Remembering the Holy Souls in November

Indulgences for All Souls' Day

From noon on November 1 to midnight on November 2 (a span of 36 hours), the Catholic faithful, as often as they visit a church to pray for the faithful departed, and recite six times during each visit the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the intentions of the Church, may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the souls in purgatory, under the usual conditions of:

*Confession (within a week before or after)


*Holy Communion (within the day before or up to a week after)


This plenary indulgence may also be gained from noon on the following Saturday to midnight on the following Sunday, but only by those who did not gain it on the preceding November 1st and 2nd. Note: When November 2 falls on a Sunday, All Souls’ Day is transferred to November 3rd and the gaining of the Toties Quoties indulgence begins on Sunday, November 2, at noon, lasting all through the day until midnight on November 3rd.

Other Indulgences for the Month of November

Those who, within the octave of All Souls’ Day, visit the cemetery in a spirit of piety and devotion and pray, even only mentally, for the departed, may gain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions (confession, Communion, and an Our Father and a Hail Mary for the intentions of the Church (on each day of the octave, applicable only to the Holy Souls in purgatory.


Those who recite prayers or perform other devout exercises for the departed during this month may gain an indulgence of 3 years each day of the month, and a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, if they perform these devotions daily for the entire month.


Those who during November take part in public services held in a church in intercession for the faithful departed may gain an indulgence of 7 years on each day of the month, and a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions if they do so on at least 15 days.

(Cited here.)
I'll try to post a few pictures of some of the places we go this week, as the cemeteries in our valley are almost always situated in the most beautiful places you can imagine.  When we enter a cemetery, we will usually say a "blanket" De Profundis prayer (below), but then, as we walk around, visiting the graves, we make a point not to pass a single grave that we don't ask God to bless the soul of the one lying there; i.e., God bless the soul of Michael O'Flannery!  God bless the soul of Julio!  Bless Mr and Mrs. Barelli! 

* Prayers for the Holy Souls

Our Lord promised St. Gertrude the following prayer, said devoutly, would free 1,000 souls from purgatory:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,for sinners everywhere,for sinners in the Universal Church,those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Another Good Prayer:

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful: grant to the souls of Thy servants and handmaidens the remission of all their sins: that through pious supplications, they may obtain the pardon which they have always desired: Who livest and reignest...

The De Profundis:
(Indulgences found in the Racolta)

Ps. 129.

Out of the depths I have cried unto Thee, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.

Let Thine ears be attentive: to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark our iniquities: O lord, who can abide it?
For with Thee there is mercy: and by reason of Thy law I have waited on Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath waited on His word : my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even unto night: let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy: and with Him is plenteous redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel: from all his iniquities.
Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.


V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.


Let us pray.


O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful; grant to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that by our devout supplications they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.


V. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.

In  Latin:

Ps. 129.
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine: * Domine, exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuae intendentes: * in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine: * Domine, quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est: * propter legem tuam sustinui te, Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbum ejus: * speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem: * speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia: * et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel: * ex omnibus iniquitatibus ejus.
Requiem aeternam * dona eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetna luceat eis.
Requiescant in pace.
Amen.


End at pleasure with the following:


V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam,
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

* This post reprinted from AWTY November, 2011