“A Daily Pilgrimage to Purgatory!” Yes! You are being invited to go on “pilgrimage” daily with the Sacred Heart of Jesus! It won’t cost you monies and you won’t need a passport. You will not be boarding a plane either!
The Sacred Heart of Jesus makes the best traveling companion especially during this liturgical season of Lent. I’m sure you have questions – so let’s get started on what this is all about!
It might be a good idea to have a short primer on what the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us first about purgatory.
1030 All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: “Therefore Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.
This image reflects “my personal invitation” that was given to me many years ago. I had found the booklet in Church and picked it up. The words handwritten on the first page were, “please pray for the souls.” It also had a stamped message that said, “in memory of our beloved son with his name.” The son was only 20 years old when he died. There was no question in my heart and my mind that I would make this pilgrimage and pray for this young man’s soul. The booklet got dropped into my bag and has never left my possession. As you can see it is quite old now and tattered!
“It is short, easy, comforting, inexhaustible, efficacious, meritorious, goes on unceasingly and is approved by the Church.”
“St. Margaret Mary recommended this devotion to her novices for the octave of All Souls. It was introduced to the members of the Archconfraternity of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the year of 1885. Since that time many people have made this daily pilgrimage to purgatory and continue to do so.
It is favored by God Himself and it is salutary. What does that mean? By praying for the poor souls in purgatory, they will pray for us, especially after their entrance into Heaven. We will be able to say that we have made eternal friends through a beautiful act of charity and the giving of ourselves.
Entering into the Heart of Jesus – we are ready to make “the daily pilgrimage to purgatory.” As we begin our journey – we pose a question to the holy souls each new day of the week. I would like to give you an example for “Sunday’s question and response.”
“Holy Souls in Purgatory, is there anything you regret when you think of your life on earth?”
“I deeply regret wasted time. . .I did not consider it so precious, so fleeting, so irretrievable. For this reason my life was worth only half of what it might have been. Oh, had I but realized then! Would that I could return to earth, how differently I would use the time given me!”
“Hours now seem like years, days like centuries. I must now suffer, weep, and wait, until the last minute of wasted time is redeemed. Oh, how long shall my exile last! Irretrievable time! On earth I relied on my last years to do penance; but the thread of my life was severed at a moment when I expected it least! O precious time! You were given to me to acquire treasures and graces without number, but now you are lost for me forever.”
The Holy Souls continue on with their dialogue with us for Sunday’s meditation discussing “wasting time!” They tell us, “You who live on earth, do not waste the gift of time, which has cost Jesus such a high price, and for which you too will have to suffer in Purgatory if you imitate our carelessness.”
Above is an image of “holy cards” that we receive at every wake that we make a visitation to. What do we do with them? I remember reading that a retired couple put their cards in a shoe box and would have their morning coffee with them! They would choose a card and remember that person lovingly that day and keep them in prayer.
I believe that is when I started keeping all my “holy relatives and friends” together in a box. I would choose one card and pray for that person that particular day.
But of late. . .I randomly stick my hand in that huge box and pull out at least 20 of the cards. Time seems to be short and rather than take only one card out. . .I opted for a handful.
As I am making my “Daily Pilgrimage to Purgatory” I mention them each by name and then take them with me to Mass. I again present them to Jesus before Mass begins, however, I remember them at the Consecration.
Don’t let this opportunity slip through your hands but grasp “His!” It’s always the “acceptable time” to pray for the holy souls! It’s Lent and now is the great time to show our love for our relatives and friends who have passed into the eternal!
For Saturday’s reflection in the pilgrimage booklet- another holy soul comments that they deeply regretted the little amount of charity they showed towards the poor souls during their own life on earth. They lamented they could have been of such great service to them bringing so much light and peace to these poor, suffering prisoners.
“I could have helped them by my prayers, mortifications, alms, good works, Holy Communions and Holy Masses, the latter, either by having them said for the Poor Souls or by attending them, especially those celebrated in honor of the Sacred Heart. I would have obtained numerous graces which would have made it easier for me to avoid sin. Moreover, I would have deserved a much shorter and less painful Purgatory and now I would receive a much greater share in the prayers which were said for us wherever there are Catholics.
Oh, could I but return to the world to help the Poor Souls! I certainly would interest myself in their sad plight! What devout prayers would I say for them! How solicitous I would be to awaken in the faithful the most tender sympathy and pity for them!”
Sr. Faustina Sr. Faustina had the following experience on November 2, 1936:
#748 – Notebook II
In the evening after Vespers, I went to the cemetery (in the sister’s park). I had been praying for awhile when I saw one of our sisters, who said to me, “we are in the chapel.” I understood that I was to go the chapel and there pray and gain the indulgence. The next day, during Holy Mass, I saw three white doves soaring from the altar toward heaven. I understood that not only the three souls that I saw had gone to heaven, but also many others who had died beyond the confines of our institute. Oh, how good and merciful is the Lord!
Sr. Faustina above speaks about “gaining indulgences” for the poor souls in purgatory. Just this week, one of our Priests gave a teaching on indulgences and what is available to us from the “Treasury of Grace” in Heaven. It is at our fingertips and we would be foolish to let these “divine coins” pass through our hands without “spending” them on our friends in purgatory!
To spell out the requirements of indulgences precisely – I would need to post another blog. . .coming soon possibly!!!!
There are many places you can research “indulgences.” A good place to begin would be to go to the Catechism of the Catholic Church!
The “Daily Pilgrimage to Purgatory” is available on Amazon. The covers are now updated but it is still the same book as pictured above.
It is also available from the website “Missionaries of the Sacred Heart” –
misacor-usa-org.
Let us follow Jesus and be “lights” not only in this world but for the “suffering souls in purgatory!”
©2025 Anita Guariglia
Featured Images and other pictures/ Instagram and Pinterest
Holy card picture – Anita Guariglia
Quotes from the booklet “Daily Pilgrimage to Purgatory”
Quote from St. Faustina – Divine Mercy Diary #748 – Notebook II
Quote for Purgatory from Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030 and 1032
6 Responses
How good and merciful is our God who makes it possible for us to help our loved ones in Purgatory and for them to help us. Love never dies. Thank you, Anita, for introducing us to The Daily Pilgrimage to Purgatory.
Oh – I think the “Holy Souls” were prompting the inspiration to fruition and helping us to get them to their eternal home –
to the Heavenly Gates. Then they will be waiting for us – beckoning us forth with their prayers! Can you imagine dear “C.”
A wonderful post on what we need to do to help those in purgatory. Because of your recommendation, I purchased “Daily Pilgrimage to Purgatory“ books to hand to my friends. I read each specific day reflection and have committed to using the them and the prayers each day for the Holy Souls.
Thank you, dear Anita for always giving us the direction we need to get closer to Our Lord’s Most Sacred Heart.
Love and Peace,
Debbie
Wonderful – let there be a mighty army making a daily pilgrimage into Purgatory – helping to relieve them of their sufferings and pleasing Jesus and Mary with our prayers!
God Bless You – dear Debbie!
POWERFUL! “Holy Souls in Purgatory, is there anything you regret when you think of your life on earth?” “I deeply regret wasted time. . .I did not consider it so precious, so fleeting, so irretrievable.
Oh yes Brian. . .especially when we live in the moment of “beat the clock” time. My daily prayer is Jesus – please direct my day and let me not waste idle time staring into space!
Thank you dear Brian for your comment!