November 2nd is the feast of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The faithful who visit a cemetery to pray for the faithful departed, saying the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed, may gain a plenary indulgence if they meet the usual conditions: sacramental confession (eight days before or after the act), Eucharistic Communion on that day, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions (usually one Our Father and Hail Mary as minimum).
Each day between November 1 and November 8, this gains a plenary indulgence that can only be applied to the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Any other time of year this gains a partial indulgence.
We were blessed to be able to attend Mass AT the cemetery this morning! In the Catholic section of the cemetery there is an old altar and our wonderful retired priest said Mass there for the souls in purgatory! It was beautiful! My hubby and boys got to serve the Mass as well.
I couldn’t resist taking this darling picture of the girls as well.
When we got home, we finished reading Father Philip tells a Ghost Story. I HIGHLY recommend this book. It was well written and really explained to the kids the need to pray for the departed souls. This is yet another of the wonderful suggestions in Catholic Mosaic.
Before saying our rosary this evening, the kids and I made this poster from a recommendation in CHC’s A Year with God. On each stone we listed the name of a dear friend or relative that we especially want to pray for this month. We will offer one rosary for each person, starting with “Nino” tonight.
My hubby put together a great little post on other devotions for this month as well.
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.
I love these pictures and I love the idea for praying for a soul every day. As soon as I get off the computer, we are going to do it!!
We put up our CHC Holy Souls too! I was going to post it today, I have been meaning. I am still so sad about missing the mass on Holy Souls.
Next year!