What Every Catholic Knew…

Tomorrow is the feast of All Souls (which, in my insignificant opinion, should be a holy day of obligation).  Having a special love for and seeming obligation towards the suffering souls in purgatory, I believe everyone should pray for the dead every day.  The Requiem Aeternam should be prayed at least once every day, as well as every time one passes a cemetery.  Our family follows our grace before meals prayer with “May the souls of the faithful departed, though the mercy of God, rest in peace”.  There cannot be too many prayers for the holy souls, and we must remember that the soul who is released from purgatory on account of our prayers and sacrifices becomes our intercessor in heaven.  Their gratitude has no bounds.

Beginning today, and continuing through November 8th, one may receive a plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead.   The usual conditions must be met (see below).  What is unique about this particular indulgence is that it may be applied only to the dead.

Visiting a church or oratory tomorrow, on the feast day itself, one may obtain a plenary indulgence if an Our Father and Credo are recited.

What I Wish Every Catholic Knew:  That the souls in purgatory are suffering, and the quickening of their release can only be obtained by our prayers and good deeds.

What I Wish Every Catholic Would Do:  Obtain these indulgences, and make it a daily habit of praying for the holy souls.

Requiem Aeternam

Réquiem ætérnam dona ei (eis) Dómine; et lux perpétua lúceat ei (eis). Requiéscat (Requiéscant) in pace. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto him/her (them), O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him/her (them). May he/she (they) rest in peace. Amen.

What are the rules to receive an indulgence?

To receive an indulgence, one must be baptized, in a state of grace and in full communion with the Catholic Church.

A partial indulgence requires that the action be performed devoutly and with a spirit of contrition.

A plenary indulgence requires five things:

• The first, of course, is the fulfillment of the particular act. We have to participate in some act of love or devotion — for example, make a pilgrimage.

• No attachment to sin, even venial sin.

• Reception of holy Communion (may be a few days before or after the act).

• Reception of sacramental confession (may be a few days before or after the act).

• Prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (ideally on the day of the act).

(ht to theCatholicSpirit.com for providing this information online, therefore saving me the time and effort to type them up myself!)

~ A practice of my own, which I enjoy doing every year on All Souls Day:  I bring with me to a cemetery bottles of holy water and as many flowers as I can afford.  I stand over a grave, pray the Requiem Aeternam for that soul, sprinkle holy water over the grave, and leave a flower on his/her grave.  Holy water is reported to be yearned for by the suffering souls.