The St. Gertrude prayer is a short offering of the Precious Blood of Jesus for the souls in purgatory. It is prayed by Catholics all over the world, especially in November, the month of the Holy Souls. This is the most common wording:
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.
Below I explain what each line means, what we can and cannot say about the promise that often comes printed with it, who St. Gertrude was, and how to make the prayer part of your day.
What the prayer means, line by line
- “Eternal Father, I offer Thee…” The prayer is addressed to the Father, like the prayers of the Mass. We bring Him the one offering that is perfectly pleasing to Him: the sacrifice of His Son.
- “…the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus…” Christ’s blood, shed on the Cross, is the price of our redemption (1 Peter 1:18–19). Nothing we add makes it more powerful; we unite ourselves to it.
- “…in union with the Masses said throughout the world today…” At every moment Mass is being celebrated somewhere in the world. The Mass makes present the one sacrifice of Calvary and is offered “for the faithful departed who have died in Christ but are not yet wholly purified” (CCC 1371). This prayer joins your heart to all of them.
- “…for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory…” Those who died in God’s grace but still need purification before seeing Him (CCC 1030–1031).
- “…for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family.” The prayer widens to the living, beginning with the whole world and ending at home. It is a small school of charity.
Did Jesus promise to release 1,000 souls?
Prayer cards often add that Our Lord told St. Gertrude this prayer would release 1,000 souls from purgatory each time it is said. Catholics who love this prayer deserve an honest answer:
- The promise does not appear in St. Gertrude’s own writings that have come down to us, such as The Herald of Divine Love and her Spiritual Exercises. The prayer in its present form appears to be much later.
- The Church has never approved any numerical promise attached to this prayer, and it carries no special indulgence in the Church’s current list of indulgences.
- Purgatory is not measured in our units. The Church teaches that our prayers truly help the dead, but how God applies them is known to Him alone.
None of this makes the prayer less worthwhile. Its content is entirely sound: it offers the sacrifice of Christ, unites us to the Mass and asks mercy for the living and the dead. Pray it with confidence in God’s mercy rather than in a number.
Who was St. Gertrude the Great?
Gertrude (1256–c. 1302) entered the monastery of Helfta in Saxony, Germany, as a child of five. Helfta was one of the great spiritual centers of medieval Europe, and Gertrude became a scholar, a writer and a mystic. After a profound experience of Christ at the age of 25 she devoted herself to prayer and Scripture, and her visions of the Heart of Jesus made her one of the forerunners of devotion to the Sacred Heart.
She is the only woman saint called “the Great.” Her optional memorial is kept on November 16, which, fittingly, falls in the month of the Holy Souls. St. Gertrude is invoked especially for the souls in purgatory, and her writings return again and again to the mercy of God.
How to pray the St. Gertrude prayer
- Once a day in November. Many families add it to their evening prayer from November 1 to 30.
- After Holy Communion, when you are most closely united to the sacrifice of the Mass.
- With the Rosary. Pray it after each decade of a Rosary offered for the dead, together with the Eternal Rest prayer.
- At the cemetery. It is a natural prayer to say at the grave of a loved one, especially between November 1 and 8, when a cemetery visit can gain a plenary indulgence for the dead (see All Souls Day).
- For a particular person. You may add a name: “…for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, especially N.”
A shorter version
Some prayer books print a short form that is easy to memorize:
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. Amen.
In modern English
If you prefer contemporary language, the same prayer can be said this way:
Eternal Father, I offer you the most precious Blood of your divine Son, Jesus,
together with all the Masses being said throughout the world today,
for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the whole Church, and for those in my own home and in my family. Amen.
Other ways to help the souls in purgatory
The St. Gertrude prayer is one of many ways the Church helps her members who have died:
- Have a Mass offered. The Mass is the greatest prayer for the dead. See Mass intentions for the dead.
- Gain indulgences for them, especially between November 1 and 8.
- Give alms and do works of mercy in their name.
- Pray the Rosary or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for them.
- Visit their graves and teach children to pray there.
More prayers are collected on prayers for the souls in purgatory and Catholic prayers for the dead.
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of St. Gertrude?
November 16. It is an optional memorial in the General Roman Calendar.
Is the St. Gertrude prayer approved by the Church?
Its content is fully in harmony with Catholic teaching and it has been printed in Catholic prayer books for generations. What the Church has not approved is the claim that each recitation releases a fixed number of souls.
Can I pray it for a living person?
Yes. The prayer already includes “sinners everywhere” and “those in my own home and within my family.” You may also name a living person who needs conversion or healing.
How many times should I say it?
There is no required number. Once a day prayed with attention is better than many times prayed quickly. Some people pray it fifty times on All Souls Day; others pray it once after Communion. Both are good.
Is it the same as the Eternal Rest prayer?
No. The Eternal Rest prayer asks God to give the dead rest and light; the St. Gertrude prayer offers Christ’s Precious Blood for them. They work well together.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1030–1032 and 1371
- St. Gertrude the Great, The Herald of Divine Love (Legatus divinae pietatis) and Spiritual Exercises
- Apostolic Penitentiary, Enchiridion of Indulgences (1999)
- Roman Martyrology, November 16