Don't forget we are in the middle of a Save The Holy Souls Blog - A - Thon!
We have 44,000 souls saved far, with a few days to go. Our goal was 100,000 by October 1, so we are nearly half way there!
EDIT: 9/28/09
We are only 29,000 away! Keep 'em coming! Your blessings will be great!
12 comments:
Still doing my part.
Please add 7,000 souls to your total.
I read the following on a blog and I wanted to share it with your readers, they felt it was the most appropriate time to offer these prayers:
"When the Priest holds up the Consecrated Host, say the Divine Mercy Prayer - Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your Dearly Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world."
"When the Priest holds up the Chalice, say the St. Gertrude Prayer."
Purgatory is not a place, it is not physical, it is a different state of being, a whole new experience!
Proud Catholic
61,000! 39,000 to go!
Thank You!
Add 10,000 more
Trad mom
Sir Rockin One:
You will not agree with me here- but I will say it anyway. I respectfully submit this sort of reminds me of those prayer chains. Seems a bit superstitious.
I understand the intent here and it is noble. The prayer is a beautiful prayer- but we must be careful we don't as a result wade into the classic "How many angels can dance on the head of pin" philosophy when we pray for the dead. Praying for the dead isn't a numbers game. It is not about "How many souls did I 'get out' of Purgatory becasue of my prayer"
Prayer for the dead is rather the expression of our love for those who have gone before, the realization that they might not yet be fully purified, hence we ask God's mercy, and finally the reality that the bonds of love do not break at death. Through Christ we are in communion with the WHOLE Church- which transcends time and space.
Father Dave Bechtel
Dear Fr. Bechtel,
Isn't praying for the dead "an expression of love for those who have gone before?"
I say the Rosary daily with one of my prayer intentions always being for souls in purgatory. My very intent is to help release souls in purgatory. Isn't the St. Gertrude prayer the same intent?
A woman who has been declared by the Church a Saint has said that Jesus himself told her that this prayer would release souls from purgation. Are you saying that the prayer is valid, but the intent has been misguided?
While I understand that we must not take this issue lightly or treat it like a superstitious chain letter, isn't the prayer still valid...that is,if we, in fact, choose to believe the private revelation of St. Gertrude?
I am not clear on your remarks and want help and clarification.
Trad. Mom
Trad Mom,
All I was trying to say is that we should not get into a "numbers game." We should treat the prayer in such a way as it is a prayer which expresses our love for those who have gone before, and our communion with them, and our hope for God's mercy upon them.
Uttering the prayer is not about the numbers. Prayer cannot be quantified that way, it dosn't work that way. The Private Revelation might give literal numbers- but I would say the Revelation is simply expressing the reality that the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ are the most powerful intercession and prayer that can be offered when imploring God's Mercy for someone, or a group of people whether alive or deceased.
Of course next to the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ comes the Rosary. The Rosary is the most powerful prayer next to the intercession of Christ that can be offered.
Father Dave Bechtel
Trad Mom - Don't forget that in this new-fashioned church we don't talk about - let alone pray for the dead. We all go straight to Heaven when we die like Ted Kennedy did. We also don't talk about sin, heaven, hell, purgatory, and certainly the only mention I ever hear of the saints is either at FSSP, SSPX, or from one or two trad-minded priests, and those guys get muzzled by the diocese.
Father B - I'm still gonna go with what a Saint tells us Jesus said to her. He will free 1,000 souls from purgatory each time that prayer is said with love and devotion. My faith tells me it is true. If you want to doubt it, that's fine.
If the numbers are a sham, then I was still praying for the Holy Souls either way. That's whats important. They cannot pray for themselves, but we can offer prayers for them and they are powerful intercessors for us as well. It is my intention to spread this devotion to the Holy Souls throughout the Church.
And I offered this devotion "playing the numbers game" to make it more fun for those involved, I set a goal of 100 prayers said. Even if it doesn't release 100,000 souls, 100 prayers said for them is still 100 prayers said. If I can get people to pray for others more than they pray for that new car or to win the lottery, then I have done some good works. But we don't talk about good works either any more, do we?
And is it any different from a rosary crusade where they set a number of Rosaries to be said? Is that playing a "numbers game"?
I firmly believe a prayer for the Souls is never wasted if said with devotion to the Precious Blood of His Divine Son, Jesus Christ.
By the way Father, we need 19 more prayers said to reach our goal by tomorrow. How many can I put you down for?
You seem a bit testy towards Father Dave! Not sure if that is what you intended though.
How did the Diocese "muzzle" conservative priests? I had not heard that.
Proud Catholic
Proud Prottie,
Don't try to stir something up that isn't there. The problem with the internets is that whenever someone doesn't put a smiley face after something they've said, someone is going to assume you're being an ass.
Father B knows that isn't the case, we've disagreed before on issues, and he entered the fray here knowing we were going to disagree.
Don't know why I went on about this, but there it is.
Off to my meatloaf dinner.
Sir Rockin One:
Actually that was precisely my point: Praying for the Holy Souls who cannot pray for themselves. That is what is important. Quantifying numbers might be fun- but in the end it isn't about that-it is about praying for the Holy Souls.
And your right- over the internet unless you put a smiley face after everything you write, people assume the worst :o)
Father Dave Bechtel.
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