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Published: Monday, 1st November 2010
Each month the Catholic Church has a special devotion for the month, during which we focus ourselves to the special prayers and devotions that are laid before us. We can also find various sources in which to explore the particular devotion and find out what it means for our spiritual life and in particular what it means for the life of the Church in general. As a reminder of our duty to pray for the suffering faithful in Purgatory, the Church has dedicated the month of November to the Holy Souls. The Holy Souls are those who have died in the state of grace but who are not yet free from all punishment due to sins already forgiven sacramentally but which satisfaction is still to be made, unless they receive the plenary indulgence before dying. The plenary or full indulgence is part of the treasury of the Church (through the merits of Christ) and is imparted by the Pope twice a year at the Urbi et Orbi blessings or on some other important occasion, like a Jubilee year.
There are also other ways to obtain the plenary indulgence. The usual criteria is for confession within 8 days (weekly confession) praying the creed, and to pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. One must also receive Holy Communion and to have no attachment to sin of any kind. There must also be a firm purpose of amendment of one’s life, away from that which is evil and harmful to the soul, toward keeping the commandments and precepts of the Church. If one should die after receiving the plenary indulgence then they would go straight to heaven, however if they don’t then there is a likelihood that there will be temporal punishment due, even though the sin is forgiven through the sacrament of confession. If we can put it this way, suppose one was to break the window of a house of a neighbour for what ever reason. (Let us call this the sin) They we go to the neighbour and ask forgiveness for what we have done (confession) The neighbour forgives us (absolution) but now the problem is that the window is still broken ( so we need to make restitution) We must somehow pay for the broken window, so that we will not only have the forgiveness but will have made full restitution. When we sin we offend the “Majesty” of God and the “Justice” of God and it is precisely for this fact that we must pay restitution one way or another. We either go to purgatory to do so, or we can avail of the plenary indulgence shortly before we die so that no temporal punishment is due.
A safe point of departure on this subject is to consult the Church’s teaching on this matter. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church there is a reference which is only three paragraphs long (CCC 1030-1032). In essence, there are only three points for consideration on this matter which the Catholic Church insists on: firstly that there is a purification after death. 2, that this purification involves some kind of pain or discomfort, and 3, that God assists those in this purification in response to the actions of the living, namely by prayer, through the mass, the rosary or by.jpg)
gaining a plenary indulgence for the departed. They are certain of entering Heaven, but first they must suffer in Purgatory, where they are cleansed of the effects of sins so that when they appear before God they will be shining like gold, purified by fire in the furnace. (1 Peter 1; 7) The Holy Souls cannot help themselves because for them the night has come, when no man can work (John 9:4). It is our great privilege of brotherhood, in charity, that we can shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and, especially, by offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for them or for some loved one specifically.
The final purification may take place in the immediate presence of God In fact, in his book on eschatology, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger now Pope Benedict XVI, describes purgatory as a fiery, transforming encounter with Christ and his love:
"Purgatory is not, as Tertullian thought, some kind of supra-worldly concentration camp where one is forced to undergo punishments in a more or less arbitrary fashion. Rather it is the inwardly necessary process of transformation in which a person becomes capable of Christ, capable of God [i.e., capable of full unity with Christ and God] and thus capable of unity with the whole communion of saints. Simply to look at people with any degree of realism at all is to grasp the necessity of such a process. It does not replace grace by works, but allows the former to achieve its full victory precisely as grace. What actually saves is the full assent of faith. But in most of us, that basic option is buried under a great deal of wood, hay and straw. Only with difficulty can it peer out from behind the latticework of an egoism we are powerless to pull down with our own hands. Man is the recipient of the divine mercy, yet this does not exonerate him from the need to be transformed. Encounter with the Lord is this transformation. It is the fire that burns away our dross and re-forms us to be vessels of eternal joy." It is a purifying fire, not a destructive fire as we would know, but some kind of fire that cleans the soul and perfects all virtue, so that when we see God as He is, we will be perfect, as He is.
Some of the Saints who have special devotions to the Holy Souls were, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino O.S.A, Blessed Mary of Providence, Foundress of the Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls, Saint Catherine of Genoa, daughter of Saint Bridget of Sweden, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Saint John Massias , Saint Gertrude the Great and Saint Odilo of Cluny, Abbot of Cluny. Archdeacon Kavanagh of Knock and Pope John Paul II also has a great devotion to the Holy Souls.
Praying for the dead, especially for those we have known, is a requirement of Christian charity. (We are duty bound to pray for them, for they too form part of the Church, albeit the Church suffering) Our own prayers and sacrifices can be offered up to relieve their suffering. Some or all of the following prayers can be incorporated into our daily prayers during this month, 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.” (St. John Chrysostom; Homilies on First Corinthians 41, 5 (392 AD)
1. Have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered up for them.
2. Pray the Rosary and or the Chaplet of Divine Marcy for them, or both.
3. Pray the Stations of the Cross.
4. Offer up little sacrifices and fasting.
5. Spread devotion to them, so that others may pray for them.
6. Attend Eucharistic Adoration and pray for them.
7. Gain all the indulgences you can, and apply them to the Holy Souls
8. Visit to a Cemetery
An indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the faithful departed. The indulgence is plenary each day from the 1st to the 8th of November; on other days of the year it is partial. (Unless the Church decrees otherwise)
Visit to a Church or Oratory on All Souls Day [November 2] A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who on the day dedicated to the Commemoration of all the faithful departed piously visit a church, a public oratory .
The above indulgence can be acquired either on the day designated above or, with the consent of the Ordinary, (local Bishop) on the preceding or following Sunday or the Feast of All Saints [November 1].
The above indulgence is contained in the Apostolic Constitution the Doctrine of Indulgences, Norm 15, (Pope Paul VI, January 1st 1967 Indulgentiarum Doctrina) with account being taken of proposals made to the Sacred Penitentiary in the meantime.
In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, according to Norm 16 of the same Apostolic Constitution, that "one Our Father and the Creed be recited." and prayers for the Popes intentions. (Subject to the norms contained earlier)
A plenary indulgence is granted, if the Rosary is recited in any church or public oratory or in "a family group, a religious Community or pious Association; [a partial indulgence is granted in other circumstances].
MOST loving Jesus, I humbly beseech You, that You Yourself would offer to Your Eternal Father on behalf of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, the Most Precious Blood which poured forth from the Sacred Wounds of Your adorable Body, together with Your agony and death. And do You likewise, O Sorrowful Virgin Mary, present unto Him, together with the dolorous Passion of Your dear Son, Thy own sighs and tears, and all the sorrows You did suffer in His suffering, in order that, through the merits of the same, refreshment may be granted to the Souls now suffering in the fiery torments of Purgatory, so that, being delivered from that painful place, they may be clothed with glory in Heaven, there to sing the mercies of God for ever and ever. Amen.
Absolve, O Lord, the Souls of all the faithful departed, who have no one to pray for them, from every bond of sin, that with Your gracious assistance they may deserve to escape the pains of purgatory and enjoy happiness and peace with You forever.
O God, Who hast commanded us to honour our father and our mother, in Your mercy have pity on the souls of my father and mother, and forgive them their trespasses, and make me to see them again in the joy of everlasting Life, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Most compassionate Jesus, have mercy on the Souls detained in Purgatory, for whose redemption You did take upon Yourself our nature and endure a bitter death. Mercifully hear their sighs, look with pity upon the tears which they now shed before You, and by virtue of Your Passion, release them from the pains due to their sins. O most merciful Jesus let Your Precious Blood reach down into Purgatory and refresh and revive the captive souls who suffer there. Stretch out to them Your strong right hand, and bring them forth into the place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.
The just shall be in everlasting remembrance;
He shall not fear the evil hearing.
V. Absolve, O Lord, the souls of the faithful departed
from every bond of sin,
R. And by the help of Thy grace
may they be enabled to escape the avenging judgment,
and to enjoy the happiness of eternal life.
Because in Thy mercy are deposited the souls that departed
in an inferior degree of grace,
Lord, have mercy.
Because their present suffering is greatest
in the knowledge of the pain that their separation from Thee is causing Thee,
Lord, have mercy.
Because of their present inability to add to Thy accidental glory,
Lord, have mercy.
Not for our consolation, O Lord;
not for their release from purgative pain, O God;
but for Thy joy
and the greater accidental honour of Thy throne, O Christ the King,
Lord, have mercy.
For the souls of our departed friends, relations and benefactors,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those of our family who have fallen asleep in Thy bosom, O Jesus,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who have gone to prepare our place,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
(For those who were our brothers [or sisters] in Religion,)
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For priests who were our spiritual directors,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For men or women who were our teachers in school,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who were our employers (or employees),
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who were our associates in daily toil,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For any soul whom we ever offended,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For our enemies now departed,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those souls who have none to pray for them,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those forgotten by their friends and kin,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those now suffering the most,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who have acquired the most merit,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For the souls next to be released from Purgatory,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those who, while on earth,
were most devoted to God the Holy Ghost,
to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament,
to the holy Mother of God,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For all deceased popes and prelates,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For all deceased priests, seminarians and religious,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For all our brethren in the Faith everywhere,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For all our separated brethren who deeply loved Thee,
and would have come into Thy household had they known the truth,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those souls who need, or in life asked, our prayers,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
For those, closer to Thee than we are, whose prayers we need,
grant light and peace, O Lord.
That those may be happy with Thee forever,
who on earth were true exemplars of the Catholic Faith,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be admitted to Thine unveiled Presence,
who as far as we know never committed mortal sin,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be housed in glory,
who lived always in recollection and prayer,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be given the celestial joy of beholding Thee,
who lived lives of mortification and self-denial and penance,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be flooded with Thy love,
who denied themselves even Thy favours of indulgence
and who made the heroic act
for the souls who had gone before them,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
That those may be drawn up to the Beatific Vision,
who never put obstacles in the way of sanctifying grace
and who ever drew closer in mystical union with Thee,
grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
V. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord,
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
Let Us Pray
Be mindful, O Lord,
of Thy servants and handmaids,
N. and N.,
who are gone before us
with the sign of faith
and repose in the sleep of grace.
To these, O Lord,
and to all who rest in Christ,
grant, we beseech Thee,
a place of refreshment,
light and peace,
through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen
This feature is categorised under Devotions