Attributed to Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-c. 1302)
Offering the Precious Blood for the souls in Purgatory
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, for those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.
SourceAttributed to Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-c. 1302) · Offering the Precious Blood for the souls in Purgatory
Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-c. 1302), a nun of the monastery of Helfta in Germany, was one of the great mystics of the Middle Ages. Her writings, above all the Herald of Divine Love, often show charity towards the souls in Purgatory and the offering of Christ's Passion and Blood on their behalf.
The prayer that bears her name, however, is not found in her works: it is a later devotional prayer, spread through leaflets and prayer books, inspired by that spirit. A claim also circulates that each time it is said "a thousand souls are released from Purgatory"; that promise has no source in the saint's writings and no approval from the Church, and is best not repeated. The prayer carries no indulgence of its own.
None of this takes away its worth. Offering the Blood of Christ in union with the Masses of the whole world is a simple and true way of praying for the dead, as the Church has always done, especially in November and on All Souls' Day.
That promise appears nowhere in Saint Gertrude's writings and has no Church approval. The prayer is good; the promise has no source.
It is not found in her works; it is a modern devotional prayer inspired by her charity towards the holy souls.