Teaching Kids to Pray for the Souls in Purgatory

Teaching Kids to Pray for the Souls in Purgatory

Teaching children the importance of praying for the dead is a beautiful way to instill the faith and the virtue of charity from a young age. By encouraging prayers and small sacrifices for the souls in purgatory, children can learn how their actions can help others, even after they’ve passed away.

Here are a few ways to engage children in this spiritual work of mercy:

1. Incorporate Prayer for the Dead into Daily Family Prayers Teach your children the Eternal Rest prayer and include it in the family’s daily prayers:
   “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.”
   This simple prayer helps children understand the value of praying for those who have passed away and makes it part of the family’s daily routine.

2. Make Small Sacrifices Together Encourage your children to offer small sacrifices, such as giving up a treat or doing an extra chore, for the souls in purgatory. Explain that these little acts of love can bring great relief to the suffering souls.

3. Explain the Role of Indulgences Help your children understand indulgences and how they can help the souls in purgatory. You can explain it simply: "When we do good things and pray with the intention of helping others, we can help those in purgatory be with God sooner."

4. Set Up a Purgatory Prayer Candle As a family, you can light a candle and say a prayer for the holy souls, especially on All Souls' Day or whenever you visit a cemetery. This creates a visual and tangible reminder for children of the importance of praying for the dead.

By establishing these practices, families can foster a sense of connection with the holy souls and help children understand the spiritual work of mercy that praying for the dead entails.