“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.” - Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1030
Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ! The Church dedicates the month of November to remembering our beloved dead and commending them to God’s infinite mercy. Praying for the repose of departed souls is one of the seven spiritual works of mercy. We who are striving for holiness as members of the Church Militant ought to make an effort, especially this month, to pray for our brothers and sisters who make up the Church Suffering in purgatory.
Here are a handful of practical ways that you can incorporate these prayers into your life this month (and beyond):
1) Whenever you drive past a cemetery, make the sign of the cross and offer a prayer for those who have died, such as the traditional: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
2) Make a visit to the graves of deceased family members or friends. An indulgence (applicable only to the souls in purgatory) is available under the usual conditions to those who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the dead. This indulgence is usually plenary each day from November 1-8 and partial on any other days of the year, but due to COVID-19 the Holy See has extended the plenary indulgence to last the whole month of November.
3) Offer your regular prayers (your Communion at Mass, your rosary, your Divine Mercy chaplet, etc.) for the souls in purgatory. Ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to apply the merits of your prayers to the holy souls in purgatory as she sees fit.
4) As part of your prayers each day, you might offer St. Gertrude the Great’s prayer for holy souls: “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.”
5) In union with Christ’s redemptive suffering on the Cross, offer up the small sufferings and inconveniences of your daily life for the benefit of the holy souls in purgatory.
As our patroness St. Thérèse said, “To strew flowers is the only means I have of showing my love. That is to say, I will let no little sacrifice escape me, not a look, not a word. I will make use of the smallest actions and I will do them all for love.”