Today, All Souls Day, is the final day of the Triduum of Saints or Allhallowtide. As I wrote earlier here and here, during these three days we remember the dead–the saints, martyrs and all the faithful departed believers. Setting aside a day to commemorate the dead has a long history in the Church.
The importance of All Souls Day was made clear by Pope Benedict XV (1914-22), when he granted all priests the privilege of celebrating three Masses on All Souls Day: one for the faithful departed; one for the priest’s intentions; and one for the intentions of the Holy Father. Only on a handful of other very important feast days are priests allowed to celebrate more than two Masses.
CatholicCulture.org posted information describing the liturgical rubrics pertaining to All Souls Day.
Liturgical Year
Detailed guidance from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and other authoritative books for the ceremonies regarding the feast of All Souls. Read more…
Throughout November the Church prays for all who are in the purifying fires of Purgatory, waiting for the day when they will join the company of the saints in heaven. Although the celebration of Mass is the highest means the Church can provide for charity for the dead, we can also relieve their sufferings through our prayers, sufferings and penances. We can also help the Poor Souls by doing acts and prayers that have indulgences attached to them. There are many indulgences, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, that can be obtained during the month of November.
Indulgences for the Poor Souls During November
- A partial indulgence can be obtained by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed, even if the prayer is only mental. You can gain a plenary indulgence visiting a cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. These indulgences are applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory.
- A plenary indulgence, again applicable only the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted when the faithful piously visit a church or a public oratory on November 2. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.
- A partial indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, can be obtained when the Eternal Rest (Requiem aeternam) is prayed. This can be prayed all year, but especially during the month of November:
Requiem aeternam dona ei (eis), Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei (eis). Requiescat (-ant) in pace Amen.
Eternal rest grant to 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.
These guidelines detail the General Conditions for gaining indulgences. There are many ways to gain a plenary indulgence and this compilation provides all the ways to obtain them.
On non-liturgical side, Fisheaters.com provides examples of how to honor this feast day at home which includes special recipes for the day.
All Souls Day
There is a Mexican saying that we die three deaths: the first when our bodies die, the second when our bodies are lowered into the earth out of sight, and the third when our loved ones forget us. Catholics forestall that last death by seeing the faithful dead as members of the Church, alive in Christ, and by praying for them — and asking their prayers for us — always. Read more…
I hope that you will be able to make some time to commemorate the faithfully departed on All Souls Day. If today is impossible, then remember that you have the entire month of November to take some action to help the Poor Souls in Purgatory. You can also mark your calendar for next year and plan early enough to carve time out for this important duty we have as Catholics.
Artwork: Schikaneder, Jakub. All Souls’ Day. 1888. Oil painting. National Gallery, Prague.