Family Study-Purgatory and the Poor Souls

For this past month of March, our family topic of Study was on Purgatory and the Poor Souls. November is the traditional month of devotion to the poor souls, but I decided that with such an important topic as it is, it would be wise to study an aspect of it twice per year.I decided to just cover the basics this month and then in November study a bit more in depth about purgatory. (Like scriptural references, etc.)

Here is the plan I developed for study, the resources I used, and what we have studied. (I also just wanted to note that all of the reading and discussing for this family study was done in the evenings after school time, usually for just about 20 minutes or so after dinner.)

*I purchased SPIRITUAL FLOWERS for THE HOLY SOULS,A Devotional Chart for Children, from Little Flowers Family Apostolates.. This chart was really instrumental in teaching all the little deeds that can be done to help the suffering of the poor souls. It's such a great reminder for me, when I see this laminated chart hanging on the refrigerator, to not only speak to my family about the poor souls, but also for my own personal devotions to help them. The chart is very attractive and it lists the days of the week and then offers "reliefs for the poor souls" in the form of your daily offering, holy rosary, Holy water etc. I plan on keeping this chart out for the entire year to remind us all that we should remember the poor souls in purgatory on a daily basis. (Also, I would highly recommended visiting the Little Flowers Family Apostolates.e if you are not familiar with it. They offer a great collection of authentically Catholic materials, most of which are old, out of date, and hard to find.)

*Read through the Catechism on the Catholic Church on the section of Purgatory.


*We then read through and studied a few pages each day of the following small booklets:
"Purgatory Quizzes"-Very informative. This is a booklet set up in a question and answer format, answering questions to someone who doesn't understand or believe in purgatory.
"Read me or Rue It" and How to Avoid Purgatory both by Father Paul O'Sullivan.

These three little booklets are so full of information. It is clear, and concise and easy to understand, even for children.

*Joined the Association of the Holy Souls. The conditions for this Association are:

Have your name registered in the Book of the Association.
Hear Mass once a week (Sunday suffices) for the Holy Souls.
Pray for and promote devotion it, the Holy Souls.
Contribute once a year an offering to the Mass fund, which enables the Association to have daily Masses said! throughout the year.
(Those who wish to join and do not have the Association to their parish can send their name, address and annual alms to:
Association of the Holy Souls, Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary, Pius XII Monastery, Rua do Rosario 1, 2495 Fatima, Portugal).

*Lastly, for this month we also read certain excerpts from the book "Visions of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory." I choose a few specific stories just relating to purgatory from this book, as well as the chapter on St. John Bosco and his dreams.

These little monthly family studies are shaping up to be incredible blessings for our family! I couldn't predict that something as simple as assigning a focus to the month would bring to bear so much fruit in our Faith life and family life too!




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PRAYER OF ST. GERTRUDE THE GREAT

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

Also, check out this resource for all pious prayers relating to the Poor Souls.