For Catholics, the month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. This month-long observance provides opportunities for us to pray for and obtain plenary indulgences for the souls being purified before entering Heaven. While we have already celebrated All Saints Day (November 1^st) and All Souls Day (November 2^nd), Catholics are encouraged to pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, remembering those who have died with the guilt of lesser sins on their souls. This includes praying for their release from Purgatory and their eventual entry into Heaven. The scriptural foundation for praying for the souls in Purgatory are found in II Maccabees 12:46 and Revelation 6:9-11.

Visiting cemeteries and lighting candles for the Holy Souls is also a popular Catholic tradition throughout the month of November. On the feast of All Saints, I mentioned the great connection I feel with my parents and other deceased family members and friends when I spend time in a cemetery. I find it spiritual edifying and peaceful to pray the Rosary as I enter a cemetery. If I’m not spending time in front of a tombstone of someone I knew, I enjoy reading the names of the people on the tombstones, and the years they walked amongst us. Spending time in a cemetery should not be a spooky thing for a Christian. It’s actually a healthy thing for us to meditate on the shortness of our lives on earth, so that we can better appreciate the mystery and beauty of God’s Creation and people he’s placed in our lives. While death marks the definitive end of the physical aspect of our lives, we echo with the Church as she reminds us in the Funeral Liturgy: “Life is changed, not ended.” We come to Mass to remind ourselves that Jesus has already triumphed over death and is inviting us to share in His divine life in heaven one day. May the Lord bless you and grant you the peace and joy you yearn for, as you offer your prayers this month for the souls in Purgatory.

Fr. Pierre