Novena for the Holy Souls - Day 4

Triumph of the Elect

After this I saw before me a huge crowd which no one could count from every nation and race, people and tongue. They stood before the throne and the Lamb, dressed in long white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, "Salvation is from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb!" Then one of the elders asked me, "Who are these people all dressed in white? And where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you should know better than I." He then told me "These are the ones who have survived the great period of trial; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

"It was this that brought them before God's throne: day and night they minister to Him in His temple; He who sits on the throne will give them shelter. Never again shall they know hunger or thirst, nor shall the sun or its heat beat down on them, for the Lamb on the throne will shepherd them" (Rev 7: 9-10; 13-17)

Our beloved dead may be already with the Lord. Some of them may still be undergoing a purification awaiting thier heavenly home. In either case, the fact that they have left this life is never reason enough to leave them out of our prayers. If they are indeed in Heaven, our Lord in His great generosity will apply them to another. No prayer is ever wasted.

Prayer

O Lord God almighty, I pray Thee by the precious blood which Thy divine Son Jesus

shed in the streets of Jerusalem, when He carried the

cross on His sacred shoulders,

deliver the souls in purgatory and especially that soul

which is richest in merits before Thee, that so, in that throne of glory

which awaits it, it may magnify Thee and bless Thee forever.

Amen+

Our Father, Hail Mary..

Eternal rest grant unto them, may eternal light shine upon them

may they rest in peace. Amen+

Reflection of the End of Man

In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shall never sin (Eccl 7:40)

Lord Jesus Christ, have compassion on Thy Church Suffering. Temper Thy justice with pity and open the gates of heaven for the souls in Purgatory, that they may praise and glorify Thee forever. Amen+