devotions to the holy souls
November is the month where the Church commemorates the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The Commemoration of the Holy Souls is celebrated on the 2nd November. Although we should always pray for the Holy Souls, this Month of the Holy Souls is the Church's way of specially commemorating them, beseeching the Most Merciful to be favourable to the Poor Souls who are detained in the Prison of Purgatory until they have been purged of all their sins and made spotless.
This process of purgation, alluded to in Scripture [2 Macc 12:43-46; Mt. 12:32; Mt. 5:26; Lk. 12:59; 1 Cor. 3:15; 1 Pt. 3:18-20], is that process by which the just man (he who dies in a State of Grace) is made perfect [Hebrews 12:22-24]. Most Catholics who die in a State of Grace will most likely end up there, so if you consider that you will end up in a place where fire will painfully purge your sins, does that not make you pity the Poor Souls already there?
There are many things we can do in order relieve the Holy Souls of their suffering such as offering Holy Mass for them, offering prayers, works and penances for them, and by acquiring indulgences for them.
This Page will, hopefully, present to you some ways in which you can honour the Holy Souls, who will eventually become Saints who will pray for you!
This process of purgation, alluded to in Scripture [2 Macc 12:43-46; Mt. 12:32; Mt. 5:26; Lk. 12:59; 1 Cor. 3:15; 1 Pt. 3:18-20], is that process by which the just man (he who dies in a State of Grace) is made perfect [Hebrews 12:22-24]. Most Catholics who die in a State of Grace will most likely end up there, so if you consider that you will end up in a place where fire will painfully purge your sins, does that not make you pity the Poor Souls already there?
There are many things we can do in order relieve the Holy Souls of their suffering such as offering Holy Mass for them, offering prayers, works and penances for them, and by acquiring indulgences for them.
This Page will, hopefully, present to you some ways in which you can honour the Holy Souls, who will eventually become Saints who will pray for you!
Octave of the Holys Souls
From the 1st-8th November, is the Octave of the Holy Souls, during which the faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence for a soul in Purgatory by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed (even if the prayer is only mental) each day of the Octave.
Requirements for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence During the Poor Souls Octave:
◗ Visit a cemetery and pray for a soul in Purgatory.
◗ Say one "Our Father" and the "Apostles Creed".
◗ Say one "Our Father" and one "Hail Mary" for the Holy Father’s intentions.
◗ Worthily receive Holy Communion (ideally on the same day) in a State of Grace.
◗ Make a sacramental confession within 20 days of All Souls Day.
◗ For a plenary indulgence, be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin (or the indulgence is partial, not plenary).
You may gain one plenary indulgence a day.
A partial indulgence can be obtained when the Eternal Rest (Requiem aeternam) is prayed. This can be prayed all year, but especially during the month of November (words in brackets are plural if the prayer is prayed for all souls):
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen
Eternal rest grant unto 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.
From the Enchiridion of Indulgences.
From the 1st-8th November, is the Octave of the Holy Souls, during which the faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence for a soul in Purgatory by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed (even if the prayer is only mental) each day of the Octave.
Requirements for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence During the Poor Souls Octave:
◗ Visit a cemetery and pray for a soul in Purgatory.
◗ Say one "Our Father" and the "Apostles Creed".
◗ Say one "Our Father" and one "Hail Mary" for the Holy Father’s intentions.
◗ Worthily receive Holy Communion (ideally on the same day) in a State of Grace.
◗ Make a sacramental confession within 20 days of All Souls Day.
◗ For a plenary indulgence, be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin (or the indulgence is partial, not plenary).
You may gain one plenary indulgence a day.
A partial indulgence can be obtained when the Eternal Rest (Requiem aeternam) is prayed. This can be prayed all year, but especially during the month of November (words in brackets are plural if the prayer is prayed for all souls):
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen
Eternal rest grant unto 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.
From the Enchiridion of Indulgences.
Novena for the Holy Souls
A good way to pray for the Holy Souls is to pray a Novena for them. A Novena is a set of prayers prayed over nine days (Lat. novem). Usually a Novena is prayed before a feast, but one can happily pray it after the feast (which is my normal routine since I always forget to pray Novena's before a feast!), and one could pray it for each day of the month.
Whilst there are probably a plethora of Novena's, the two I recommend are on St. Mark's. The first is a longer Novena written by St. Alphonsus Ligouri, and the second is a short Novena. One could also use another Novena, or compose a Novena by oneself. If you have a favourite prayer that you pray for the Holy Souls, perhaps you could offer that as a Novena.
A good way to pray for the Holy Souls is to pray a Novena for them. A Novena is a set of prayers prayed over nine days (Lat. novem). Usually a Novena is prayed before a feast, but one can happily pray it after the feast (which is my normal routine since I always forget to pray Novena's before a feast!), and one could pray it for each day of the month.
Whilst there are probably a plethora of Novena's, the two I recommend are on St. Mark's. The first is a longer Novena written by St. Alphonsus Ligouri, and the second is a short Novena. One could also use another Novena, or compose a Novena by oneself. If you have a favourite prayer that you pray for the Holy Souls, perhaps you could offer that as a Novena.
Litany for the Holy Souls
One good devotion, that can be used with the Novena, or used separately, is the Litany for the Holy Souls. This Litany, while quite long, can be shortened if needed. It calls upon the Saints to pray for the Holy Souls, and also beseeches the Lord to spare them.
One good devotion, that can be used with the Novena, or used separately, is the Litany for the Holy Souls. This Litany, while quite long, can be shortened if needed. It calls upon the Saints to pray for the Holy Souls, and also beseeches the Lord to spare them.
Chaplet for the Holy Souls
The Chaplet of the Holy Souls is another good devotion that can be used. Using ordinary Rosary beads, one can easily pray for the Holy Souls using this Chaplet.
The Chaplet of the Holy Souls is another good devotion that can be used. Using ordinary Rosary beads, one can easily pray for the Holy Souls using this Chaplet.
Prayers for the Holy Souls
Aside from the above, there are also diverse other prayers available for your use. Some are:
1] My Catholic Source
2] Prayers for the Holy Souls for each day of the week
3] Prayer to the King of Glory for the Holy Souls
4] Short prayer for a Soul
5] To Jesus & Mary
6] Hymn for the Holy Souls
7] Prayer to the Sacred Heart
Aside from the above, there are also diverse other prayers available for your use. Some are:
1] My Catholic Source
2] Prayers for the Holy Souls for each day of the week
3] Prayer to the King of Glory for the Holy Souls
4] Short prayer for a Soul
5] To Jesus & Mary
6] Hymn for the Holy Souls
7] Prayer to the Sacred Heart