The Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great for the Souls in Purgatory

The Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great for the Souls in Purgatory is one of the most beloved devotions in Catholic tradition. St. Gertrude, a 13th-century Benedictine nun and mystic, was known for her deep love for Christ and her compassionate heart for the suffering souls awaiting their entrance into heaven. According to tradition, Jesus revealed to her that each time this prayer is devoutly recited, many souls would be released from purgatory and welcomed into eternal glory.

This powerful prayer reflects the Church’s teaching on purgatory — a state of purification for those who die in God’s grace but still need cleansing before seeing Him face to face. Rooted in mercy, hope, and charity, the prayer invites the faithful to offer Christ’s Precious Blood for the relief and consolation of the Holy Souls. It is a beautiful reminder that love does not end with death and that our prayers can bring comfort, healing, and eternal joy to those who have gone before us.

Prayers for the Release of Souls from Purgatory

1. A Prayer of Mercy O Lord of infinite mercy, look with compassion upon the souls who await purification in Purgatory. Through the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, cleanse them of every remaining stain and draw them swiftly into Your eternal embrace. Let Your mercy triumph over judgment, and may they find rest in Your everlasting light. Amen.

2. A Prayer Through the Intercession of Mary Most Holy Mary, Mother of Souls, you who stood at the foot of the cross and witnessed the fullness of redemption, intercede for the souls in Purgatory. Offer to your Son the tears you wept at Calvary as a ransom for their swift release. Cover them with your mantle and lead them before the throne of God. Amen.

3. A Prayer for Forgotten Souls, Merciful Father, we lift up to You those souls who have no one left on earth to pray for them — the forgotten, the abandoned, the unremembered. Though the world has forgotten them, You have not. In Your great love, release them from every burden and bring them into the fullness of Your glory. Amen.

4. A Prayer of Offering Lord Jesus, I offer You all the prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for the release of the holy souls in Purgatory. May every breath I take, every act of love I perform, be a ransom for their freedom. Unite my small sacrifices to Your perfect sacrifice on the cross for their eternal good. Amen.

5. A Prayer for the Souls of Our Loved Ones Heavenly Father, I bring before You those I have known and loved who have gone before me in faith. If any still undergo purification, I ask You through the merits of Your Son to shorten their time of waiting. Grant them the joy of beholding Your face, and let them one day welcome me into paradise. Amen.

6. A Prayer of Eternal Rest Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Hear our cry on their behalf, O Father, and open wide the gates of heaven to receive them into Your glory. Amen.

7. A Prayer of the Precious Blood O Jesus, by the power of Your most Precious Blood, shed for the redemption of all mankind, I implore You to release the souls detained in Purgatory. Let the flood of Your saving blood wash away every impurity that delays their entrance into heaven. Bring them home, Lord, into the joy that You have prepared. Amen.

8. A Prayer Through the Sacred Heart O Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning with love for every soul You have created, turn Your gaze upon those suffering in Purgatory. From the wounds of Your heart, pour forth rivers of mercy and grace to extinguish the purifying flames. Release them, Lord, for they long for You as the deer longs for running streams. Amen.

9. A Prayer of Holy Souls in Solidarity Lord, we are one body — those living on earth, those purified in Purgatory, and those rejoicing in heaven. In the communion of saints, we stand together. Let our prayers rise before You as incense, and may the merits of all the saints be applied to those who still await Your presence. Release them, Father, and make us one. Amen.

10. A Prayer at the Hour of All Souls O God of the living and the dead, in this solemn hour I kneel before You on behalf of every soul that still yearns for heaven. You who are outside of time know each one by name. By the prayers of the whole Church on earth, may many souls be released today from Purgatory and ushered into the splendor of Your kingdom. Amen.

11. A Prayer Through the Holy Mass Lord Jesus, present in every Holy Mass as the eternal Lamb who was slain, I offer this sacrifice for the souls in Purgatory. May the graces flowing from this holy and perfect offering be applied to those who most need Your mercy. Let the altar of heaven receive what the altar of earth has offered on their behalf. Amen.

12. A Prayer of Hopeful Trust Father, we do not grieve as those without hope, for we know that death is not the end. We trust in the resurrection and in Your power to save. We ask with confident faith that You release the souls in Purgatory according to Your perfect will and timing. Bring them fully into the light, love, and life that You alone can give — now and forevermore. Amen.

Mercy-Filled Prayers for Departed Loved Ones

1. A Prayer of Surrender Heavenly Father, I place into Your merciful hands the soul of my beloved who has gone before me. I cannot follow where they have gone, but I trust that You are there. You who knit them together in their mother’s womb and numbered every day of their life — now hold them in the tender mercy of Your eternal arms. Let Your love be all they need. Amen.

2. A Prayer for Peace Beyond Understanding O Lord, grant to my departed loved one the peace that passes all understanding — the peace that the world could never give and death could never steal. May every worry, every wound, and every burden they carried in this life be lifted now in Your presence. Clothe them in the garment of Your mercy and let them rest, O God, in You alone. Amen.

3. A Prayer Soaked in Grief and Hope Lord, my heart aches with the weight of this loss. The chair is empty, the voice is silent, and the absence is a wound I carry daily. Yet I come before You not without hope, for I believe in Your resurrection power. I pray for the soul of my loved one — may Your mercy cover every imperfection and Your grace carry them into the fullness of eternal joy. Amen.

4. A Prayer Through the Blood of Christ O Jesus, by the power of Your most Precious Blood poured out on Calvary, I intercede for my departed loved one. Every sin, every failure, every moment of weakness they carried in life — may it be swallowed up in the ocean of Your redeeming love. You died so that death would not have the final word. Let mercy speak louder. Amen.

5. A Prayer of Trust in God’s Goodness Merciful Father, I do not know the full measure of my loved one’s heart — but You do. You searched them and knew them. You understood their struggles, their doubts, their quiet moments of faith. I trust Your perfect judgment and Your perfect love. Where I cannot see, You see clearly. Be merciful, O Lord, as only You can be. Amen.

6. A Prayer Through the Intercession of Mary Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, I bring my departed loved one before you with a grieving but trusting heart. You who stood beneath the cross and witnessed salvation pour forth — intercede for this soul before your Son. Present them to Jesus with the same tender love you showed Him in Bethlehem, and ask Him to draw them close forever. Amen.

7. A Prayer for the Forgotten Moments of Their Faith Lord, I lift up every quiet prayer my loved one ever prayed, every small act of kindness they offered, every moment they reached for You even in weakness. Nothing done in love is forgotten before You. Honor those seeds of faith, O God, and let them blossom into the fullness of eternal life in Your glorious presence. Amen.

8. A Prayer of Holy Longing O God, my loved one has gone to where I cannot yet follow, but I carry them with me in every prayer. I long for the day when what death has separated, eternity will reunite. Until then, I ask You to keep their soul in the hollow of Your hand, wrapped in Your mercy, surrounded by Your light, and held in the warmth of Your unending love. Amen.

9. A Prayer of the Grieving Heart Father, grief is the price of love, and I pay it willingly for my beloved. But even in sorrow I come before You with faith. You are the God who raises the dead and redeems what is lost. I ask You today — in Your abundant mercy — to look upon my loved one with grace, forgive what needs forgiving, and welcome them into the joy You have prepared. Amen.

10. A Prayer of Final Commendation Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend the soul of one I deeply love. You gave them to this world and to me as a gift, and now I return them to You with gratitude and with grief. Be the God of mercy I have always believed You to be. Open wide the gates of heaven, let perpetual light shine upon them, and grant them the eternal rest that only You can give. Amen.

 A Daily Offering for the Holy Souls

1. A Morning Offering for the Holy Souls O Lord, as I rise to greet this new day, I offer every moment of it for the release of the holy souls in Purgatory. May my waking hours, my labors, my thoughts, and my words become a living prayer on their behalf. Accept this day from my hands as an act of love for those who long to behold Your face. Amen.

2. An Offering of Simple Works Heavenly Father, I have no great deeds to offer — only the ordinary moments of this day. Yet I place them all before You: the dishes washed, the errands run, the patience practiced, the kindness given. Take these small, hidden things and transform them by Your grace into a ransom for the holy souls who await their freedom. Amen.

3. An Offering Through the Cross Lord Jesus, You carried the cross for every soul ever created. Today I take up my own small crosses — the frustrations, the disappointments, the weariness of daily life — and I unite them to Your perfect sacrifice. Let nothing I suffer today be wasted, but let it serve as an offering for the purification and release of the holy souls. Amen.

4. An Offering of Prayer Itself O Holy Spirit, I do not always know how to pray as I ought, but You intercede for me with groanings too deep for words. Take every prayer I utter today — however imperfect, however brief — and multiply it by Your power for the sake of the holy souls. Let my lips and my heart work together in their service. Amen.

5. An Evening Offering for the Holy Souls Lord, as this day draws to a close, I gather all that it contains — its joys and its struggles, its victories and its failures — and I lay it at Your feet for the souls in Purgatory. What I could not give You perfectly, give through Your own mercy. Let not one moment of this day be lost, but let all of it serve Your glory and their freedom. Amen.

6. An Offering of Fasting and Sacrifice Of God, in the tradition of Your Church, I embrace today a spirit of fasting and self-denial for the holy souls. Every hunger I feel, every comfort I surrender, every pleasure I lay aside — I offer freely for those who yearn for the fullness of heaven. May this small act of sacrifice echo through eternity and bring them one step closer to You. Amen.

7. An Offering of Joy Lord, today I offer You not suffering, but gladness. I offer the laughter shared with those I love, the beauty of creation around me, the gratitude that rises in my heart. I ask You to receive this joy as an act of praise on behalf of the holy souls, who cannot yet praise You fully. Let my rejoicing count as theirs, until the day they rejoice in Your presence themselves. Amen.

8. An Offering of Love O Father, love is the greatest offering of all, for You Yourself are love. Today I choose to love — generously, patiently, selflessly — and I dedicate every act of love I perform for the liberation of the holy souls. May the warmth of charity on earth bring light and relief to those undergoing purification, drawing them ever closer to the fire of Your perfect love. Amen.

9. A Closing Daily Offering Lord God, at the end of this day I make one final offering: myself — all that I am, all that I have done, all that I have failed to do. I place it in Your merciful hands with nothing held back. I ask that whatever merit You find in this offering be given entirely to the holy souls in Purgatory. Release them, Father. Bring them home. And one day, by Your grace, bring me home as well. Amen.

Prayers for God’s Compassion and Eternal Rest

1. A Prayer for God’s Tender Compassion O Lord, You are slow to anger and rich in compassion, and Your mercies are new every morning. Turn that same tenderness upon the souls who have departed this world and now await the fullness of Your presence. Let Your compassion, which has no end, reach into every place of waiting and draw each soul gently into Your eternal rest. Amen.

2. A Prayer for Rest After Struggling Merciful Father, the souls we commend to You have known the weariness of life — its trials, its wounds, its many battles. Now we ask that You grant them the rest that the world could never offer. Let them lay down every burden at Your feet and enter into the peace that surpasses all understanding, the peace that only You can give. Amen.

3. A Prayer of Compassion for the Suffering Souls Lord Jesus, when You walked this earth You were moved with compassion at the sight of human suffering. Be moved now by the longing of the holy souls who ache for union with You. Let Your heart, which broke upon the cross out of love for them, now break open with mercy to usher them into the joy they have so long awaited. Amen.

4. A Prayer for God’s Gaze of Love Heavenly Father, I ask You to turn Your gaze upon those who have died and still await the fullness of Your glory. One loving glance from You can undo years of darkness. One word of mercy from Your lips can set a captive soul free. Look upon them now, Father, with the eyes of compassion, and let Your look alone be enough to bring them home. Amen.

5. A Prayer Entrusting Souls to God’s Heart O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I entrust to Your keeping all who have gone before us in death. Hold them in the depths of Your compassionate heart, where no pain can reach and no sorrow can remain. Let the warmth of Your love be their comfort, and let the mercy that flows endlessly from Your wounded side be the very mercy that grants them eternal rest. Amen.

6. A Prayer of Quiet Surrender Lord God, we do not fully understand the mystery of what lies beyond death, but we trust completely in Your goodness. We surrender our departed loved ones into Your compassionate care, knowing that Your love for them is greater than ours could ever be. Grant them the rest they could not find in this life, and hold them in the peace of Your eternal presence. Amen.

7. A Prayer for the Peace That Endures O Prince of Peace, this world offered our beloved departed only a fleeting and fragile peace. We ask You now to give them the peace that endures forever — a peace untroubled by sorrow, unshaken by fear, and unmarred by sin. By Your compassion, still every storm within them and lead them to the harbor of Your eternal rest. Amen.

8. A Final Prayer of Commendation Eternal God, into Your hands we commend the souls of all who have died. You formed them, You loved them, You redeemed them at the cost of Your Son’s own life. Do not let that great price be lost. In Your boundless compassion, receive them now into the rest that has been prepared since the foundation of the world. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them forever. Amen.

Prayers Inspired by St. Gertrude the Great

1. The Prayer of St. Gertrude for the Holy Souls O Eternal Father, I offer You the most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus Christ, in union with all the Masses being said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, for those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

2. A Prayer of Mystical Union O Lord Jesus, as You revealed to Your beloved servant Gertrude the great power of offering Your Precious Blood for the departed, I come before You now with that same offering on my lips and in my heart. I have nothing of my own worthy enough to purchase the freedom of a soul, yet Your Blood is infinitely sufficient. Accept it now as my intercession for all who wait in Purgatory. Amen.

3. A Prayer of Confident Faith O God, St. Gertrude prayed with a faith so bold and so burning that You promised her intercessions would release a great multitude of souls. Kindle in my heart that same holy boldness. Let me not approach You timidly but with the confidence of a child who knows the generosity of their Father. Hear my prayer for the holy souls, and release them by the thousands into Your glory. Amen.

4. A Prayer Through the Wounds of Christ Lord Jesus, St. Gertrude meditated often and deeply upon Your sacred wounds, finding in them an ocean of mercy for sinners and for souls. I enter now into those same wounds and plead from within them on behalf of the departed. From the wound in Your side, pour rivers of grace upon every soul in Purgatory. Let no wound You bore go to waste, but let each one open a door of mercy for those who await Your light. Amen.

5. A Prayer of Loving Abandonment O Holy Spirit, St. Gertrude surrendered herself so completely to Your movement within her that her prayers became a channel of extraordinary grace. Teach me that same abandonment. Empty me of self-interest so that when I pray for the holy souls, I pray not with my own weak will but with Yours. Let Your intercession flow through me like a river, reaching those souls most in need of relief. Amen.

6. A Prayer United to the Sacred Heart Dearest Lord, Your servant Gertrude rested her head upon Your Sacred Heart and heard its deepest longings — and chief among them was the desire to bring every soul safely home to You. I unite my prayer today to that longing of Your heart. You want the holy souls in Purgatory far more than I could ever ask for them. Let Your own desire be the prayer, and let Your own mercy be the answer. Amen.

7. A Prayer of Joyful Expectation O Father of all mercies, St. Gertrude lived with a heart full of joy because she trusted absolutely in Your desire to save. I pray now with that same joy, certain that You are far more eager to release the holy souls than I am to ask for it. Receive my intercession, multiply it by Your grace, and let today be the day of freedom for many souls who have long awaited the light of Your face. In the name of Jesus, and through the prayers of St. Gertrude, I ask it with confidence. Amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great?

It is a traditional Catholic prayer offered for the release and relief of the souls in purgatory, asking God to apply the merits of Christ’s Precious Blood to them.

Who was St. Gertrude the Great?

St. Gertrude the Great was a 13th-century Benedictine nun and mystic known for her deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and her prayers for the Holy Souls.

Is it true that many souls are released when the prayer is recited?

According to pious tradition, Jesus promised St. Gertrude that thousands of souls would be released each time the prayer is said devoutly. However, this promise is part of private revelation and not official Church doctrine.

Is the prayer officially approved by the Catholic Church?

The Church permits and encourages prayers for the dead, but specific numerical promises connected to private revelations are not formally confirmed as doctrine.

How often should this prayer be said?

There is no required number. Many Catholics pray it daily, especially during November (the month dedicated to the Holy Souls) or when remembering deceased loved ones.

Can I pray this for a specific person?

Yes. You may offer the prayer for a particular soul or for all the souls in purgatory.

Why do Catholics pray for the souls in purgatory?

Catholics believe in purgatory as a state of purification before entering heaven. Praying for the dead is an act of charity and spiritual mercy.

Does this prayer replace having Mass offered for the dead?

No. The Holy Mass is considered the most powerful prayer for the souls in purgatory, but this prayer can beautifully complement Mass intentions.

Is this prayer found in the Bible?

The exact wording is not in Scripture, but the practice of praying for the dead has biblical roots, particularly in 2 Maccabees 12:46.

When is the best time to pray this prayer?

Any time is appropriate, but many choose to pray it during personal devotion, at funerals, on anniversaries of death, or on All Souls’ Day.

Conclusion

The Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great for the Souls in Purgatory is a profound expression of mercy, hope, and spiritual charity. By offering this prayer, the faithful participate in Christ’s saving love, bringing relief and comfort to the souls undergoing purification.

Praying for the dead reminds us that our love extends beyond this life, and that even small acts of devotion can have eternal significance. Incorporating this prayer into daily life or special devotions is a meaningful way to honor the departed and grow closer to God through compassion and intercession.