November, the month we pray for the dead

November opens with two feasts side by side. On All Saints’ Day, November 1, the Church rejoices in everyone who is already with God, the famous saints and the countless quiet ones. The next day, All Souls’ Day, she turns to pray for all the faithful departed who are still being made ready for heaven.

Because of those two days, the whole month has long been kept as a time to remember our dead and pray for them.

Why we pray for them

Praying for those who have died is one of the oldest Christian habits. It is an act of love that does not end at the grave. We believe our prayers, and above all the Mass, can help the souls in purgatory on their way to God.

Simple ways to keep the month

• Visit a cemetery. From November 1 to 8 the Church offers a plenary indulgence, applicable to the souls in purgatory, to those who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead, with the usual conditions (confession, Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions).
• Have a Mass said for someone you have lost. Any parish office can help.
• Keep a book of the dead. Write the names of family and friends who have died, and keep it by a candle or near the family crucifix through November.
• Pray the Eternal Rest at meals or before bed:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

For someone who is grieving

A small, thoughtful gift can say what words cannot: a memorial candle, a rosary, or a holy card of a patron saint. You’ll find ideas in our sympathy gifts, and you are always welcome to come and talk with us in the shop.