A very convenient practice for the Roman Catholic adherents is that of gaining Indulgences.
"An Indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due to our sins, which the church grants outside of the Sacrament of Penance." (Deharbe's Catechism, Page 112.)
"Can Indulgences be applied also to the Souls in Purgatory?"
"Yes, all those which the Pope has declared to be applicable to them." (Deharbe's Catechism, Page 113.)
"Temporal punishment due to our sins" is that which we have to suffer here on earth or in purgatory. This includes the penance imposed upon the penitent by the priest after confession. If the penitent is truly contrite for his crime, the priest has the privilege to relax the penance and grant indulgence, that is, he cannot be granted indulgence unless he is in a "state of grace," which is after having confessed and having been absolved, and fulfilled the requirements of the absolution.
One of the means of gaining indulgences for the sisters was the saying of short prayers, for each one said, so many days indulgence being gained. For instance, for saying:
"My Jesus, mercy! Mary, help!" 200 days' indulgence.
"Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love." 300 days' indulgence.
"Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation." 300 days' indulgence.
If we should have some friend or relative dead whom we thought was in purgatory, we could offer these prayers, with many others, for them and in that manner shorten their days of torment in that middle region, as well as shorten our own sufferings there.