Thanks to the prayer groups that were initiated by the work of Montligeon created by abbé Buguet, Christians from every part of the world congregate to pray together for the souls in Purgatory. Amongst those many groups, the one from Les Mureaux, a Western Paris suburb, comes every year bringing the colorful accents of their costumes and songs during the pilgrimages of Heaven.
On the forecourt of the basilica, you can hear the cheerful refrain “Notre-Dame Libératrice, elle a beaucoup œuvré!” [Our Lady Liberator did so many works!] echoing after mass on Sunday November 11th. Every year, Marie-Odette and Ginette, leaders of the prayer group, make the trip from Les Mureaux to the Montligeon shrine. In what purpose? To honor the memory of their dead and strengthen their faith in the communion of saints. Much more than a spiritual tradition deeply rooted in their hearts, this pilgrimage is a testimony of burning faith and hope to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nowadays, 1272 Notre-Dame-de-Montligeon prayer groups have formed in over 32 countries to pray together for the souls in Purgatory. Creating a prayer group requires some leadership, a power of conviction, a dedication to prayer and some rigor. It is supported by three main pillars: prayer, training and charity.
A “win-win” connection
“Myself, I really like praying for the souls in Purgatory”, explains abbé Jules Pascal Coly, who came directly from Senegal to support the group. “It is a win-win connection, since they are supported by our prayers and us by the graces they get for us.” He goes on saying: “When they reach Heaven they earn us a lot of graces. So when you connect with the souls in purgatory the benefit is really for both sides!”
“The dead are not dead”
Among the 127 members of the Les Mureaux group who did the trip to give thanks to God, Jean-Louis joined in the common prayer to invoke divine mercy for the souls of the deceased.
Next to him, Marie-Odette, with contagious fervor, exclaims: “The dead are not dead! We have come for them, we have stirred them and now, the souls in Purgatory are liberated!” The pilgrimage of Heaven is a momentum in the life of the prayer group, an opportunity for its members to gather every year to praise and bless the Lord. Everyone gets back home with a light heart and filled with graces through the Blessed Mother’s intercession.
Indeed, with eyes sparkling and a bright smile, like a child who has received a shower of graces, the exorcist priest emphasizes the importance of praying for the souls in Purgatory. “There is a great fight taking place between the side of righteousness and the side of evil, between light and darkness. Just as I see that God wants to attract the souls towards Him, we can carry just as much prayer to bring them closer to him.” Let’s then continue to pray for our deceased with a lot of zeal, especially for the forsaken souls in Purgatory.
