St. Gertrude Prayer
The St. Gertrude Prayer is a traditional Catholic prayer for the souls in purgatory, attributed to a private revelation received by St. Gertrude the Great in the 13th century. It is one of the most frequently prayed prayers for the holy souls and is particularly popular during November.
About St. Gertrude the Great
St. Gertrude the Great (1256–1302) was a German Benedictine mystic at the monastery of Helfta in Saxony. She is one of the few women in the Church given the title the Great. Her writings, particularly The Herald of Divine Love, record numerous mystical experiences. She is patron of the West Indies and is associated with devotion to the Sacred Heart. Her feast day is November 16.
The Tradition Behind This Prayer
According to her writings, Our Lord appeared to St. Gertrude and promised that each time this prayer was offered with devotion, a great number of souls would be released from purgatory. This is a pious tradition — it is not defined Church doctrine and has not been formally confirmed by the Magisterium. The prayer itself is theologically sound: offering the Precious Blood of Christ on behalf of the suffering souls reflects authentic Catholic teaching on the communion of saints.
Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the most Precious Blood
of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,
in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy souls in purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the universal Church,
those in my own home,
and within my family.
Amen.
Attributed to St. Gertrude the Great, d.1302. Traditional Catholic devotional prayer. Public domain.
Frequently asked questions
- Who was St. Gertrude the Great?
- St. Gertrude the Great (1256–1302) was a German Benedictine mystic at the monastery of Helfta in Saxony, one of the few women in Church history given the title the Great. She is known for her mystical writings, particularly The Herald of Divine Love. Her feast day is November 16.
- Does the St. Gertrude Prayer really release souls from purgatory?
- The specific promise attributed to Our Lord in St. Gertrude's writings is a pious tradition, not defined Church doctrine. The Church has not formally confirmed claims about specific numbers of souls released. The prayer is theologically sound and praying for the dead is a holy ancient Catholic practice.
- When should I pray the St. Gertrude Prayer?
- This prayer is particularly associated with November, the month the Church dedicates to praying for the dead, and with All Souls Day on November 2. It can be prayed throughout the year, especially for recently deceased loved ones.
- Is there a St. Gertrude Prayer in Spanish?
- Yes. The Spanish form begins Eterno Padre, te ofrezco la Preciosísima Sangre... Use the EN/ES toggle on this page to switch between English and Spanish.
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