November – A Time for Remembering

By TOM DENNEHY

November is the Month of the Holy Souls, a time dedicated to remembering and praying for the faithful departed. The special devotion is centred on the Church’s teaching on Purgatory, the state of purification for those who have died in God’s grace but are not yet ready to enter Heaven. According to the Catholic Church’s Catechism:

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of Heaven.”

And the Church also states that “our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective.”

Key days in November

The month-long devotion is anchored by two significant days at its start:

All Saints’ Day (November 1):

This holy day honours all the saints who are in Heaven and who pray and intercede for us. It is a Holy day of Obligation.

All Souls’ Day (November 2): This solemn day specifically commemorates all of those who have died.

Practices and observances

Throughout November, we offer prayers and perform other spiritual acts to help the souls in Purgatory hasten their entrance into Heaven. These actions are a reflection of the “communion of saints,” the spiritual unity between believers on Earth, the saints in Heaven and the souls in Purgatory.

Common practices include: Masses for the dead: This is the most powerful way of helping our dead as the mass is of infinite value. The Church provides for the offering of Masses for the repose of the souls of the departed. Many parishes have a “November list of the dead” for which they offer Masses throughout the month and throughout the year.

Visiting and praying in cemeteries- We can gain a plenary indulgence for the holy souls by visiting a cemetery and praying the Our Father and the Apostles Creed for the dead between November 1st and 8th. Individuals must also be free from attachment to sin, receive Holy Communion, and pray for the Pope’s intentions, with confession occurring within a week of the indulgence.

A plenary indulgence is the full remission of the temporal punishment for sins that have already been forgiven through confession. It removes the consequences of sin, cleansing the souls in Purgatory as on the day they were baptised. Sacrifices and penance: Offering up sacrifices and daily difficulties is another way to aid the holy souls. This can be as simple as fasting from a favourite food or accepting a minor inconvenience with patience.

Prayers and novenas: We can dedicate time to praying specifically for our deceased loved ones. Prayers like the “Eternal Rest” are commonly recited: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen”.

Creating a space for remembrance by setting up a special sacred space with a

“Remembrance Tree,” a book of remembrance and a candle to honour the deceased.

The Jubilee Year.

During this Jubilee year, which began on Christmas Eve 2024 and ends on Jan 6th 2026, we have a unique opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence for ourselves and for our loved ones who have died if we fulfill the conditions pertaining to gaining an indulgence. These conditions include-

Going to Confession; Attending Holy Mass; Receiving Holy Communion; Praying for the Pope’s intentions; Performing a charitable act or going on a pilgrimage.

This is an enormously rare exception granted for this Holy Jubilee Year 2025 and is a tremendous gift that every person should pursue and seek for themselves and for their beloved dead. We may not be around for the next one! A jubilee only occurs every fifty years.

Dear Children, today I invite you to pray every day for the souls in Purgatory. Every soul needs prayer and grace in order to reach God and His love. By these ways, dear children, you will gain new intercessors, who will help you during your life to discern that nothing on Earth is more important for you, than longing for Heaven. Message from Our Lady, Nov 1986.

Prayer of Saint Gertrude.

Eternal Father, I offer you the most Precious Blood of your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for all sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.