The Importance of Sprinkling Holy Water on the Ground for the Souls in Purgatory
Purgatory is a place of purification, where souls who have died in God’s grace but still need to be cleansed of venial sins or the temporal punishment due to forgiven sins undergo a spiritual purification. It is said that a perpetual fire exists in Purgatory—not a fire that consumes as in Hell, but one that purifies the soul, making it worthy to enter Heaven.
The practice of sprinkling or pouring Holy Water on the ground—whether in a cemetery or in the soil of your backyard—is a simple yet powerful act of charity for the Poor Souls. Holy Water, blessed by the Church, carries sacramental grace & has the power to bring spiritual refreshment & relief to the suffering souls in Purgatory.
The Devotion of St. John Macías to the Poor Souls
St John Macías, known as the Helper of the Poor Souls, dedicated his life to praying & offering sacrifices for them. He spent countless hours praying three rosaries daily for their deliverance. He also had a unique practice:
Throughout the day, he frequently sprinkled Holy Water on the ground as an offering for the relief of the souls in Purgatory. He believed that every drop of Holy Water, when used with faith & love, could soothe their sufferings & shorten their purification.
The souls in Purgatory often appeared to him in visions, pleading:
"Give us prayers! Oh, Brother John, you help the poor & the sick—be our friend as well! Help us become worthy to be with God & His blessed ones."
St John never ceased his acts of mercy for them, teaching us that even the smallest gestures, like sprinkling Holy Water, can have eternal significance for the souls suffering in Purgatory.
Helping the Poor Souls: A Great Act of Mercy
The Church teaches that praying for the dead is a spiritual work of mercy:
“To pray for the dead is one of the greatest acts of charity & mercy we can do.”
- Catechism, 1032
St Padre Pio also encouraged devotion to the Holy Souls, saying:
"We must empty Purgatory with our prayers!"
St Catherine of Genoa affirmed:
"The fire of Purgatory is God's love burning the soul until it is completely pure."
St John Vianney reminds us:
"If only we knew how great is the power of the souls in Purgatory over the heart of God & if we knew all the graces we can obtain through their intercession, they would not be so forgotten."
St Alphonsus emphasized:
"The souls in Purgatory, once released, will not forget those who prayed for them. In gratitude, they will pray for us before the throne of God."
The Power of the Poor Souls’ Intercession
While the souls in Purgatory cannot pray for themselves, they can pray for us. Once they enter Heaven, they become powerful intercessors before God. Saint Thomas Aquinas affirms:
"The souls delivered by our prayers will intercede for us with God when they enter His glory."
Thus, every time you offer prayers, Holy Water, or sacrifices for the Poor Souls, you are not only helping them but also gaining future intercessors who will remember you before God.
Biblical Foundation
2 Maccabees 12:46 – “Thus he made atonement for the dead, that they might be absolved from their sin.”
Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
By showing mercy to the Poor Souls, we too will receive mercy from God.
Short Prayer While Pouring Holy Water on the Ground
+ Sign of the Cross
"By this Holy Water & the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, multiply these drops that they may give relief to the Poor Souls in Purgatory. May they soon enter into Your glory, O Lord & once in Heaven, intercede for us. In Jesus' name. Amen."
+ Sign of the Cross
Final Thought
Every drop of Holy Water poured in faith is a moment of relief for a suffering soul. Following the example of St. John Macías, let us frequently sprinkle Holy Water on the ground, especially in cemeteries or in our own backyards, as an act of love & mercy for the souls in Purgatory.