--- title: How to Pray for the Faithful Departed description: Barb Szyszkiewicz reviews Essential Prayers for the Dead, a new book inviting Catholics of all ages to pray for the souls of those who have gone before us. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20241101%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/how-to-pray-for-our-faithful-departed#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # How to Pray for the Faithful Departed Nov 1, 2024 7:00:00 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20241101%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png) *Barb Szyszkiewicz reviews Essential Prayers for the Dead, a new book inviting Catholics of all ages to pray for the souls of those who have gone before us.* --- ## [Essential Prayer for the Dead](https://amzn.to/4fshL5p) by Sister Mary Leonora WIlson, FSP Published by [Pauline Books & Media](https://paulinestore.com/essential-prayers-for-the-dead.html) Our faith teaches us that it's everyone's job to pray for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:45). It's not something we usually think about unless we're attending a funeral, but it's something we can find a way to do every day. The new book, *[Essential Prayers for the Dead](https://amzn.to/4fshL5p),* provides not only a collection of prayer options drawn from the Bible and the traditions of the Church, but also a brief, clear discussion of Purgatory and the role of the laity in helping those who have died through our prayers.   ## ![Essential Prayers for the Dead](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Essential%20Prayers%20for%20the%20Dead.jpg?width=1022&height=1500&name=Essential%20Prayers%20for%20the%20Dead.jpg)   ## What's in this book? Sister Mary Leonora Wilson, FSP, lists 12 ways we can help our beloved dead through prayer. In this book, she has gathered prayers that can easily be incorporated into your family's prayer routine or your personal devotions, and encourages practices such as arranging to have a Mass offered for a deceased loved one and making small charitable acts or acts of self-denial for those in Purgatory. In this book, you'll also find information about indulgences and how the gift of certain prayers and good works can be offered for souls in Purgatory, as well as the comforting knowledge that suffering souls can also pray for us. The book includes psalms of comfort and penitence, prayers for our beloved dead, the Stations of the Cross for the souls in Purgatory, meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary for the souls in Purgatory, and much more.   ## Perfect during the Month of the Holy Souls and all year long During November, the Month of the Holy Souls, we focus on praying for our deceased loved ones and the souls in Purgatory. But this is not something we should do for only one month of the year. The faithful departed need our prayers, no matter what the season.   ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20241101%20BSzyszkiewicz%20BOOK.png?width=1080&height=1350&name=20241101%20BSzyszkiewicz%20BOOK.png)   Ask for *Essential Prayers for the Dead* at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from [Amazon.com](https://amzn.to/4fshL5p) or the publisher, [Pauline Books & Media](https://paulinestore.com/essential-prayers-for-the-dead.html).   Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles. --- Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz Images: Canva This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to the author of this piece when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our Catholic Mom writers in this way. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fhow-to-pray-for-our-faithful-departed%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fhow-to-pray-for-our-faithful-departed%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fhow-to-pray-for-our-faithful-departed%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=How%20to%20Pray%20for%20the%20Faithful%20Departed) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fhow-to-pray-for-our-faithful-departed%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fhow-to-pray-for-our-faithful-departed%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Two Ways to Pray for the Upcoming Conclave Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/two-ways-to-pray-for-the-upcoming-conclave) [ Book Notes: I Heard God Laugh Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/book-notes-i-heard-god-laugh) [ The Chapel Rosary Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/25/the-chapel-rosary) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.