Prayers for Souls in Purgatory

Praying for the souls in purgatory is one of the most ancient practices of the Catholic Church. The Eternal Rest Prayer and the Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great are the two most widely used prayers for the holy souls.

The Eternal Rest Prayer

The Requiem aeternam is one of the oldest Catholic prayers for the dead, rooted in the Church's funeral liturgy from the early centuries of Christianity. It asks God to grant eternal rest and perpetual light to those who have died. It is prayed at the end of the Rosary, at gravesides, on death anniversaries, and throughout November — the month the Church dedicates to praying for the dead.

The Prayer of St. Gertrude

This prayer is attributed to a private revelation to St. Gertrude the Great (1256–1302), a German Benedictine mystic. According to the account in her writings, Our Lord promised that a great number of souls would be released from purgatory each time this prayer was offered with devotion. This is a pious tradition — not official Church doctrine — but the prayer is theologically sound and has been widely used for centuries.

When to Pray for the Souls in Purgatory

Catholics are encouraged to pray for the dead throughout the year, especially during November — on All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). Also at Mass, on death anniversaries, and when visiting a cemetery.

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.
Amen.

Eternal Rest Prayer: Ancient liturgical form. Public domain. St. Gertrude Prayer: attributed to St. Gertrude the Great, d.1302. Public domain.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Eternal Rest Prayer?: The Eternal Rest Prayer (Requiem aeternam in Latin) is one of the oldest Catholic prayers for the dead, asking God to grant eternal rest and perpetual light to those who have died. It is prayed at funerals, gravesides, on death anniversaries, and throughout November.
What is the Prayer of St. Gertrude?: The Prayer of St. Gertrude is attributed to a private revelation to St. Gertrude the Great (1256–1302), who recorded that Our Lord promised a great number of souls would be released from purgatory each time it was prayed with devotion. This is a pious tradition, not official Church doctrine, but the prayer is theologically sound.
When should I pray for the souls in purgatory?: Catholics are encouraged to pray for the dead throughout the year, especially during November — particularly All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). Also at Mass, on death anniversaries, and at cemeteries.
Does the Catholic Church teach that purgatory is real?: Yes. The existence of purgatory is a defined dogma of the Catholic Church, stated in the Council of Florence (1439), the Council of Trent (1563), and affirmed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 1030-1032).
Is it biblical to pray for the dead?: The practice is supported in 2 Maccabees 12:46 which states it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead. The early Church practiced prayer for the dead from its earliest centuries.

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