NOVEMBER

Month of Hope and Remembrance

Celebrating Our Hope in Heaven, Practicing Our Love on Earth

November is a special month in our Catholic tradition, inviting us to reflect on the eternal. As the year draws to a close, the Church calls us to remember all who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. The month opens with two profound feasts that form the foundation for this time of prayer: All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

Together, these days remind us that the Church is a "communion of saints" that extends beyond death, binding us in love to both the saints in Heaven and the souls awaiting their final union with God.

All Saints' Day: The Church Triumphant

November 1st

On this great solemnity, we celebrate the Church Triumphant—all the holy men and women who are now in Heaven. This includes not only the famous, canonized saints like St. Ambrose Barlow or St. Peter, but also the countless, unknown saints: our great-grandmothers, faithful parishioners, and quiet witnesses whose names are known only to God.

Why We Celebrate:

  • To Honor Them: We rejoice in their victory and in the glory God has given them.

  • To Be Inspired: They are our "great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). They show us that holiness is possible in every walk of life and inspire us to follow their example.

  • To Ask for Their Prayers: As our brothers and sisters fully in God's presence, they are powerful intercessors. We can ask them to pray for us, the Church still on its earthly journey.

All Saints' Day is a feast of great joy and hope. It reminds us of our own ultimate calling: to become saints and to live forever with God in Heaven.

Prayers for All Saints' Day

There are beautiful and specific prayers associated with both of these important days. Here are some of the most traditional and powerful ones you can share.

Liturgical Prayer, Collect from the Mass

Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

This is the official opening prayer for the Mass on All Saints' Day.

A Prayer to All the Saints

O God, we praise you for the glory of all your Saints. We thank you for the inspiring example of their lives and for their powerful intercession for us, the Church on earth. We ask all you holy men and women, who now see God face to face, to pray for us. Pray that we may be strengthened in our faith, protected in temptation, and given the courage to live as true disciples of Christ. May we, inspired by your witness and comforted by your friendship, one day join you in the unending joy of God's presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

This is a general prayer asking for the help of our entire heavenly family.

 All Souls' Day: The Church Suffering

November 2nd

On this day, our hearts turn to the Church Suffering. We pray with love and devotion for all the faithful departed who are in Purgatory—a state of final purification for those who have died in God's friendship but are not yet perfectly holy.

What is Purgatory?

It is vital to understand that Purgatory is not a "second chance" or a lesser form of Hell. Purgatory is a state of cleansing, a "cleansing fire" of God's immense love that heals the soul of all attachments to sin. It is a temporary state, and the souls there are guaranteed to one day enter the full joy of Heaven. The Catechism teaches this purification is necessary because "nothing unclean shall enter" the presence of God (Revelation 21:27; CCC 1030).

Why Do We Pray for the Souls in Purgatory?

Because our bond of love does not end with death. As members of the Body of Christ, we, the Church Militant on earth, can help the Church Suffering in Purgatory. It is a profound act of charity and mercy to pray for the faithful departed, hastening their entry into Heaven. In turn, we piously believe that they pray for us.

How We Can Help the Holy Souls

Our prayers and actions can be a true spiritual comfort to the souls in Purgatory. Here are the most powerful ways we can help:

  1. Have a Mass Offered: The celebration of the Eucharist is the most powerful prayer that can be offered for the departed. You can request a Mass for a deceased loved one at our parish office.

  2. Pray for Them: The Rosary is an especially powerful prayer for the Holy Souls. You can also offer this simple, traditional prayer:

    "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

  3. Gain an Indulgence: During November (especially November 1-8), the Church offers a plenary (full) indulgence for the souls in Purgatory. This can be gained by piously visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead, while also fulfilling the usual conditions (going to Confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the Pope's intentions).

  4. Offer Almsgiving or Works of Mercy: Just as our good works can help the living, we can also offer them on behalf of the dead, asking God to apply the merits of our charity to their souls.

Prayers for All Souls' Day

These prayers are filled with mercy, love, and a plea for eternal rest for the faithful departed in Purgatory.

The Eternal Rest Prayer (Requiem Aeternam)

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

This is the most common and essential prayer for the dead.

Prayer for the Faithful Departed

O God, Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of your servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through pious supplications they may obtain the pardon which they have always desired.

Listen kindly to our prayers, O Lord, and, as our faith in your Son, raised from theT dead, is deepened, so may our hope of resurrection for your departed servants be strengthened. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

This is a beautiful prayer asking God to welcome our loved ones into His presence.


A Closing Thought

This November, let us draw strength from the Saints in Heaven and offer our love for the Souls in Purgatory. Let us remember our own family members, friends, and fellow parishioners who have passed away. By both celebrating the victors and praying for the pilgrims, we live out the beautiful reality of the Communion of Saints.