Via Ad Caelum
Heavenward
Pray for the souls and walk toward Heaven.
Every prayer offered with faith can become a work of love for those awaiting eternal light.
If you knew how ardently the souls in purgatory desire the prayers offered for them, you would never forget them.
Saint John Mary Vianney
Why pray for the blessed souls?
The blessed souls in purgatory are souls already saved, loved by God, who died in God’s grace and are being purified before entering fully into Heaven. When you pray for them, you offer a work of mercy: your prayer, sacrifices, and intentions can aid those who can no longer help themselves.
Among them may be our parents, siblings, children, family members, friends, and so many forgotten departed. One day, we too may need someone to pray for us. For this reason, a prayer offered with faith, a Mass, a small sacrifice, or a daily intention can become an act of love that helps a soul fly to Heaven.
It is a holy and pious thing to pray for the dead.
2 Maccabees 12:45
What is Via Ad Caelum?
Via Ad Caelum is a Catholic lay apostolate dedicated to interceding for the blessed souls in purgatory and for those approaching the moment of death. In English, Heavenward helps express the meaning of the Latin name.
By the light of the Holy Spirit and under the maternal protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the apostolate invites the faithful to live with greater awareness of their journey toward eternity through prayer, suffrages, and a Christian life ordered toward the salvation of the soul.
The apostolate is currently under pastoral discernment, seeking to walk with the Church in fidelity and in a spirit of obedience.
How we live this work
Pray
We unite in prayer for the blessed souls in purgatory, especially those most forgotten and those for whom no one prays. We entrust them to God’s mercy, asking for their rest, purification, and joyful entrance into Heaven.
Offer
We offer Masses, rosaries, sacrifices, indulgences, and works of charity for their purification. We also pray for the dying, asking for the grace of final perseverance and that they may entrust themselves with confidence to the mercy of the Lord.
Persevere
We walk together in faith, seeking to live in grace, frequent the sacraments, and persevere in prayer. This work reminds us that we too are called to conversion, holiness, and the hope of eternal life.
In a spirit of prayer
A work of mercy
A prayer offered with faith, a Mass, a small sacrifice, or a daily intention, united to Christ and presented with love, can bring consolation where the souls can no longer help themselves.
We entrust this work to the Holy Spirit, source of light and charity, and to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mother and Queen, asking for the grace to pray with perseverance and love for souls.
If a desire to help the blessed souls is born in your heart, you may join this work of mercy simply, in prayer and in communion with the Church.
Join the prayer
If you would like to receive information about the apostolate, its prayers, or upcoming meetings, you may contact us by WhatsApp.
You may use WhatsApp to ask questions and receive guidance about joining the prayer of the apostolate.
Facebook Prayer Group
Public Facebook prayer group of the apostolate.