Praying For The Deceased
Interactive Table of Contents For This Page
- 1. Praying for Deceased Members of Our Chapter and the Order
- 2. Order of Preachers - Worldwide with Interactive Map
- 3. Masters General
- 3.1 Current Master General
- 3.2 List of All Masters General
- 3.3 Martyrology of The Sacred Order of Friars Preachers
- 4. Headquarters, Provinces and Fraternities
- 5. Other Domincan Connections
Deceased Members of this chapter
Father Marc B. on the anniversary of his death on August 1, 2014
Delores D. on the anniversary of her death November 19, 2011
MaryLou C on the anniversary of her death December 14, 2021
Prayers for the deceased have been a hallowed tradition since Saint Dominic founded the Order. As our founder lay on his deathbed surrounded by his sorrowful brethren, he consoled them saying, “Do not weep. I will be of more use to you in Heaven.” Dominic’s words offered deep hope, extending beyond his death to the death of each member of the Order.
Specifically, members are expected to:
- Say daily an Our Father, a Hail Mary and Eternal Rest for the deceased members of the Order;
- Offer at least three Masses a year for all deceased Dominicans; (this may be a private intention, or offered with a stipend);
- Upon the death of a chapter member, an offering of a Mass (private intention, or with a stipend) or recitation of the Rosary
- Commemorate all the faithful departed in a special way on
- February 7, for the deceased parents of all Dominicans,
- September 5, for the deceased benefactors of the Order,
- November 2, for all souls,
- November 8, for all deceased Dominicans Priests, Nuns, Cooperator Brothers, Dominican Laity & Sisters
Upon the death of a member, the Chapter is expected to:
- Receive from the President notice of the death;
- Attend the funeral Mass and recite the appropriate Hour of the Office of the Dead as a Chapter, if possible;
- Have a Mass offered as soon as possible for the deceased member; (private intention, or with a stipend)
- Recite the appropriate Hour of the Office of the Dead, at the first meeting following the death of a member.
Here are some ways everyone can help the souls in Purgatory this month and all year round:
- Have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered for the souls in purgatory, for your loved ones after their death and every year on the anniversary of their death.
- Offer your devout attendance at Mass and reception of Holy Communion for the repose of the faithful departed.
- Offer other prayers such as the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, Divine Mercy Chaplet, or even a short “Jesus, I love You!” for the holy souls.
- You can also visit a cemetery to pray for the departed.
- Fast, give alms, or do some other work of mercy with the intention of offering it to God for the relief of the souls in Purgatory.
- Offer your ordinary daily sufferings for the same intention.
- Enroll your deceased loved ones in the associations of perpetual prayers offered by many religious orders.
- Add the simple prayer, May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, to the end of your graces before and after meals.
- Make provision for your own soul ahead of time, first of all by living a holy life now, but also by leaving money in your will to have Masses offered for the repose of your soul.
Dominican History of Suffrages for Holy Souls
All Dominicans, including Dominican Laity, have a special devotion to praying for the poor souls in Purgatory, and to do so frequently throughout the day and more intensely on special days each week and throughout the year. This is part of our Rule.
This is taken from a book by Fr Paul Sullivan on Purgatory. Download book here (pdf)
"Among the extraordinary graces which Catholics gain by becoming members of a Third Order is a share in many Masses and prayers. To mention, for instance, the Third Order of Saint Dominic, Pope Benedict XV, himself a Tertiary, said: "One of the easiest and most effectual ways of reaching a high degree of sanctity is by becoming a Dominican Tertiary." The members of this order receive during life a share every day in thousands of Masses and prayers, and after death, when, alas, so many are neglected by their relatives, those who are members of this Third Order have a share daily in thousands of other Masses and prayers, this for as long as they remain in Purgatory! Among the many beautiful characteristics of the Order of St. Dominic is its intense devotion and love for the Holy Souls, especially for the souls of its members, friends and benefactors. So true is this that a young Italian nobleman who consulted the Pope as to which religious order he would do well to enter received for answer: "My dear son, you may with much profit join any of the Orders, for in each you will find abundant means of becoming a Saint. After death, however, be a Dominican" The Holy Father meant to imply that the suffrages given after death to their deceased members are, indeed, most abundant in the Dominican Order. The conditions of becoming a member of this order are so easy and the advantages so many that half the world would become Dominican Tertiaries did they know these advantages.”
Blessed Henry Suso, of the Dominican Order, made a compact with a fellow religious to the effect that, when one of the two died, the survivor would offer two Masses each week for his soul, and other prayers as well. It so fell out that his companion died first, and Blessed Henry commenced immediately to offer the promised Masses. These he continued to say for a long time. At last, quite sure that the soul of his saintly friend had reached Heaven, he ceased offering the Masses.
Great was his sorrow and consternation when the soul of the dead brother appeared to him suffering intensely and chiding him for not celebrating the promised Masses. Blessed Henry replied with deep regret that he had not continued the Masses, believing that his friend must be enjoying the Beatific Vision but he added that he had ever remembered him in prayer.
"O dear Brother Henry, please give me the Masses, for it is the Precious Blood of Jesus that I most need!" cried out the suffering soul.
Blessed Henry began anew and, with redoubled fervor, offered Masses and prayers for his friend until he received absolute certitude of his delivery.
Then it was his turn to receive graces and blessings of all kinds from the dear brother he had relieved, and very many times more than he could have expected.
As Dominicans we should never forget to pray for the deceased Masters Generals of the Order. The Masters (before 1955) are listed in the "Martyrology of the Sacred Order
of Friars Preachers" (.pdf)
Translated by Rev W.R.Boniwell O.P.- 1955 - 314 pages - 2MB
Prayers for the Dying
Three prayers for the dying which are very useful to a dying person, and should be prayed often as an act of mercy.There once was a Pope in Rome who was surrounded by many sins. The Lord God struck him with a fatal illness. When he saw that he was dying he summoned Cardinals, Bishops and learned persons and said to them: “My dear friends! What comfort can you give me now that I must die, and when I deserve eternal damnation for my sins?” No one answered him. One of them, a pious curate named John, said: “Father, why do you doubt the Mercy of God?” The Pope replied: “What comfort can you give me now that I must die and fear that I’ll be damned for my sins?” John replied: “I’ll read three prayers over you; I hope, you’ll be comforted and that you’ll obtain Mercy from God.” The Pope was unable to say more. The curate and all those present knelt and said an Our Father, then the following prayers:
Prayer 1
Lord Jesus Christ! Thou Son of God and Son of the Virgin Mary, God and Man, Thou who in fear sweated blood for us on the Mount of Olives in order to bring peace, and to offer Thy Most Holy Death to God Thy Heavenly Father for the salvation of this dying person… If it be, however, that by his sins he merits eternal damnation, then may it be deflected from him. This, O Eternal Father through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Dear Son, Who liveth and reigneth in union with The Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.
Prayer 2
Lord Jesus Christ! Thou who meekly died on the trunk of the Cross for us, submitting Thy Will completely to Thy Heavenly Father in order to bring peace and to offer Thy most Holy Death to Thy Heavenly Father in order to free…(this person)…and to hide from him what he has earned with his sins; grant this O Eternal Father! Through Our Lord Jesus Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in union with the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.
Prayer 3
Lord Jesus Christ! Thou Who remained silent to speak through the mouths of the Prophets; I have drawn Thee to me through Eternal Love, which love drew Thee from Heaven into the body of the Virgin, which love drew Thee from the body of the Virgin into the valley of this needful world, which Love kept Thee 33 years in this world, and as a sign of Great Love, Thou hast given Thy drink, as a sign of great love, Thou has consented to be a prisoner and to be led from one judge to another and as a sign of great love Thou has consented to be condemned to death, and hast consented to die and to be buried and truly rise, and appeared to Thy Holy Mother and all the Holy Apostles, and as a sign of great love Thou hast ascended, under Thy own strength and power, and sitteth at the right hand of God Thy heavenly Father, and Thou has sent Thy Holy Spirit into the heart of Thy Apostles and the hearts of all who hope and believe in Thee. Through Thy sign of Eternal love, open heaven today and take this dying person… and all his sins into the realm of Thy Heavenly Father, that he may reign with Thee now and forever. Amen.
Meanwhile the Pope died. The curate persevered to the third hour, then the Pope appeared to him in body and comforting him; his countenance as brilliant as the sun, his clothes as white as snow, and he said: “My dear brother! Whereas I was supposed to be a child of damnation I’ve become a child of happiness. As you recited the first prayer many of my sins fell from me as rain from Heaven, and as you recited the second Prayer I was purified, as a goldsmith purifies gold in a hot fire. I was still further purified as you recited the third prayer. Then I saw Heaven open and the Lord Jesus standing on the Right Hand of God the Father who said to me: “Come, all thy sins are forgiven thee, you’ll be and remain in the realm of My Father forever. Amen!” With these words my soul separated from my body and the angels of God led it to Eternal Joy. As the curate heard this he said: “O Holy Father! I can’t tell these things to anyone, for they won’t believe me.” Then the Pope said: “Truly I tell thee, the Angel of God stands with me and has written the prayers in letters of gold for the consolement of all sinners. If a person had committed all the sins in the world, but that the three prayers shall have been read (over him) at his end (death), all his sins will be forgiven him, even though his soul was supposed to suffer until the Last Judgement, it will be redeemed (freed). The person who hears them read, he won’t die an unhappy death also in whose house they will be read. Therefore take these prayers and carry them into St. Peter’s Basilica and lay them in the Chapel named the Assumption of Mary, for certain consolation. The person who will be near death, who reads them or hears them read gains 400 years indulgence for the days he was supposed to suffer in Purgatory because of his guilt. Also who reads this prayer or hears it read, the hour of his death shall be revealed to him.
Masses
Masses for the deceased or even yourself and loved ones can be arranged at these and many other locations:
The Dominican Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus
Any number of masses including Gregorian $10-$250.
Dominican Monastery of Our Lady Of The Rosary
Annual Mass Cards including Christmas, Easter etc. themes $10.
Missionaries of the Holy Family
Any number of masses including Gregorian $5-$200.Online or by mail, with or without a mass card, credit cards accepted
Dominican Nuns, Menlo Park, CA
General Mass Requests
Gregorian Masses
These are a series of 30 Masses offered on consecutive days. Gregorian Masses are offered only for the deceased and they can usually begin ten days after receiving the request. The custom of offering a set of Gregorian Masses dates back to Pope St. Gregory the Great (died 604) who wrote about a monk who obtained release from Purgatory after thirty Masses were offered on his behalf. The Church has declared the confidence of the faithful in the efficacy of Gregorian Masses to be pious and reasonable. The offering for a set of Gregorian Masses is usually about $200.00.
Gregorian Masses can be arranged at these and many other locations:
Our Lady of Angels - Any number of masses including Gregorian $10-$200.