The Feast of All Souls Today: Prayers, Traditions, & Activities

The Last Judgment
by Michelangelo
The Sistine Chapel


What is the Feast of All Souls?


On All Souls' Day, Roman Catholics commemorate the faithful departed or those baptized Christians believed to be in purgatory. It is celebrated on November 2 unless this date falls on a Sunday. When this happens, All Souls' Day is celebrated on November 3.

In the early days of Christianity, the names of the departed brethren were recorded on tablets. Later, in the sixth century,the Benedictine monasteries commemorated their deceased during Pentecost. In Spain there was such a day on Saturday before before Pentecost, at the time of St. Isidore (d. 636). In Germany there existed a ceremony of praying to the dead on October 1. St. Odilo of Cluny (d. 1048) ordered the commemoration of all the faithful departed to he held annually in the monasteries of his congregation. From there, it spread among the other congregations of the Benedictines and among the Carthusians to various dioceses. On this day, three requiem Masses are celebrated: one for the celebrant, one for the departed, and one for the Holy Father.

Traditions, Prayers, and Activities

Catholic Culture has some wonderful activities, prayers, traditions, and recipes for All Souls' Day.
Today, I will be commemorating All Souls' Day in the following ways:


1. I will light a candle for each of my deceased loved ones and put their photos on the mantle top next to my Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary candles, and pray the holy rosary for them. The Holy Rosary blog has a beautiful rosary for the Poor Souls.

Today I will be remembering all those deceased family members I love, but especially: my mom, my dad, my younger sister, my mother-in-law, and my father-in-law.

As a child, I remember that it was a family tradition to visit the cemetery on this day and place flowers on the graves of deceased loved ones and pray for them there, which I loved doing. This is a wonderful activity to do with your family if you have family members who are located at a cemetery nearby.

2. I will attend Holy Mass to pray for the faithful departed.

3. I will pray the following prayers:

Prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
English version

V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

R. And let the perpetual light shine upon them.

And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

Latin

V. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.

R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.

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.
-

Comments

  1. Anonymous11/2/06, 9:45 AM

    Thank you for the link on the Rosary prayers...I didn't know that one.
    Not only am I going to say it, I've printed it out for a Catholic patient I have at work who says the rosary every night. I think she'll enjoy it too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jean Heimann11/2/06, 9:24 PM

    Thanks, Jennifer, for sharing that. That made my day.

    You have been in my thoughts and prayers.

    God bless you,
    Jean

    ReplyDelete

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