piteous groans and tears which they pour forth unto thee; hear the prayers and the supplications wherewith they entreat thy mercy, and be merciful unto their sins. Remember, O most compassionate Father, all the sufferings which thy Son hath endured for them; remember his precious Blood ,shed in such abundance for them; call to mind the most bitter death which he suffered for them, and have mercy on them. For all the sins they have ever committed against thee I offer thee the most holy life and conversation of thy most beloved Son; for all their negligences I offer thee his most fervent desires towards thee; for all their omissions I offer thee the great abundance of his merits; for their every insult and wrong to thee I offer thee the sweet submission with which he honoured thee. Finally, for all the chastisements which they have ever incurred I offer thee all the mortifications, fastings, watchings, the labours and afflictions,wounds and stripes, passion and death, which he endured in such spotless innocence and with such loving eagerness; beseeching thee now to suffer thy anger to be appeased towards them, and to lead them forth into everlasting joy. Amen.
FOUR PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED
Written by St. Gertrude with the approval of our Lord.
When St. Gertrude was about to say these
