Prayer for souls in purgatory, remembered and forgotten
For loved ones, for the forgotten dead, and for those who died suddenly or alone
Morning Prayer editorial team · Updated: November 2026
The Church has always prayed for the dead, trusting that those who died in God's friendship but still need purification are helped by our prayers, our Masses, and our sacrifices. This prayer for souls in purgatory is for November, for All Souls' Day, for the anniversary of a death, or for any day you want to remember those who have gone before you.
Let us pray
Merciful Father, I come to You today for the souls in purgatory, those who died in Your grace but are still being made ready to see Your face. They cannot pray for themselves now, but I can pray for them, and You have told us that love reaches beyond the grave.
I pray first for the ones I knew and loved: (name them). My parents and grandparents, my friends, the ones whose deaths still ache and the ones I have almost stopped mentioning. Finish in them the work You began at their Baptism. Burn away whatever still clings to them and welcome them home.
I pray for the souls no one remembers: those who died long ago, whose families have died too, whose names are worn off their gravestones. I pray for those who died suddenly, in accidents, in war, in violence, without time to prepare. I pray for those who died alone in hospital rooms and apartments, and for the souls of priests and religious who gave their lives to You.
Lord Jesus, You descended to the dead to bring them Your light. Let the merits of Your Passion, applied through every Mass offered today, shorten their waiting. Let the Blood You shed be their purification and the Eucharist their strength.
Mary, Mother of Mercy, visit those who are being purified and console them with your presence. Saint Joseph, patron of the dying, pray for them.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
Blessing
May the souls you pray for come quickly into the light of God, and may they, in turn, remember you before Him.
How to pray this prayer
- Find a quiet moment and breathe slowly.
- Read the prayer aloud or in your heart.
- Add your own intention before the Amen.
Frequently asked questions
What is purgatory?
The Catechism describes it as the final purification of those who die in God's grace and friendship but are still imperfectly purified, so that they may reach the holiness needed to enter the joy of heaven. It is not a second chance or a lesser hell; everyone in purgatory is saved and on the way home.
How can I help the souls in purgatory?
By having Masses offered for them, by prayer, especially the Rosary and the Eternal Rest prayer, by almsgiving and acts of charity offered for them, and by gaining indulgences on their behalf. Visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead from November 1 to 8 carries a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions.
When is All Souls' Day?
November 2, the day after All Saints. The whole month of November is dedicated to the holy souls, and many parishes keep a book of the dead near the altar where names can be written for remembrance at Mass.
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