Saint Gertrude the Great (feast Nov. 16) is one of the greatest mystics of the Church and one of the glories of the Benedictine Order. It was to her and her sister Saint Mechtilde to whom our Lord first revealed His Most Sacred Heart. Our Lord would also give Saint Gertrude a chaplet which comes with an amazing promise that each time the main prayer is offered (50 times in the Chaplet) 1000 souls are released from purgatory (thus 50,000 souls total for a full chaplet). During the month of November, which is devoted to praying for the Poor Souls in Purgatory, we ought to pray this chaplet daily if possible.
Say this chaplet using regular Rosary beads.
Begin with the Apostles’ Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Marys and a Glory Be to the Father just as with Our Lady’s Rosary.
On the five decades, say the following Prayer for the Holy Souls on each Hail Mary bead and the Our Father on each separator bead between the decades:
“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.”
Then at the end of each decade add:
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, open the hearts and minds of sinners to the truth and light of God, the Father. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for the conversion of sinners and the world. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
(Approval and Recommendation: M. Cardinal Pahiarca at Lisbon, Portugal, March 4, 1936)
