“Each Hail Mary is like a cool drop of water falling upon purgatory. Each Rosary is a rope that lifts a soul closer to Heaven.”
In the previous episode, we reflected on the sacred power of Buddhist prayers for the departed. Today, we will journey into another moving story, shared by a devoted Christian.
One night, as he sat in the stillness to which he had long grown accustomed, a sudden, urgent voice echoed out of nowhere.
A trembling, urgent voice seemed to come from far away yet also near, from the invisible realm yet ringing clearly in my ears: “Please pray for us.” My heart felt as if it had stopped. I looked around, the room was empty, not a single soul in sight, only the flickering light of an oil lamp dancing on the surface of the old wooden table. I closed my eyes, thinking perhaps I was dreaming, but the voice came again, more insistent this time, carrying a skyful of sorrow and longing: “Please pray, pray for the souls in purgatory.”
In Christianity, purgatory is seen as a temporary place of purification, where souls with minor sins or unresolved burdens undergo cleansing before reaching Heaven.
Upon witnessing this strange occurrence, the man was at first overcome with fear. Yet almost immediately, a gentle wave of peace began to fill the air, as if the Love of God Himself was embracing his soul. Deep within, he felt that it was the Lord Who had allowed this spirit to reach out to him, to reveal a Divine message.
The spirit began to speak. They said that, with the permission of Mother Mary, they were allowed to return to find someone who would listen, someone who could carry their plea. The spirit said: “We long for the prayers of the living. A Mass offered to God can free many souls from suffering. A Rosary, a Hail Mary – seemingly small acts – bring great comfort to us. Orphaned souls, those whom no one remembers, suffer the most. Please, remember to pray for them.”
After that extraordinary event, the man’s faith in the saving power of prayer grew even stronger. Each night, he sincerely offered his prayers to God, sending blessings to the souls in purgatory, especially those longing to be freed. He also encouraged his family to join him in prayer, so that together they could share in the Divine mercy that flows from God’s boundless Love into every human heart. After many days of devoted prayer, something miraculous occurred. By God’s Grace, the same spirit returned and revealed to him the story of his earthly life.
“I was once a strong athlete in my youth – healthy and full of vitality. I thought I didn’t need anyone, not even God. I began to look down on my friends, neglected my prayers, and seldom went to church. Pride gradually grew in my heart, dimming the light of faith.
There was a time when my body grew weak, and I thought God had abandoned me. But when my strength returned, I became even more arrogant. I even challenged God Himself, thinking, ‘I am strong now. You cannot take me away.’ It was then that I committed my gravest sin: the sin of pride. Death came to me suddenly without warning, without confession, without a chance to return to God.”
That soul recounted his life story with deep remorse. While he was still among the living, he had failed to recognize the power of faith in God. Thus, upon departing this earthly realm, he wandered in confusion, longing to return to the embrace of the Lord. The soul then shared:
“Before me stretched a sea of sins, while in my hands were only a few small deeds: a single bow before the Blessed Sacrament, a few hurried Hail Marys. I trembled in fear! And though God’s justice is absolute, His mercy is boundless. Through the intercession of Mother Mary, I was spared eternal damnation, but I was condemned to fifty-five years in hell, followed by sixty-nine long years in purgatory.”
The soul also expressed profound gratitude to the devout man. For every Hail Mary he prayed, every Holy Mass he offered with a sincere heart, became a gentle breeze, soothing the purifying flames of purgatory, bringing the soul closer to the radiant peace of God. Through this Divine encounter, the man himself underwent a deep inner transformation:
It turns out that whenever we pray for the deceased, we become instruments through which God opens the gates of Heaven for them. In the nights that followed, the spirit often reminded me: “Share this story so that people know that a life of pride leads to ruin, while a simple prayer can become a bridge to salvation.” The spirit also advised me: “Remember your grandparents, your parents, and your loved ones who have passed. Do not let them remain orphaned in purgatory, for even a single prayer can bring them comfort.”
After many nights of encountering this benevolent soul, the devout man came to realize a profound lesson about the sacred value of every act of love and humility before God. He understood that each bow of gratitude for Divine Grace, every sincere confession, and even the smallest act of kindness carry eternal merit in the eyes of the Lord. From then on, his prayers of the Holy Rosary became ever more heartfelt, offered for the forgotten souls longing to reach the Light of Heaven. Before being mercifully received into Paradise, the soul left him with one final message.
“Pray, be vegan and do good deeds. Even a small act done out of love for God can lighten the burden of sin.” The spirit emphasized: “Each Hail Mary is like a cool drop of water falling upon purgatory. Each Rosary is a rope that lifts a soul closer to Heaven.”
How moving it is to realize that no prayer is ever wasted, and no act of love or small kindness goes unnoticed by the Lord. As we have seen, sincere prayer has the power to guide wandering souls toward peace and redemption. But how far does that power reach, and who can truly benefit from it? Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) shares profound insights on the powerful effects of prayer.
When people pray, it has an effect. (Yes.) In a religion, maybe Christian and also Judaism, there are some days that the followers get together or alone at home to pray for somebody, anyone, whether or not they know or not know. There’s someone who has nobody to pray for them. (Yes.) Thương khó. I don’t know how to say that in English. Just the day you pray for those souls who are lost, who have no one, who did not believe in God, or who did not do anything good at all that anybody even remembers them to pray for them. […] Then, that day, the people in Christianity or in Judaism pray for these kinds of people, whether or not they know them. But if they know you, they pray for you, that would even be better for the prayers, as well as for the “prayees.” (Yes, Master.) Both will benefit. But the prayers have more benefit than the “prayees.” It says so in the Buddhist sutra. Like, if you pray and you have merit from the priest’s prayers for you, for somebody, then you have two thirds. And the one, the dying one or the one who is being prayed for gets one third of the benefit. (Yes, Master.) So, both are benefitted.
Our deepest gratitude to Most Merciful Master for sharing these precious teachings and guiding us in the practice of heartfelt prayer. As we have learned, prayer benefits not only those for whom we pray but also ourselves, creating a shared flow of grace and merit. Every sincere prayer, every act of love and compassion, carries blessings that reach far beyond what we can see, touching both the spiritual and material realms. May we continue to offer our prayers with compassion and humility, bringing peace to wandering souls, light to the forgotten, and serenity to our own hearts.
