Paters, Aves and Glorias for the Holy Father on each visit. The 1968 reform only grants it once on the day, or with the consent of the Ordinary the Sunday preceding and following plus All Saints Day, and requires the recitation of the Pater and Credo, but not the six Paters Aves and Glorias...

This November (and every day thereafter) when offering prayers and sacrifices for our deceased family and friends, let's not forget our friends from here on CI.
 

Matthew O'Hare    (Matto)            November 30, AD 2021
Kathleen Donelly  (Donkath)        December 28, AD 2021
Myrna Migala                               August  17 AD 2022
 

Taken from the Father Lasance  "Prayer Book for Religious" 1904. Pg 575 
  
BEADS FOR THE DEAD 
 
This chaplet for the dead consists of four decades (40 beads) in honour 
and memory of the forty hours that Our Lord Jesus Christ 
passed in Limbo to deliver and conduct to heaven all the 
souls of the saints who died before Him. 
 
Begin with the 
DE PROFUNDIS  (Psalm 129)
 
Out of the depths I  have cried unto Thee, O Lord!
Lord hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shall mark our iniquities,
O Lord, who shall stand it?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness;
and by reason of Thy law I have waited on Thee, O Lord.
From the morning watch even unto night, let
Israel hope in the Lord,
Because with the Lord there is mercy; and
with Him plenteous redemption.
And  He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
 
On the four large beads pray: 
 
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual 
light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace. Amen 

O my God I believe in Thee, because Thou art truth itself. 
I hope in Thee, because Thou art infinitely merciful. 
I love Thee with my whole heart and above all things because 
Thou art infinitely perfect, and I love my neighbour as myself 
for the love of Thee.
 I am truly sorry for having sinned,  because Thou art infinitely good
 and sin displeases Thee. 
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace never more to 
offend Thee.  Amen. 
 
On the small beads pray: 
 
Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation. 
 
Conclude with the DE PROFUNDIS 
 
Indulgence of 60 YEARS each time, applicable to the souls in Purgatory

Poor souls can also be referred to "Charitable souls", since they intercede for us. ( they cannot pray for us).