Novena for Our Dear Dead

Novena at Home after Burial for the Repose of the Souls of the Deceased

The Holy Rosary

The Novena

The Decade of the Passion

The Litany for the Dead

To pray to God, Our Lord
For the Blessed Souls in Purgatory
and
For Those Who are in Mortal Sin

Manner of Making the Novena

This devotion which is very pleasing to God, in order to be helpful and ease the great pains of the holy souls, may be made at any time and on any occasion with contrition and penance which are most pleasing to God.

I. Pray the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin (everyday)
II. Act of Contrition (everyday)
III. Prayer (everyday)

Act of Contrition

Most powerful and merciful Lord Jesus, lover of souls, most admirable in Thy saints; listen to the sighs and pleas of the souls in Purgatory who are desirous of Thy mercy and to the prayers of those who are making this novena for them, so that they may obtain Thy mercy and deign to rescue them from that prison of their great suffering. We beseech Thee to relieve first those who are suffering there through our fault, our close relatives, the abandoned, and those who are about to be released from Purgatory. We beseech Thee also, to free above all, those who injured us most and deliver from their sins those who are in the bondage of mortal sin and bring them to a sincere repentance of their sins, and become worthy of heaven. Amen.

Prayer for Each Day

First Day

Pray three Hail Holy Queens to the Blessed Virgin, and say the prayer for this day.

Prayer

My Lord, receive our supplications, prayers, mortifications and sighs in suffrage for the blessed souls for whom we make this novena; and we pray that by that motherly love bestowed on Thee by the Blessed Virgin, Thou mayest grant that they may rise and be happy in the realm of the living; bestow upon us Thy grace by those sorrows endured by Thy most Holy Mother, when she followed Thee on the Street of Sorrow up to Mt. Calvary, and grant what we ask of Thee in this novena for Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

(Here ask Christ Crucified what you desire to obtain in this novena for self. Then say the following prayer to be said everyday of the novena.)

Final Prayer

O Lord God, Who left us the marks of Thy Passion on the Holy Sheet, in which Thy Sacred Body was wrapped when it was taken down from the Cross by Joseph, grant us, Lord, that by Thy death and burial, we may be brought to the glory of the Resurrection, where Thou liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Second Day

Pray five Our Fathers and Hail Marys in honor of the five Wounds of Jesus and the great sorrows of Mary and say the following prayer for this day.

Prayer

Most merciful Lord, we beseech Thee, by that pain with which Thy Holy Mother saw Thee suffer and agonize on the Sacred Tree of the Cross, that the holy souls be freed from those pains in Purgatory; especially those souls for whom we are praying in this novena, applying the indulgences granted by the Supreme Pontiffs for their relief to all Religious, Fraternities and Congregations. Bring those who are submerged in their sins to a true knowledge of their guilt and grant what we ask of Thee in this novena for Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

Third Day

Pray three Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorys in honor of Saint Joseph and then say the following prayer for this day.

Prayer

Almighty God and Lord, to whom nobody asks without hope of receiving, by the intercession of that glorious patriarch Saint Joseph, and by the patronage of Thy beloved Mother, particularly by that sorrow She experienced when She saw Thee expire on the Cross, enable the suffering souls in Purgatory to be able to leave that place. Deign to return to Thy grace those who are without it because of sin, and grant us what we as of Thee in this novena for Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

Fourth Day

Pray four Our Fathers and Hail Marys and Glorys in honor of St. Joachim and St. Anne and then say the following prayer for this day.



O Great God, through Whose mercy the saints rest in glory, we beg Thee to set free those blessed souls for whom we are specially praying, through the intercession of St. Joachim and St. Anne. Hear us, Lord, by that bitter pain of Thy afflicted Mother when She heard those outrageous blasphemies and offensive words with which Thy enemies were insulting Thy Divine Innocence, we beg Thee, Lord, to have mercy on those who follow the path of perdition by making them return to Thy grace; and please grant us what we ask in this novena for Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

Fifth Day

Pray four Our Fathers and Hail Marys in honor of St. Michael, the Archangel, and then say the following prayer for this day.

Prayer

Sovereign Lord, in Whom it is proper to be merciful, through the intercession of the Archangel St. Michael and by the sorrows of Thy Blessed Mother suffered when that soldier cruelly pierced Thy side with a lance, have pity on those souls for whom we are offering this novena and bring them to Thy eternal rest. Have mercy on those who are in the state of mortal sin and grant us what we ask of Thee in this novena for Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

Sixth Day

Pray five Our Fathers and Hail Marys and Glorys in reverence of the glorious St. Lawrence, special advocate of the souls and then say the following prayer for this day.

Prayer

Sweetest Jesus, incline Thine ears to our petitions for Thy mercy on the blessed souls in Purgatory, especially on those for whom we are making this novena, through the torments suffered by the glorious St. Lawrence in the fire of his martyrdom. We are also begging Thy mercy for the blessed souls in Purgatory by the pains suffered by Thy loving Mother when she saw Thee being taken down from the Cross and when She received in Her Sacred Hands the Crown and Nails bathed in Thy Precious Blood. Have mercy on those who are not in Thy grace by taking them out of that unhappy state and grant us what we ask of Thee in this novena for Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

Seventh Day

Pray nine Our Fathers and Hails Marys in honor of the nine choirs of Angels, and then say the following prayer for this day.

Merciful Lord, through the intercession of the Angels, especially of those who are the guardians of those afflicted souls for whom we make this novena; and by the sorrow of Thy Blessed Mother when, after having kissed and adored Thy Crown and Nails, She received Thee in Her virginal and maternal arms and gazed on Thy mangled and lacerated Body, we humbly beseech Thee to set them free and bring them to the happiness of Heaven. Lead those who are in mortal sin to a true knowledge of their guilt and grant us the grace we ask of Thee in this novena for Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

Eighth Day

Pray five Our Fathers and Hail Marys in honor of the Seraphic Father St. Francis and St. Nicholas of Tolentino, special patrons of the blessed souls, and then say the following prayer for this day.

Prayer

My sweet and beloved Jesus, through the intercession of Thy beloved seraphim, St. Francis, and of the glorious and charitable St. Nicholas of Tolentino, we beg of Thee to shower the immense treasures of Thy clemency on those blessed souls whose torments so touched the charity of these two Servants of Thine. But we beg this grace especially through that bleeding Heart of Thy Blessed Mother when She wrapped and clothed Thy Sacred Body for burial and accompanied it to the Sepulchre. Reduce those who are in sin to a true repentance of them and grant us what we ask in this novena for Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

Ninth Day

Pray five times the Apostles Creed in honor of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and then say the following prayer for this day.

Prayer

Creator and Redeemer of all mankind, through the infinite merits of Thy Life, Passion, and Death, we beg of Thee to bestow on all souls, particularly those for whom we are making this novena, the pardon and indulgences they have always desired. Through the intercession and merits of Thy afflicted Mother, especially by that sorrow of sorrows with which She left Thee buried in the tomb and returned home without the light of Her eyes and the life of Her heart, which is Thou, our Jesus, have mercy on the blessed souls so that they may enjoy Thee eternally in Heaven. Turn Thine eyes of mercy, too, on those who are in the miserable state of slavery of the devil, so that they may be restored to Thy grace, and grant us what we ask of Thee in this novena for Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

Decade of the Passion (everyday)

Lord, open our lips and inflame our hearts and cleanse them of useless and evil thoughts. Enlighten our minds, that we may seriously meditate on Thy sufferings and death and the pains endured by Thy most glorious Mother; and deign to hear and receive us before Thy great Majesty, Thou who livest and reignest forever. Amen.

(On the beads of the Rosary for the Our Father, say the following.)

My most merciful Jesus, look down with eyes of pity on the faithful souls for whom Thou suffered and died on the Cross.

(On the beads for the Hail Mary say the following.)

My Jesus, through Thy bloody sweat in the Garden, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

My Jesus, through the blow Thou received on Thy Sacred Face, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

My Jesus, through the cruel scourging Thou endured, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

My Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced Thy Head, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

My Jesus, through Thy carrying of the Cross on the path of bitterness, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

My Jesus, through Thy Face covered with blood which Thou allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

My Jesus, through Thy bloody garments which were cruelly removed from Thy wounded Body, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

My Jesus, through Thy Holy Body nailed on the Cross, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

My Jesus, through Thy Hands and Feet pierced with cruel nails, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

My Jesus, through Thy Sacred Side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.

Offering: (an excerpt from a prayer of St. Augustine)

Most sweet Jesus, who in Thy desire to redeem the world, deigned to be born, circumcised, mocked by the Jews, to fall into the hands of Thy enemies through the treacherous kiss of Judas, to be bound and brought to the place of sacrifice like a meek Lamb, brought before Caiphas, Pilate and Herod, spat on, accused and condemned with false witnesses, to be slapped and have Thy Sacred Body covered with wounds from the cruel scourging, to be crowned with thorns, Thy Face covered with a purple cloth in mockery, stripped of Thy garments, nailed and elevated on the Cross between two thieves as if Thou wert one of them, offered gall and vinegar to drink, and to be pierced in Thy Side with a lance, deliver, O Lord, the souls in purgatory from their great suffering through thy most bitter Passion; bring them to Thy Glory and deliver us from the pains of hell, through the merits of Thy Holy Passion and Death on the Cross, so that we may be worthy to enter the Kingdom where Thou brought the good thief, who was crucified with Thee, who liveth and reigneth, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Litany for the Faithful Departed

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, 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 souls of the faithful departed.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

(For the following, the response is – Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.)

Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
St. Michael,
All ye angels and archangels,
All ye orders of blessed spirits,
St. John the Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets,
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. John,
All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists,
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
All ye holy martyrs,
St. Gregory,
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
All ye holy bishops and confessors,
All ye holy doctors,
All ye holy priests and levites,
All ye holy monks and hermits,
St. Mary Magdalene,
St. Barbara,
All ye holy virgins and widows,
All ye saints of God,

Be merciful, spare them, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.

(For the following, the response is—O Lord, deliver them.)

From all evil,
From Thy wrath,
From the rigor of Thy justice,
From the power of the devil,
From the gnawing worm of conscience,
From long-enduring sorrow,
From eternal flames,
From intolerable cold,
From horrible darkness,
From dreadful weeping and wailing,
Through Thine admirable conception,
Through Thy Holy Nativity,
Through Thy most sweet Name,
Through Thy baptism and fasting,
Through Thy most profound humiliation,
Through Thy prompt obedience,
Through Thine infinite love,
Through Thy bloody sweat,
Through Thy sorrow and anguish,
Through Thy bonds,
Through Thy scourging,
Through Thy crowning with thorns,
Through Thy carrying of the Cross,
Through Thy most cruel death,
Through Thy most holy wounds,
Through Thy most bitter Cross and Passion,
Through Thy holy Resurrection,
Through Thine admirable Ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,
In the day of judgment,

(For the following, the response is—We beseech Thee, hear us.)

We sinners,
Thou Who forgavest Magdalene and didst hearken to the prayer of the thief,
Thou Who savest freely Thine elect,
Thou Who hast the keys of heaven and hell,
That Thou wouldst be pleased to deliver the souls of our parents, relatives, friends and benefactors, from the pains of hell,
That Thou wouldst be pleased to have mercy on those of whom no special remembrance is made on earth,
That Thou wouldst be pleased to grant them all the pardon and remission of all their sins,
That Thou wouldst be pleased to fulfil all their desires,
That Thou wouldst be pleased to receive them into the company of the blessed,
King of awful Majesty,
Son of God,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Grant unto them rest.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Grant unto them rest.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Grant unto them rest everlasting.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

From the gates of hell,
Deliver their souls, O Lord,

O Lord, hear our prayer.
And let our cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray:

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant unto the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of their sins; that by pious supplications, they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired. Grant this, O God, Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.

O Eternal God, Who besides the general precept of charity, hast commanded a particular respect to parents, kindred and benefactors; grant we beseech Thee, that as they were the instrument by which Thy Providence bestowed on us our birth, education, and innumerable other blessings, so our prayers may be the means to obtain for them a speedy release from their excessive sufferings, and free admittance to Thine infinite joys, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray:

O God, Whose property is ever to have mercy and to spare, we humbly beseech Thee in behalf of Thy servant/s, N.-, whom Thou hast (this day) called out of this world, that Thou wouldst not deliver (him/her/them) into the hands of the enemy, nor forget (him/her/them) forever, but bid the holy angels, lead (him/her/them) into Paradise, (his/her/their) true country, that for as much as in Thee (he/she/they) put their hope and trust, (he/she/they) may not endure the pains of hell, but may come to the possession of eternal joys, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Be merciful, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to the soul/s of Thy servant/s, N.-, for whom we offer to Thee the sacrifice of praise, humbly beseeching Thy Majesty that by those holy and propitiatory offerings, (he/she/they) may be found worthy to win everlasting rest, through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the soul/s of Thy servant/s, N.-, which has/have (this day) departed out of this world, may be cleansed by this sacrifice, and delivered from sins, and may receive forgiveness and everlasting rest, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Absolve, O Lord, the soul/s of Thy servant/s, from every bond of sin, so that by Thy aid (he/she/they) may deserve to escape the judgment of wrath, and come to the enjoyment of beatitude in eternal light.

Eternal rest grant unto (him/her/them), O Lord.
And let Your perpetual light shine upon (him/her/ them).

From the gates of hell,
Deliver (his/her/their) soul/s, O Lord.

May (he/she/they) rest in peace.
Amen.

O Lord, hear our prayer.
And let our cry come unto Thee.

The Lord be with you.
And with Thy Soirit.

Let us pray:

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant unto the soul/s of Thy servant/s, N.-, the remission of all (his/her/their) sins, that through pious supplications (he/she/they) may obtain the pardon (he/she/they) has/have always desired Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto (him/her/them), O Lord.
And let Your perpetual light shine upon (him/her/them).

May (he/she/them) rest in peace.
Amen.

Words of Pope Saint Gregory

1. O Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who to redeem us, was crowned with thorns and was crucified, we adore and beseech Thee that Thy Cross be our defense against our evil enemies. Our Father and Hail Mary.

2. O Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who to redeem us, endured so much suffering and drank gall and vinegar, we adore and beseech Thee that Thy sufferings be the cure of our souls. Our Father and Hail Mary.

3. O Jesus Christ, our Lord, by the bitterness Thou suffered on the Cross because of our sins, particularly when They soul parted from Thy Body, we beseech Thee to have mercy on our souls on the day of their departure from this world. Our Father and Hail Mary.

4. O Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who to redeem us, Thy Sacred Body was anointed and buried, we adore and beseech Thee that Thy death be our life. Our Father and Hail Mary.

5. O Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who descended to the limbo of the Holy Fathers and freed those who were imprisoned there, we adore and beseech Thee not to permit our souls to be imprisoned in hell. Our Father and Hail Mary.

6. O Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who with great power resurrected Thyself and ascended to Heaven, where Thou sitteth at the right of God the Father, we pray Thee to have mercy on us. Our Father and Hail Mary.

7. O Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Good Shepherd, defend the just, enlighten sinners, have mercy on the faithful departed, and on us, great sinners. Our Father and Hail Mary.

8. O Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who will come to judge us, to bring the just to Thy glory and sinners to eternal punishment, we adore and beseech Thee that Thy passion may free us from all pains and bring us to eternal life. Our Father and Hail Mary.

9. O most loving Father, we offer Thee the innocent death of Thy Son and the loves of His Divine Heart for the pains that we, poor sinners, above all sinners, deserve; we also offer this Passion and cordial love for all our relatives and friends. We beseech Thee to have mercy on us. Our Father and Hail Mary.

Prayer
O Jesus Christ, our Lord, we humbly beseech Thee to grant us the pardon and graces that are accorded by St. Gregory to those who, through these holy prayers, revere the mysteries of Thy great Passion, Who liveth and reigneth forever and ever. Our Father and Hail Mary.