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 the release of the souls in Purgatory before entering Heaven. The scriptural foundation for Purgatory can be found in II Maccabees 12:46 and Revelation 6:9-11.

Visiting cemeteries and lighting candles for the Holy Souls is a popular Catholic tradition throughout the month of November. I find it spiritual edifying to pray the Rosary or pray the Liturgy of the Hours as I enter a cemetery. If I’m not spending time in front of a tombstone of someone I once knew, I enjoy walking along the columns of tombs, reading the names of the people on other tombstones, and wonder who they were when they lived amongst us. Spending time in a cemetery should never 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 the people that he’s placed in our lives. While death marks the definitive end of our physical lives, we echo with the Church as she reminds us in the Funeral Liturgy: “Life is changed, not ended.” Whenever we come to Mass, we 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.