November 2011: Praying for the Dead

All Saints Day, Tuesday 1^st November 2011

'The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs'
- Bl. Fra Angelico (1387-1455)
National Gallery, London

We celebrate the feasts of canonised Saints on special dates on the calendar throughout the year. But on All Saints Day we celebrate all the Saints of Heaven, celebrating a solemnity in honour of all those who are already in the presence of God. While the Church canonises certain people we can be sure are now in full communion with God in the fullness of his Kingdom, this does not mean that these are the only souls in Heaven. And so, on this occasion we honour all the Saints, those whose names we know, and those we don’t. We ask their intercession and celebrate our belief in the Communion of Saints.

All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses here in Sacred Heart Church: Vigil Mass on Monday at 6.30pm. Masses on Tuesday at 10am, 11.30am and 6.30pm.

All Souls Day, Wednesday 2^nd November 2011

‘It is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins’

2 Maccabees 12:46

Catholic belief in Purgatory points to God’s great mercy, that he can still purify us after death if we are still imperfectly purified. Since we are linked with each other in communion, we can help the Holy Souls by our prayers. To read the explanation of the doctrine of Purgatory in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, click here.

Mass times for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls Day on Wednesday at 10am and 7.30pm.

Norms for Indulgences at the Commemoration of All Souls

1. From 12 o’clock noon on 1 November until midnight on 2 November, all who have confessed, received Holy Communion, and prayed for the Pope’s intentions (one Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other prayer of one’s choice) can gain one plenary indulgence by visiting a church or oratory, and there reciting one Our Father and the Apostles’ Creed.

The indulgence is applicable only to the souls of the departed.

Confession may be made at any time within the week preceding or the week following 1 November.

Holy Communion may be received on any day from 1 November to 8 November.

2. The faithful who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the Holy Souls on the usual conditions once per day from 1 to 8 November. The conditions mentioned above also apply for this.