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Stories about Purgatory & What They Reveal: 30 Days for the Holy Souls
This book was written to impress upon its readers many truths about Purgatory -- first, that it exists; second, that the souls detained there suffer long and excruciating pains, and that they desperately need our prayers and sacrifices; and that we ourselves should strive mightily to avoid Purgatory. Confirms in the reader\'s heart a healthy and holy respect for the sufferings endured by the Holy Souls, such that he will always remember them in his prayers. Impr. 169 pgs, PB
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 1, 2023
I thought I knew about all the "big" books on the Holy Souls but I just learned about this one from watching Ken and Janelle this month. They are a devout Catholic young couple with seven children who produce many YouTube videos I have watched over the years. Young as they are, I always learn something. I can recommend their Marian Consecration series in which I have participated; it is based on the writings of Sr. Lúcia of Fátima, Calls from the Message of Fatima.
This book is supposed to be read one chapter per day for each day of November, the month dedicated to the Holy Souls, but since I started it mid-month, I had to play double-up in order to finish on time. But who or what says we are limited to pray for the Holy Souls in November? They need our prayers year-round. So, December - or any other month - is a great time to start it.
Each chapter focused on a different group of souls to pray for, provided example(s) as motivation and suggested prayers and/practices. Definitely worth reading and rereading.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O LORD, and let perpetual Light shine upon them. May they rest in peace!
This book is supposed to be read one chapter per day for each day of November, the month dedicated to the Holy Souls, but since I started it mid-month, I had to play double-up in order to finish on time. But who or what says we are limited to pray for the Holy Souls in November? They need our prayers year-round. So, December - or any other month - is a great time to start it.
Each chapter focused on a different group of souls to pray for, provided example(s) as motivation and suggested prayers and/practices. Definitely worth reading and rereading.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O LORD, and let perpetual Light shine upon them. May they rest in peace!
March 19, 2019
I chose to read this book because I felt that I knew very little about Purgatory, and as a result, it proved eye-opening. Without getting into detail, it was a wake-up call for me about how to live my life better and do more for the poor souls in Purgatory. This book definitely multiplied my previous knowledge on the topic.
Reading this book on a one-chapter-per-day basis gave me time to reflect on Purgatory better than I probably would have if I had read as much as I cared or had time to read from it in a day. After I began reading it, however, it dawned on me that the book is probably meant to be read in November, the month we remember the dead, hence the thirty chapters. Still, what I learned about Purgatory is that the poor souls can use our prayers any time of the year. I will forewarn future readers, though, that at times I found the book hard to read due to the language and terminology used by the contributors. Some sentences made no sense to me no matter how many times I read them, yet some personal accounts included in the book were very straightforward.
Reading this book on a one-chapter-per-day basis gave me time to reflect on Purgatory better than I probably would have if I had read as much as I cared or had time to read from it in a day. After I began reading it, however, it dawned on me that the book is probably meant to be read in November, the month we remember the dead, hence the thirty chapters. Still, what I learned about Purgatory is that the poor souls can use our prayers any time of the year. I will forewarn future readers, though, that at times I found the book hard to read due to the language and terminology used by the contributors. Some sentences made no sense to me no matter how many times I read them, yet some personal accounts included in the book were very straightforward.
December 2, 2023
Purgatory has been a subject I am finding myself drawn to more and more over the years. And as soon as I stumbled across this one, I knew it would be perfect to read over the month of November.
The description of this volume states:
“This TAN Books edition of “Stories about Purgatory & What They Reveal” by An Ursiline of Sligo, features the complete original text, along with a supplemental reading section entitled “What Will Hell Be Like?”. We’ve also included unique hand-selected classic artwork for the reader’s enjoyment, exclusive to this eBook edition of “Stories about Purgatory & What They Reveal”.
Stories about Purgatory & What They Reveal:
This book was written to impress upon its readers many truths about Purgatory -- first, that it exists; second, that the souls detained there suffer long and excruciating pains, and that they desperately need our prayers and sacrifices; and that we ourselves should strive mightily to avoid Purgatory. Confirms in the reader's heart a healthy and holy respect for the sufferings endured by the Holy Souls, such that he will always remember them in his prayers.
What Will Hell Be Like?:
Selections from St. Alphonsus' writings. Covers virtually every aspect of Hell. Shows it exists, describes its torments, proves it is eternal, demonstrates it is not unjust and answers a host of questions. Best short antidote for today's irreligion that we know..”
The chapters and sections in this volume are:
REQUIEM AETERNAM
CONTENTS
1. FIRST DAY—A Day of Fervent Prayer That Many Souls in Purgatory May Be Admitted To the Joys of Paradise
2. SECOND DAY—A Day of Supplication for All the Faithful Departed
3. THIRD DAY—A Day of Prayer for Those Who Suffer Most in Purgatory
4. FOURTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for the Souls Longest in Purgatory
5. FIFTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Deceased Parents and Relatives
6. SIXTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Deceased Friends and Benefactors
7. SEVENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Poor Souls Who Have None to Pray for Them
8. EIGHTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory Who during Life Were Most Devoted to the Blessed Sacrament
9. NINTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for the Souls In Purgatory Who during Life Were Most Devoted to Our Blessed Lady
10. TENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for the Souls In Purgatory Who during Life Were Most Devoted to St. Joseph
11. ELEVENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for vii All the Faithful Who Died during the Past Year ….
12. TWELETH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Deceased Priests and Religious
13. THIRTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Those Who While on Earth Were Most Fervent in Praying for the Souls in Purgatory
14. FOURTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For the Souls in Purgatory Who during Life Were Most Devoted to the Holy Angels
15. FIFTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for The Soul Who Is Richest in Merit
16. SIXTEENTH DAY—A Day of Humility to Atone for Souls Suffering for Sins of Pride
17. SEVENTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Suffering for Sins of Anger and Impatience
18. EIGHTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Souls Suffering for Sins of Intemperance
19. NINETEENTH DAY—A Day of Charity To Atone for Souls Suffering for Sins against This Virtue
20. TWENTIETH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Souls Suffering in Purgatory on Our Account
21. TWENTY-FIRST DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Whom Our Blessed Lady Is Most Desirous to Have Released from Purgatory
22. TWENTY-SECOND DAY—A Day of Prayer For the Souls in Purgatory Who Were Most Devoted to the Sacred Heart
23. TWENTY-THIRD DAY—A Day of Prayer For Those Who Died Suddenly and without Preparation
24. TWENTY-FOURTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Suffering for Sins of Detraction
25. TWENTY-FIFTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Souls Who while on Earth Were Most Devoted To the Sacred Passion
26. TWENTY-SIXTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Suffering for Attachment to Earthly Things
27. TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Those Who Were Members of Pious Confraternities and Sodalities
28. TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY—A Day of Fervor To Atone for Souls Suffering for Negligence in Spiritual Duties
29. TWENTY-NINTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Nearest to Being Released
30. THIRTIETH DAY—A Day of Prayer for All The Faithful Departed, Especially for Those Who Died during This Month
APPENDIX I: Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory
APPENDIX II: How to Gain a Plenary Indulgence
APPENDIX III: The Dies Irae
Supplemental Reading:
What Will Hell Be Like by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
The volume begins with this prayer:
“REST ETERNAL GRANT THEM, LORD!
Take we up the touching burden of
November plaints,
Pleading for the Holy Souls,
God’s yet uncrowned Saints.
Still unpaid to our departed
is the debt we owe;
Still unransomed, some are pining,
sore oppressed with woe.
Friends we loved and vowed to cherish
call us in their need:
Prove we now our love was real,
true in word and deed.
“Rest eternal grant them, Lord!”
full often let us pray—
“Requiem aternam dona eis, Domine!””
This was an excellent volume to work through during November. Each day there are a few pages of readings; drawn from a wide range of sources, and spanning church history. The book is easy to engage with and one of great value. The collection of Prayers in the first appendix are a great resource. The prayers contained within it are:
A Prayer For The Souls In Purgatory
A Prayer For The Dead
A Prayer For Our Dear Departed
A Prayer For Deceased Parents
Offering Of The Precious Blood
A Prayer For The Poor Souls
Prayer For The Poor Souls From The Canon Of The Mass
A Prayer For A Deceased Priest
A Prayer Addressed To The Poor Souls In Purgatory
A Prayer For And To The Souls In Purgatory
For Our Deceased Servicemen
Eternal Rest
Prayer Of St. Gertrude The Great
A Novena For The Poor Souls
Prayer For The Dying
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
This is an excellent resource and once I can easily recommend to any Catholic. It would be a great addition to a church, home, or school library. This is a book that will challenge and inspire readers. It will drive you to deeper prayer, and foster spiritual growth. Aa excellent book!
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!
The description of this volume states:
“This TAN Books edition of “Stories about Purgatory & What They Reveal” by An Ursiline of Sligo, features the complete original text, along with a supplemental reading section entitled “What Will Hell Be Like?”. We’ve also included unique hand-selected classic artwork for the reader’s enjoyment, exclusive to this eBook edition of “Stories about Purgatory & What They Reveal”.
Stories about Purgatory & What They Reveal:
This book was written to impress upon its readers many truths about Purgatory -- first, that it exists; second, that the souls detained there suffer long and excruciating pains, and that they desperately need our prayers and sacrifices; and that we ourselves should strive mightily to avoid Purgatory. Confirms in the reader's heart a healthy and holy respect for the sufferings endured by the Holy Souls, such that he will always remember them in his prayers.
What Will Hell Be Like?:
Selections from St. Alphonsus' writings. Covers virtually every aspect of Hell. Shows it exists, describes its torments, proves it is eternal, demonstrates it is not unjust and answers a host of questions. Best short antidote for today's irreligion that we know..”
The chapters and sections in this volume are:
REQUIEM AETERNAM
CONTENTS
1. FIRST DAY—A Day of Fervent Prayer That Many Souls in Purgatory May Be Admitted To the Joys of Paradise
2. SECOND DAY—A Day of Supplication for All the Faithful Departed
3. THIRD DAY—A Day of Prayer for Those Who Suffer Most in Purgatory
4. FOURTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for the Souls Longest in Purgatory
5. FIFTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Deceased Parents and Relatives
6. SIXTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Deceased Friends and Benefactors
7. SEVENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Poor Souls Who Have None to Pray for Them
8. EIGHTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory Who during Life Were Most Devoted to the Blessed Sacrament
9. NINTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for the Souls In Purgatory Who during Life Were Most Devoted to Our Blessed Lady
10. TENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for the Souls In Purgatory Who during Life Were Most Devoted to St. Joseph
11. ELEVENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for vii All the Faithful Who Died during the Past Year ….
12. TWELETH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Deceased Priests and Religious
13. THIRTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Those Who While on Earth Were Most Fervent in Praying for the Souls in Purgatory
14. FOURTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For the Souls in Purgatory Who during Life Were Most Devoted to the Holy Angels
15. FIFTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for The Soul Who Is Richest in Merit
16. SIXTEENTH DAY—A Day of Humility to Atone for Souls Suffering for Sins of Pride
17. SEVENTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Suffering for Sins of Anger and Impatience
18. EIGHTEENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Souls Suffering for Sins of Intemperance
19. NINETEENTH DAY—A Day of Charity To Atone for Souls Suffering for Sins against This Virtue
20. TWENTIETH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Souls Suffering in Purgatory on Our Account
21. TWENTY-FIRST DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Whom Our Blessed Lady Is Most Desirous to Have Released from Purgatory
22. TWENTY-SECOND DAY—A Day of Prayer For the Souls in Purgatory Who Were Most Devoted to the Sacred Heart
23. TWENTY-THIRD DAY—A Day of Prayer For Those Who Died Suddenly and without Preparation
24. TWENTY-FOURTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Suffering for Sins of Detraction
25. TWENTY-FIFTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Souls Who while on Earth Were Most Devoted To the Sacred Passion
26. TWENTY-SIXTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Suffering for Attachment to Earthly Things
27. TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY—A Day of Prayer for Those Who Were Members of Pious Confraternities and Sodalities
28. TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY—A Day of Fervor To Atone for Souls Suffering for Negligence in Spiritual Duties
29. TWENTY-NINTH DAY—A Day of Prayer For Souls Nearest to Being Released
30. THIRTIETH DAY—A Day of Prayer for All The Faithful Departed, Especially for Those Who Died during This Month
APPENDIX I: Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory
APPENDIX II: How to Gain a Plenary Indulgence
APPENDIX III: The Dies Irae
Supplemental Reading:
What Will Hell Be Like by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
The volume begins with this prayer:
“REST ETERNAL GRANT THEM, LORD!
Take we up the touching burden of
November plaints,
Pleading for the Holy Souls,
God’s yet uncrowned Saints.
Still unpaid to our departed
is the debt we owe;
Still unransomed, some are pining,
sore oppressed with woe.
Friends we loved and vowed to cherish
call us in their need:
Prove we now our love was real,
true in word and deed.
“Rest eternal grant them, Lord!”
full often let us pray—
“Requiem aternam dona eis, Domine!””
This was an excellent volume to work through during November. Each day there are a few pages of readings; drawn from a wide range of sources, and spanning church history. The book is easy to engage with and one of great value. The collection of Prayers in the first appendix are a great resource. The prayers contained within it are:
A Prayer For The Souls In Purgatory
A Prayer For The Dead
A Prayer For Our Dear Departed
A Prayer For Deceased Parents
Offering Of The Precious Blood
A Prayer For The Poor Souls
Prayer For The Poor Souls From The Canon Of The Mass
A Prayer For A Deceased Priest
A Prayer Addressed To The Poor Souls In Purgatory
A Prayer For And To The Souls In Purgatory
For Our Deceased Servicemen
Eternal Rest
Prayer Of St. Gertrude The Great
A Novena For The Poor Souls
Prayer For The Dying
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
This is an excellent resource and once I can easily recommend to any Catholic. It would be a great addition to a church, home, or school library. This is a book that will challenge and inspire readers. It will drive you to deeper prayer, and foster spiritual growth. Aa excellent book!
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!
December 1, 2024
Very informative.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews