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Nihil Obstat:
Mons. Justino C. Ortiz
Imprimatur:
Msgr. Jose N. Jovellanos
Vicar General
Preface
In the prayer and set of fundamental beliefs which we call:
“Apostles Creed”, mention is made of the Communion of Saints. This
means that the faithful on earth, the blessed in heaven, and the souls in
purgatory are united in one Mystical Body with Christ as the Head.
Those in heaven compose the Church Triumphant; those on
earth, the Church Militant; and those in purgatory, the Church Suffering. All of
them make one family and share in the spiritual treasures of the Church.
By prayers, they help one another.
The faithful on earth can relieve the sufferings of the souls
in purgatory by prayers, fasting and other good works.
The bible says (2 Maccabees 12:46): “It is a holy and wholesome thought
to pray for the dead that they may be pardoned of their sins.”
St. Augustine says: “Prayer
is the key by which we open the gates of heaven to the suffering souls.”
At every Mass, there is always a memento or remembrance of the faithful
departed.
The souls in purgatory suffer from a great longing to be
united to God and be delivered from other great pains.
They are yet deprived of the beatific Vision and therefore need the help
of those who can. We should pray
for the poor souls. God does not regard so much the length of the prayer as the
love in the heart of the one who prays. This
short novena has been composed along that line:
Love.
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