Jacobson Farm

Today’s Serving: Source Get Fed

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLANS FOR THE ALL SOULS INDULGENCE?

This year, why not make a plan before November arrives? Find out when Confession is offered, make time for Mass and Holy Communion, and choose a day to visit a cemetery.

Every November, the Catholic Church offers us a remarkable opportunity to help the souls in purgatory. From November 1 through November 8, Catholics can obtain a plenary indulgence for a deceased soul simply by visiting a cemetery, praying for the dead, and fulfilling the usual conditions.

A plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven. When applied to a soul in purgatory, it is a tremendous act of charity, entrusted to God’s mercy.

The Catechism reminds us:

“From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1032)

And the Church gives us a particular way to put that teaching into practice during the first eight days of November.

How Can You Obtain the All Souls’ Indulgence?

According to the Manual of Indulgences, Fourth Edition, Grant 29, Section 1, Catholics may obtain a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, by doing the following:

Visit a cemetery on any day from November 1 through November 8 and pray for the deceased, even silently.
Go to sacramental Confession, generally within about 20 days before or after the indulgenced act.
Receive Holy Communion for each plenary indulgence sought.
Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, such as with an Our Father and Hail Mary.
Be free from attachment to all sin, even venial sin.

One Confession can suffice for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions are required for each. Only one plenary indulgence may be obtained per day.

There is also a different special indulgence available on All Souls’ Day, November 2. Catholics who devoutly visit a church or oratory and pray an Our Father and the Creed may obtain a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory, provided the usual conditions are fulfilled. (Manual of Indulgences, Fourth Edition, Grant 29, Section 1, item 2)

This year, why not make a plan before November arrives? Find out when Confession is offered, make time for Mass and Holy Communion, and choose a day to visit a cemetery. You might even bring your children or grandchildren and teach them to pray for family members who have died.

We cannot know how many souls are waiting for our prayers, but the Church encourages us to offer them—and what a beautiful act of love it would be to help a soul on its way to heaven!

Today’s Takeaway

OUR PRAYERS CAN HELP THE HOLY SOULS

The Church gives us eight days, November 1–8, to obtain plenary indulgences for the souls in purgatory. These are not merely days to remember those who have died, but opportunities to do something spiritually meaningful for them.