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Prayers at Mass for Deceased Friends.
A PRAYER BEFORE MASS.
O ETERNAL God! who, besides the general precepts of charity, hast commanded a particular respect to be shown to parents, kindred, and benefactors, and by the institution of the Sacrifice of the Mass, hast left us the means of testifying our love and gratitude towards them even after death, vouchsafe that the Mass I this day offer in union with thy minister, for the souls of N. and N., may shorten their sufferings, if they be still detained in the purifying flames of purgatory.
As there may be many of my friends. relatives, or ancestors, tormented in these intense flames, who were the instruments of thy Providence, in bestowing on me existence, education, and innumerable blessings, grant that I may be the means of obtaining for them a speedy release from their excessive sufferings, and a free admittance to thy eternal joys: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AT THE BEGINNING OF MASS.
O ALMIGHTY God! with whom the spirits of the just live, and in whose holy custody are the souls of all that depart hence in an inferior degree of grace, and are therefore detained in a state of suffering; as we bless thee for the saints already admitted into thy glory, so we humbly offer up our prayers for the afflicted souls who continually sigh after the day of their deliverance.
If among them be the souls of those for whom we this day petition, vouchsafe to pardon their sins, that they may behold thee, and in thy glorious light eternally rejoice: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
