Family Prayer Project Helps Us Get Ready for November - The Month of the Holy Souls

Family prayer project helps us to remember that November is dedicated to the Church Expectant or Church Suffering.

Many years ago I bought a book at our parish mission from Tan Books.  It was tiny, cheap, and short so I figured I could finish reading it rather easily, so I bought it.  I was drawn to it by its title, "Read Me or Rue It" by Fr. Paul O'Sullivan.  How could I pass that by without wanting to know what was so important that one would give a book a title as strong as that?  It literally changed my life.  I began praying for the Holy Souls daily, learned about St. Gertrude and memorized the prayer our Lord shared with her.  The Holy Souls or Church Suffering have a very special place in my heart and our family prayer life.

Today I share one of my favourite prayer projects of the year.  It is called the Holy Souls Prayer Project.  This family project is designed to help children learn about love through praying for others especially those who can't help themselves.  One of the seven Spiritual Works of Mercy is to pray for the living and the dead. November is deemed the month dedicated to the Holy Souls. The poor souls in Purgatory need our help and you can be sure that they will remember us and pray for us in return as well. :)

This project is very simple.

Prayer Chart

Step 1: Print out the Prayer Chart to keep track of your family's prayers and the Holy Souls released through steadfast prayer throughout the month. This chart allows children to practice math skills as they see the great impact that their prayers have.  You may decided to use one chart per child or even one per family if that is easier. 

Click Here to download the Prayer Chart.

Prayer Sheets

 

Step 2: Pray the prayer dictated to St. Gertrude by our Lord Jesus Christ as often as possible throughout the month. St. Gertrude was told that each time this prayer is devoutly said, 1,000 souls are released from purgatory.  If not already committed to memory, you can print out the prayer to release the Holy Souls. You can print it out in a plain .PDF (2 per sheet) like at right or use Our Learning Card for the this prayer.

Click Here to download the prayer sheet pictured at right.
Click Here to download the Our Learning Card style prayer card.

Gift of Prayer Counters

Step 3: Pray daily and keep track of your prayers and souls for the entire month of November using the Holy Souls Prayer Chart for older learners and the Gift of Prayer Counters for younger learners. can cut out and affix the Gift of Prayer Counters to a door, wall, bulletin board or window frame to keep track of how many souls they have helped to Heaven.  It's that simple.

Click Here to download the Gift of Prayer Counters.

We have a few other resources that can help you in this project including prayer copywork and a saint mini-book to help learn about St. Gertrude.  Click the links to see those resources now.


Don't forget you can pray for the Holy Souls on any day, in any month as well so you can repeat this project as often as desired.

If you enjoyed this family project and would like to perhaps explore other family projects that we have click Here.

May God bless you and those you pray for.

Blessings,

Kalei - That Resource Team

July 8 - The Works of Mercy In Johnny Crow's Garden

Good morals and virtuous behaviour from our fine feathered friend, Johnny Crow.

This was perhaps one of the best activities we did during this book. In a very classical learning style, we went through the book page by page and found all the instances and examples we could of good manners, virtuous behaviour, and Works of Mercy on the part of Johnny Crow.  These examples help to reinforce the Gifts of the Holy Spirit - Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding.  All of that from the natural scavenger, the crow.  Who would have thought, eh?

Here are the examples we came up with to share with you based on the Corporal Works of Mercy.  We have shared the pages as they are listed in our PIY version of this work.  You may find more examples of your own during your discussion.  

I.  Feed the hungry

II.  Give drink to the thirsty

III.  Clothe the naked

IV. Shelter the homeless

V.  Visit the sick

VI. Visit the imprisoned

Vii. Bury the dead

I. Feed the hungry
p.47 - Johnny feeds his friends.  He even makes sure to call the penguins who are still admiring his garden.  After all that happens in the story, all if forgiven and every animal is accounted for at the table.  BTW - Did you find the mouse and rat with their little chairs? 

II. Give drink to the thirsty
p.38 - Johnny offers Cat a drink of milk.  In his wisdom he sees that by doing this simple act, chaos is avoided and his friend Mouse remains safe.  He is wise.  The little pictures on the surrounding pages show that Johnny is always thinking of clever ways to solve problems without he himself falling into sin.

III.  Clothe the naked
pp.14-17 - In an effort to make Bear feel more comfortable as he as has nothing to wear as well as prevent the Monkeys from further mocking Bear, he asks them to use their talents and make Bear some clothing.  This allows them to be put to use rather than having them stay idle and mock others.  He is clever and aware of how others are feeling in his home.

IV.  Shelter the homeless
pp. 18-19 - Crane is in need of shelter and Johnny provides it for him in the way of an umbrella.  Johnny thinks nothing of his own needs as he himself gets wet in the process to make sure his friend is kept dry.  He is a gracious host.

V.  Visit the sick
pp.21-24 - The Beaver believes that she is becoming ill.  Johnny Crow does all he can to ease her mind and suffering.  He stays with her even after she is out of bed.

VI.  Visit the imprisoned
pp.43-46 - Johnny rushes to visit and see his friends as they have been wrongly accused and persecuted by the fox.  He then does all he can to make sure that justice is carried out in their quick release.  In true Pope John Paul II style, our feathered friend forgives the fox and still asks him to dine with them at the table.

Thankfully, there are no casualties in need of burial in this story. :)

Try you hand at using the Spiritual Works of Mercy.  A bit more difficult but there are still instances present.

Click Here to download Our Learning Flashcards on the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Click Here to download Our Learning Flashcards on the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Click Here to see our entire collection of  Catholic Learning Flashcards.


Blessings,

That Resource Team