Tag: Communion of Saints

Saint Faustina and the Three Souls in Purgatory

A Powerful Reminder to Pray for the Holy Souls

One of the most moving accounts in the life of Saint Faustina Kowalska concerns a vision she received of souls suffering in Purgatory. This experience serves as a powerful reminder that our prayers, sacrifices, and acts of charity can help those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.

Saint Faustina is best known as the Apostle of Divine Mercy. Through her diary, she recorded many revelations from Jesus concerning God’s infinite mercy and His desire that all souls be saved. Among these revelations was a profound encounter with souls undergoing purification after death.

The Vision of Three Souls

Saint Faustina wrote that she was once permitted by God to visit a place of purification. There she encountered three souls who were suffering the pains of Purgatory.

Although these souls had died in God’s friendship and were destined for Heaven, they still required purification before entering into the full presence of God. Their suffering was not one of despair but of longing—a deep desire to be united completely with the Lord.

The saint observed that these souls could no longer merit for themselves. They depended entirely on the prayers, sacrifices, and Masses offered by the faithful on earth.

A Fire Unlike Earthly Fire

Saint Faustina described the suffering of the souls as being caused by an intense longing for God. She noted that the fire of Purgatory was unlike earthly fire. It was a spiritual purification that prepared souls for the perfect holiness required to enter Heaven.

What struck her most was that the souls eagerly desired this purification because they understood it was leading them toward eternal union with God.

Their suffering was temporary, but their destination was eternal joy.

The Communion of Saints

The Church teaches that there is a spiritual bond between the faithful on earth, the souls in Purgatory, and the saints in Heaven. This bond is known as the Communion of Saints.

Because of this spiritual connection, our prayers truly help the Holy Souls.

Every Rosary prayed for them, every sacrifice offered on their behalf, every Divine Mercy Chaplet, and especially every Holy Mass can assist them in their purification.

Saint Faustina learned that many souls receive great relief through the prayers of the faithful.

Why We Should Pray for the Holy Souls

Many Catholics today have forgotten the ancient practice of praying for the dead. Yet throughout Christian history, believers have offered prayers and Mass intentions for departed loved ones.

The Holy Souls cannot pray for themselves, but they can pray for us. Many saints have taught that souls released from Purgatory become powerful intercessors before the throne of God.

When we help them, they do not forget us.

This beautiful exchange of charity continues until we are all united in Heaven.

Divine Mercy and Purgatory

The message of Divine Mercy offers tremendous hope for both the living and the dead. Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina that His mercy is greater than any sin and that He desires all souls to trust in Him.

The Divine Mercy Chaplet has become one of the Church’s most beloved prayers for the dying and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

Whenever we pray:

“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world,”

we are participating in Christ’s mission of mercy.

What Can We Do Today?

We can help the Holy Souls by:

• Attending Mass and offering it for the dead.

• Praying the Rosary for departed loved ones.

• Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

• Offering sacrifices and sufferings for the Holy Souls.

• Visiting cemeteries and praying for those who have died.

• Remembering forgotten souls who may have no one praying for them.

Final Thoughts

Saint Faustina’s vision of the three souls in Purgatory reminds us that death is not the end of our relationship with one another. Through the Communion of Saints, we remain connected in Christ.

The Holy Souls need our prayers. One day, we may need theirs.

Let us never miss an opportunity to pray:

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.”

By showing mercy to the Holy Souls, we participate in the very mission that Jesus entrusted to Saint Faustina—the mission of bringing God’s mercy to every soul.

June 21, 2026
How to Recite the Chaplet

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is recited using ordinary Rosary beads of five decades. The Chaplet is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska and followed by a closing prayer.

Download instructions.

1. Make the Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. Optional Opening Prayers

St. Faustina’s Prayer for Sinners
O Jesus, eternal Truth, our Life, I call upon You and I beg Your mercy for poor sinners. O sweetest Heart of my Lord, full of pity and unfathomable mercy, I plead with You for poor sinners. O Most Sacred Heart, Fount of Mercy from which gush forth rays of inconceivable graces upon the entire human race, I beg of You light for poor sinners. O Jesus, be mindful of Your own bitter Passion and do not permit the loss of souls redeemed at so dear a price of Your most precious Blood. O Jesus, when I consider the great price of Your Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one drop alone would have been enough for the salvation of all sinners. Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equalled. Therefore, let every soul trust in the Passion of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone. Heaven and earth may change, but God’s mercy will never be exhausted. Oh, what immense joy burns in my heart when I contemplate Your incomprehensible goodness, O Jesus! I desire to bring all sinners to Your feet that they may glorify Your mercy throughout endless ages (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 72).

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

(Repeat three times)
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!

3. Our Father

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

4. Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

5. The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the Resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

6. The Eternal Father

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

7. On the 10 Small Beads of Each Decade

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

8. Repeat for the remaining decades

Saying the “Eternal Father” (6) on the “Our Father” bead and then 10 “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion” (7) on the following “Hail Mary” beads.

9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

10. Optional Closing Prayers

Eternal God, in Whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

O Greatly Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy — to Your compassion, O God; and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out. Gracious God, do not reject the prayer of this earth’s exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding, Who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You: anticipate us with Your grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will all through our life and at death’s hour. Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation’s enemies, that we may with confidence, as Your children, await Your [Son’s] final coming — that day known to You alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope: through His merciful Heart, as through an open gate, we pass through to Heaven (Diary, 1570).

April 11, 2026