Essential Prayers for the Dead
Mary Leonora Wilson FSP
ISBN 9780819883858
eISBN 9780819883865
ASIN B0DJDXP2BS
I was fascinated by this book from when I first saw it announced many months before publication. Over the last few years, Purgatory and prayers for the dead have kept coming up in both the fiction and nonfiction I have been reading. And I really wanted to read this volume during the month of November when that is a focus within the Catholic tradition. The description of the paperback, eBook and kindle versions states:
“Jesus invites us to trust in his mercy and to hope in the Resurrection, especially in the face of death. We embrace this invitation every time we intercede for the Holy Souls who are joyfully awaiting heaven—both our own loved ones who have gone before us and the souls in purgatory whom we never had the chance to meet on this earth.
This collection of traditional and contemporary prayers draws from the Bible and the wisdom of the Church. May these essential prayers strengthen your relationship with those who have died and enliven your faith in the Resurrection and God’s loving mercy.
Intercede for the holy souls with this pocket-sized collection of prayers for the dead, featuring an explanation of Church teaching on purgatory; practical ways to help departed loved ones and to prepare for your own death; and traditional and contemporary prayers from Scripture, the saints, and the wisdom of the Church. Perfectly sized for prayer and travel, Essential Prayers for the Dead is an invaluable companion for Catholics committed to the spiritual work of mercy of praying for the deceased.”
The book received the:
Nihil Obstat:
Reverend Joseph Briody, S.S.L., S.T.D.
Imprimatur:
✠ Seán P. Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Boston
December 20, 2023
I actually ended up picking up 2 digital copies of this volume, one for Kobo and one for Kindle. There were issues with the Kindle release and I picked up the Kobo version and started reading it, but because I prefer the kindle interface once it was available I picked that us as well. I have also recommended it to a few friends. And plan on giving away copies to friends and family. My youngest 2 children each want a physical copy of the book for their prayer corners. . The sections and chapters in this volume are:
Introduction
I. Purgatory—En Route to Heaven
What Happens When We Die?
What Does the Bible Say About Purgatory?
Why Is It Important to Pray for the Dead?
II. Helping Those Who Have Died
Twelve Ways to Help Our Beloved Dead
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
The Rosary
Indulgences
Friendship with the Souls in Purgatory
Remember Us
Covenant Prayer
Prayer of Intercession
I Promise Never to Forget You
III. Praying with Scripture for the Departed
Psalms of Comfort (23, 27, 42, 63, 103)
Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)
Scripture Texts for Meditation
IV. Prayers for Our Own Beloved Dead
Prayer for a Deceased Loved One
Let Me Never Forget
Prayer for Deceased Parents
For a Deceased Spouse
Parent’s Prayer at the Loss of a Child
For a Departed Sibling
For a Deceased Friend
For a Deceased Priest
Prayer After an Unexpected Death
Prayer After a Violent Death
Prayer in Time of Suicide
For Those Who Gave Their Lives for Others
Forty Day Prayer
V. Traditional Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory
Eternal Rest Prayer
Prayer of Saint Gertrude
Heroic Act of Love
Morning Offering for the Souls in Purgatory
For the Faithful Departed
Second-Century Prayer for the Dead
The Seven Days Prayer for the Dead
Offering of Christ’s Passion
Offering of the Five Wounds of Jesus
Byzantine Prayer for the Deceased
Maronite Prayer for the Departed
A Syriac Prayer for the Dead
Litany for the Faithful Departed
Litany for the Souls in Purgatory
The Lord’s Prayer for the Departed
VI. Recommended Practices on Behalf of the Deceased
Prayer for the Dead Before Mass
Prayer for the Dead at the Offertory
Prayer for the Dead After Mass
Prayer at a Cemetery
On the Anniversary of Death
Stations of the Cross
Novena Prayer of Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Chaplet to Jesus for the Souls in Purgatory
Prayer of a Hundred Eternal Rests
All Souls’ Day Prayer
VII. Mary, Gate of Heaven
Rosary for the Faithful Departed
Prayers of the Rosary
The Joyful Mysteries
The Luminous Mysteries
The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Glorious Mysteries
The Memorare
Litany to Our Lady, Help of the Souls in Purgatory
Hail Mary for the Souls in Purgatory
To Our Lady of Intercession
To Our Lady of Sorrows
To Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Mary, Gate of Heaven
Novena to God Through Mary for the Souls in Purgatory
In Honor of Mary’s Seven Sorrows
In Honor of Mary’s Seven Joys
VIII. Preparing for Heaven
Means to Grow in Relationship with God and Shorten Purgatory
Invocations for a Holy Death
For Perseverance Until Death
To God Our Father
Suscipe
To Jesus for Protection
Prayer for Mercy
To Jesus Crucified
Anima Christi
Lead My Soul to Heaven
To Saint Joseph for a Happy Death
To My Guardian Angel
Acknowledgements
Notes
List of Contributors
The contributors are:
Blessed James Alberione, SSP
Saint Gertrude of Helfta
Benedict Groeschel, CFR
Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Saint John Chrysostom
Saint John Paul II
Saint Faustina Kowalska
Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Blessed Mary of Providence
Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn
Saint John Henry Newman
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
Saint Odilo of Cluny
Saint Paul VI
Karl Rahner, SJ
Blessed Anna Maria Taigi
Mary Leonora Wilson, FSP
The compiler of the volume, Mary Leonora Wilson, FSP composed 17 of the prayers in the volume. But this is much more then a collection of prayers. Each chapter has teaching at the beginning of throughout. It gives historical and biblical background to the practice and some of the specific prayers and devotions. I only highlighted a few passages or prayers my first time through this book, some of them are:
“This book is a tribute to all who have gone before us, living this pilgrimage called life to the best of their ability, not perfectly but sincerely and full of hope in the promise of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a booklet for all who mourn a loss and want to continue to help their loved ones and experience their nearness. May these texts and prayers help you to draw closer to those who have died and increase your faith in the resurrection of the dead and in the loving mercy of God. God bless you.”
“And in a last moment unperceived by us, they may have silently reached out to God for help, asking for mercy. God rejects no one who turns to him, as the dying thief on Calvary witnesses (see Lk 23:43). Thus, it is always important to pray for our dead. Divine mercy desires to liberate all these souls and open to them the gates of heaven as soon as possible—asking our collaboration through prayers and good works. May our love for the deceased compel us to pray for them with Jesus Christ, through Jesus Christ, and in Jesus Christ.”
“Let Me Never Forget O God of those who are silently summoning me to enter into your life, never let me forget my dead, my living. May my love and faithfulness to them be a pledge of my belief in you, the God of eternal life. Let me not be deaf to the call of their silence, which is the surest and sincerest word of their love. May this word of theirs continue to accompany me, even after they have taken leave of me to enter into you, for thus their love comes all the closer to me. O my soul, never forget your dead, for they live. And the life they live, now unveiled in eternal light, is your own life, which will one day be revealed also in you. . . . My waning life is becoming more and more a life with the dead. I live more and more with those who have gone before me into the dark night where no one can work. By your life-giving grace, O Lord, let it become ever more a life of faith in your light, shining now dimly in this earthly night. Let me live with the living who have preceded me in the sign of faith, who have gone before me into the bright day of eternal life, when no one need work, because you yourself are this day, the fullness of all reality, the God of the living. When I pray, “Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon them,” let my words be only the echo of the prayer of love that they themselves are speaking for me in the silence of eternity. O my soul, never forget the dead. O God of all the living, do not forget me, the dead one, but come one day to be my life, as you are theirs. Amen.
Karl Rahner, SJ”
“Suscipe Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace; that is enough for me.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola”
“Prayer for Mercy O my Lord and Savior, be merciful to me now that my life is approaching its end and the evening awaits me. My sins are so many. Heal me while I am still on earth, and I shall truly be whole. In your mercy, move me to repent so that I shall not be ashamed when I encounter you in heaven. Amen.”
“To My Guardian Angel My guardian angel, you are always near me, inspiring me to choose the good and strengthening me in the battle against Satan and the forces of evil. Keep me always aware of your presence and mindful of your inspirations. Be with me especially at the last moment of my life. Do not leave me, I beg you, until you see me safe in heaven, praising God and singing his mercies for all eternity. Amen.”
I hope those few quotes give you a feel for this excellent volume. I have added the last three prayers to my daily prayer list. This is the newest in a series of ‘Essential Prayer’ books from Pauline Books and Media. They are:
Essential Healing Prayers
Essential Spiritual Warfare Prayers
Essential Eucharistic Adoration Prayers
Essential Prayers for the Dead
Three of the four are edited and compiled by Sister Mary Leonora Wilson. I have had the other two edited by her for a while now but have not got around to reading them. After reading this excellent volume they have jumped way up on ‘my reading list’.
This is an excellent resource that any Catholic would benefit from reading and praying through. It would be great for any school, church, or home library, or for your prayer corner. I highly recommend you pick up this volume and give it a read!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
For all reviews of prayer books click here.
For all reviews of books from Pauline Books & Media Click here.
Books by Mary Leonora Wilson:
Essential Healing Prayers: For Peace and Strength
Essential Spiritual Warfare Prayers: For Protection and Deliverance
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Contributed to Mary Leonora Wilson:
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Translated by Mary Leonora Wilson:
Mother Teresa: Saint Among the Poor
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