Praying for Souls in November and Beyond

As the Month of the Holy Souls draws to a close, Lindsey Mitzel recalls the beauty and importance of praying for the holy souls in Purgatory.

Last November, as I went for an afternoon walk with my children alongside a beautiful lake, the sky hinted toward dusk, and my kids ran ahead on the network of bridges looping around the water. At a corner just ahead of me, my daughter suddenly stopped, and as I approached, she eagerly pointed to her right. “Look, Mama! A cemetery! We can pray for the people in Purgatory!”

In that moment, I was instantly reminded of something a spiritual director had told me years ago. She encouraged me to pray for the poor souls in Purgatory, and remember that when they are released into heaven, they will be very motivated to pray for me to get to heaven as well.

I’ve held this knowledge in my heart for years, but rarely thought to pray for those dying in grace, yet with stains that prevent them from immediately entering heaven. Yet my daughter’s excited appeal reawakened in me an awareness of those in Purgatory who cannot pray for themselves and need our prayers so they may be able to finally enter eternal paradise.

null

Making it a habit to pray for the souls in Purgatory

A habit I didn’t expect began to form after that afternoon. I started to notice cemeteries along my daily commute, and began to pray for the people buried in each cemetery whose souls were currently in Purgatory. I often prayed a short prayer, followed by three Hail Mary’s, or an Our Father. This has become such a practice for me, that on a recent road trip through New England, I was thrilled as we passed by cemetery after cemetery — the history of each I’ll never know.

I felt incredibly humbled to think of how, long ago, the deceased would have been lovingly buried in them. While driving through breathtakingly colored foliage, I felt so privileged to pray for all those souls, many of whom I hope are already enjoying the eternal rest of heaven.

The Church honors the month of November for the souls in Purgatory. November begins with All Saints Day, remembering all those souls, known and unknown, who are at rest in heaven for eternity. The next day, it lifts up those souls who are continuing to be purified, in Purgatory, before they may enter into heaven forever. There are many special ways which the Church invites us to intercede for souls in Purgatory, including offering up Masses, praying the Rosary for souls, and offering up little sacrifices.

While the first eight days of November are even set aside, in a special way, as days we can gain indulgences, both plenary and partial, for the poor souls in Purgatory. For the whole month of November, prayers and sacrifices for the faithfully departed are encouraged from the faithful. This time of year also serves to remind us daily, within the Mass readings, of our certain end, as we move closer to the end of the liturgical season, and closer to the beginning of advent—a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus, who is our hope in death.

As we remember to pray for those who have died, we can also be humbled by our potential need for prayer from others when we eventually die. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states,

From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them. (CCC 1032)

null

Praying for souls in November and beyond

In this month of November, we can remember the poor souls in Purgatory and intercede and make penances for them in many ways. Yet beyond November, we can work to make a habit of praying for those in Purgatory regularly, whether while passing by a cemetery, during our morning offering, before meals (one can add the prayer, “And may the faithfully departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace” to the end of the, “Bless us O Lord” prayer that Catholics commonly pray before meals), or praying the Eternal Rest prayer for souls in our prayer time.

Our praying for the poor souls in Purgatory reminds us of our own frailty and need for prayer. Just as we need grace and the prayers of others to gain heaven, remembering to pray for the faithfully departed can help ground us against pride and indulgence this side of heaven.

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.