Facts about St. Gertrude the Great Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory Novena
Feastday: February 21st
Novena Starts: February 12th
Patron saint of the West Indies
Birth: January 6th, 1256
Death: November 16th, 1301
St. Gertrude Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory
(Pray this prayer every day for nine days)
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.
What Did St. Gertrude Do?
St. Gertrude the Great was a Benedictine nun and mystic who was given visions from our Lord and powerful prayers.
She was born on Epiphany January 6th, 1256, in Thuringia (now Germany). As a little girl, she was given into the care of the monastery of St. Mary at Helfta and taught by St. Mechtilde on a wide array of subjects.
When she was 25 years old, Jesus began giving her a series of visions, which continued for the rest of her life.
She left aside secular learning and devoted herself to Mental Prayer and the study of God’s Word in Scripture, as well as theology.
St. Gertrude died on November 16th, 1301.
According to tradition, St. Gertrude the Great was told by Our Lord that each time she piously recited this prayer, it would release 1,000 souls from their suffering in purgatory.
