Litany of the Holy Souls in Purgatory
The Complete Prayer and Meaning
Litany Full Text
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on them.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on them.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on them.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on them.
Holy Mary, pray for them.
Holy Mother of God, pray for them.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for them.
St. Michael, pray for them.
All you holy Angels and Archangels, pray for them.
St. Joseph, pray for them.
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for them.
St. John the Baptist, pray for them.
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for them.
All you holy Martyrs, pray for them.
All you holy Confessors, pray for them.
All you holy Virgins and Widows, pray for them.
All you Saints of God, pray for them.
Be merciful, spare them, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear them, O Lord.
From all evil, deliver them, O Lord.
From Thy wrath, deliver them, O Lord.
From the rigor of Thy justice, deliver them, O Lord.
From the pains of Purgatory, deliver them, O Lord.
From their longings for Thee, deliver them, O Lord.
From the flames of Purgatory, deliver them, O Lord.
From the darkness of Purgatory, deliver them, O Lord.
By Thy Birth, deliver them, O Lord.
By Thy Cross and Passion, deliver them, O Lord.
By Thy Death and Burial, deliver them, O Lord.
By Thy glorious Resurrection, deliver them, O Lord.
By Thy admirable Ascension, deliver them, O Lord.
By the coming of the Holy Ghost, deliver them, O Lord.
By Thy coming to judgment, deliver them, O Lord.
We sinners, beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst spare them, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst pardon them, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst release them from their pains, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst shorten their time of suffering, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst admit them into eternal rest, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst receive them into the company of Thy Saints, we beseech Thee, hear us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Let us pray
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins; that through pious supplications they may obtain the pardon which they have always desired. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Meaning of the Litany of the Holy Souls
This litany, often called the “Litany of the Poor Souls in Purgatory,” is a prayer of charity offered for those who have died in God’s grace and are being purified before entering heaven. Each petition expresses the Church’s faith that God is both just and merciful, and that the faithful on earth can truly assist the departed through prayer. As a Catholic prayer for the dead, it reflects the Church’s constant care for the faithful departed. As the prayer unfolds, it turns to the Holy Trinity, invokes the Blessed Virgin and the saints, and pleads for deliverance through the saving work of Christ. In doing so, it teaches that the souls in Purgatory are not abandoned but are sustained by the love of the whole Church.
Sacred Scripture affirms this duty of charity:
“It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” (2 Machabees 12:46)
To pray in this way is to take part in that holy work. It forms the heart in mercy, strengthens belief in the communion of saints, and reminds the faithful that love does not end at death.
Opening Petitions
The litany begins by turning directly to God, asking for mercy and attention: “Lord, have mercy… Christ, hear us.” This opening is not a formality. It places the soul in the right posture before anything else is asked. In this prayer, the beginning teaches how to approach God with humility and trust. Before speaking of the departed, the Church first acknowledges her complete dependence on Him.
The invocation of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—shows that all help for those being purified comes from God alone. No prayer, no intercession, and no act of charity has power apart from Him. The Church begins here to remind believers that mercy flows from the Trinity, and that every grace given to the departed comes from His will.
These petitions also express confidence. The Church does not ask in doubt, but with trust that God hears. As Scripture teaches:
“Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid.” (Hebrews 4:16)
By starting in this way, the litany anchors the entire prayer in God’s mercy. It teaches the soul to turn to Him first, to rely on Him completely, and to trust that every prayer offered for the departed is received.
Invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints
After turning to God, the litany calls upon the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, asking their intercession for those being purified. This is not a turning away from God, but a deeper entering into the life of His Church. No one prays alone. Each prayer is offered as a member of one body—on earth, in Purgatory, and in heaven. The Church teaches that this communion binds the departed with those who still pray for them on earth.
The Blessed Virgin is invoked first because she is the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. Her intercession is powerful because of her closeness to her Son. When she is asked to pray for the departed, the Church entrusts them to a mother who never abandons her children.
The saints are then called upon as friends of God who already enjoy the vision of heaven. Having been purified and made perfect in charity, they now intercede for others. Scripture reminds us of this shared life:
“Pray one for another, that you may be saved.” (James 5:16)
If Christians are called to pray for one another on earth, how much more do those in heaven intercede with greater love and clarity.
This part of the litany teaches the truth of the communion of saints. The Church is not divided by death. Those in heaven, those being purified, and those still on the way remain united in Christ. By invoking Mary and the saints, the faithful join their prayers to the whole Church and ask that these souls may be helped by that united charity.
Prayers for Deliverance
In this part of the litany, the Church pleads for release from the pains of Purgatory: “Deliver them, O Lord.” These petitions are direct and earnest. They acknowledge that purification is real, and that those being purified experience a deep longing to be fully united with God. Such prayers reflect the Church’s belief in purification after death.
They express both God’s justice and His mercy. Justice requires that every attachment to sin be purified. Nothing imperfect can enter into His presence. Yet mercy provides the means by which that purification is completed and even shortened through prayer, sacrifice, and grace.
The repeated plea for deliverance expresses hope, not despair. These souls are not lost. They are being prepared for heaven. Their suffering is temporary, and their final destiny is certain. In charity, the Church asks that this purification may be eased and brought to completion.
Sacred Scripture gives a glimpse of this mystery:
“He shall be saved, yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15)
The fire does not destroy—it purifies.
By offering these petitions, the faithful take part in God’s merciful work. They ask that the departed be freed from all that delays their union with Him, and that they may quickly enter into the joy for which they were created.
Appeals Through the Life of Jesus Christ
In this part of the litany, the Church appeals to the saving mysteries of Christ’s life: “By Thy Cross and Passion… by Thy Death and Burial… by Thy Resurrection.” These petitions rest entirely on what Christ has done. They teach that every grace given to those being purified flows from His redemption. In this prayer, these appeals show that all hope for the departed rests in Christ alone.
Each mystery is not only remembered—it is presented before God as the source of mercy. The Cross, above all, stands at the center. There, Christ offered Himself for the forgiveness of sins. Because of that sacrifice, they are saved and now being purified. The Church asks that the fruits of His offering be applied to them more fully.
This reflects the truth of Scripture:
“Who gave himself a redemption for all.” (1 Timothy 2:6)
The litany also points to the Resurrection and Ascension. Christ has conquered death and opened the way to heaven. These souls are on that path. The Church prays that, through these mysteries, their journey may be brought to completion.
In these petitions, the faithful learn where to place their hope—not in their own efforts, but in Christ alone. His life, His Passion, and His victory over death are the foundation of every prayer for the departed. Through Him, and through Him alone, they will enter into eternal rest.
Final Petitions for the Souls
In the final petitions, the Church gathers all her requests into a clear and hopeful plea: that the departed may be pardoned, released, and brought into eternal rest. These lines move from suffering to fulfillment. The prayer no longer focuses on what is endured, but on what is promised. Those who have died in God’s grace are remembered here with confidence that He will bring them into eternal life.
The repeated requests—“grant them rest” and “grant them eternal rest”—express trust in God’s promise. The Church does not pray in uncertainty. She knows that they are on the path to heaven. She asks that their purification be completed and that they may soon enter into the fullness of His presence.
This hope is grounded in Scripture:
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord… that they may rest from their labours.” (Apocalypse 14:13)
The final petitions also reveal the goal of every prayer for the departed: union with God among the saints. The Church asks not only for relief, but for glory—that they may be welcomed into the company of heaven, where there is no more suffering, but only joy.
In praying these petitions, the faithful are reminded of their own end. Each person will one day stand before God. The prayer becomes both an act of charity for the departed and a quiet preparation for judgment, strengthening the desire to reach that same eternal rest.
Closing Prayer
The litany ends with a final prayer that gathers all the petitions into one offering before God. Here the Church turns once more to Him as Creator and Redeemer, asking that the faithful departed may receive full forgiveness and enter into eternal rest. This conclusion is calm and confident. It does not repeat the earlier pleas but entrusts everything to His mercy. In this final prayer, all are placed completely into the hands of God.
The closing prayer reminds the faithful that salvation belongs entirely to Him. He created the soul, He redeemed it through Christ, and He alone brings it to completion. The Church asks that what has begun in grace may now be fulfilled in glory.
This trust is grounded in the promise of Christ:
“This is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day.” (John 6:39)
The prayer also expresses hope that the petitions offered throughout have been heard. It places the departed into God’s hands, where justice and mercy meet perfectly.
In this way, the litany closes as it began—with God. The faithful commend the departed to Him, trusting that He will bring them into the fullness of His presence, where they will rest and rejoice forever.
Why a Catholic Would Pray for the Souls in Purgatory
Catholics pray for those being purified because the Church teaches that cleansing may still be needed after death, and that the faithful on earth can assist through prayer. Those in Purgatory have died in God’s grace but are being freed from every remaining attachment to sin before entering heaven. They are saved, yet not fully perfected. This teaching shows the need for continued prayer for the dead.
Sacred Scripture supports this practice:
“It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” (2 Machabees 12:46)
Prayer for the dead is not only permitted, but also called good and beneficial.
Such prayer is an act of charity. The departed cannot help themselves. They depend on the prayers, sacrifices, and offerings of the Church. When believers pray for them, they take part in a real work of mercy, asking God to shorten their purification and bring them more quickly into eternal life. For this reason, this litany remains one of the most powerful prayers for the dead.
This practice also flows from the truth of the communion of saints. The Church is one body in Christ, united across heaven, earth, and Purgatory. Death does not break this bond. Just as Christians pray for one another in this life, they continue to do so after death.
“For whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:8)
In praying for the departed, Catholics also remember their own end. One day, each person will stand before God and may need purification. This prayer becomes both an act of love for others and a preparation for that moment.
In the end, to pray in this way is to live out charity in its fullest sense—to love those who can no longer repay it, and to entrust them to the mercy of God.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Litany of the Holy Souls is a structured prayer in which the faithful ask God to have mercy on the souls being purified after death. It follows the traditional litany form, invoking God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints, while pleading for the deliverance and rest of the departed. It is an act of charity rooted in the Church’s belief in the communion of saints.
Catholics pray for the souls in Purgatory because these souls are saved but still undergoing purification before entering heaven. The faithful on earth can assist them through prayer, sacrifice, and offering. Sacred Scripture affirms this practice:
“It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” (2 Machabees 12:46)
This prayer is a true work of mercy.
Yes. The Church teaches that prayers offered for the dead truly benefit them. God, in His mercy, applies these prayers to the souls, helping to ease and shorten their purification. While the exact manner is known only to God, the faithful trust that no prayer offered in charity is wasted.
The Church has not defined exactly how the souls perceive prayers offered for them. However, it is commonly held in Catholic tradition that they are aware, in some way, of the help given to them. Once they reach heaven, they intercede for those who prayed for them, returning that charity in a greater way.
There is no strict rule. The litany may be prayed at any time, but it is especially fitting during November (the month dedicated to the Holy Souls), on All Souls’ Day, or when praying for deceased loved ones. Many of the faithful include it in their daily or weekly prayer as a steady act of mercy.
Links
Litanies
- Divine Mercy
- Humility
- St. Joseph
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Holy Name of Jesus
- Holy Souls in Purgatory
- Holy Spirit
- Precious Blood of Jesus
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Saints
- Trust
Charles Rogers is a resident of South Carolina and a retired computer programmer by trade. Raised in various Christian denominations, he always believed in Jesus Christ. In 2012, he began experiencing authentic spiritual encounters with the Blessed Virgin Mary, which led him on a seven-year journey at her hand, that included alcohol addiction, a widow maker heart attack and death and conversion to the Catholic Faith. He is the exclusive author and owner of Two Percent Survival, a website dedicated to and created in honor of the Holy Mother. Feel free to email Charles at twopercentsurvival@gmail.com.
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