Helping Our Brothers And Sisters

Today, we pray for all our deceased Brothers and benefactors our Capuchin Order. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to remember in our prayers all our loved brothers and sisters who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. We think of friars with whom we have lived and influenced our lives and any friars who have been forgotten. In praying for all our benefactors, we remember mostly our best benefactors, our parents who gave their sons to the Capuchin Order. We remember also our sisters, the Poor Clares, and the deceased members of the Secular Franciscan Order. These people who have influenced our lives may be waiting in purgatory, longing to be released from their sufferings and united with God.

Because we love them, we want them to reach heaven as soon as possible and we can help them to get there through our prayers. If you saw a stranger drowning, wouldn’t you do whatever you could to help him? The helpless Holy Souls in Purgatory, our own brothers and sisters, are crying out for help and we can throw them a lifeline. What a privilege it is to be able to pray for the dead, knowing that our prayers have the power to lift souls into heaven. How wonderful it is to think that perhaps before this Mass is finished, we may have rescued one of our loved ones from Purgatory and they are now enjoying the bliss of Heaven! You can be certain if we have helped any souls to get to Heaven, they will be our friends for life and they will never forget us and will always pray for us, especially in our time of need.

In the book of Maccabees, Judas Maccabeus said, "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be released from their sins. "So, let us remember to pray for our brothers and sisters, not only today but every day.

Lord Jesus, you gave the following prayer to St. Gertrude and told her that whenever it is said, because it is such a powerful prayer You would release many souls from Purgatory. We now pray this prayer for all the Holy Souls of the Franciscan Order and our benefactors. “Eternal Father I offer you the most precious Blood of Your divine Son Jesus, in union with all the Holy Masses being offered today throughout the world for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.”