All Souls Day

By Greg Zambrano 

All Souls’ Day is a day of prayer for me for the souls in purgatory. On Nov. 1 and  2, we pray for the intercession of those who have died.

We know, specifically, by name some of the souls in heaven. Those are the saints declared by name by the church. There also are others triumphed by the church that made it to heaven.

Many souls that have died and are found to be in union or in obedience with God spend time in purgatory “till they have paid the last penny” – Matthew 5:26.

The church has set aside a specific day for them – Nov. 2. Let us remember throughout the year the suffering souls in purgatory. Let us teach our children to pray for their rapid ascent into heaven. Remembering them in your normal daily prayers will help them.

I have discovered the Divine Mercy novena prayer from the “Diary of St. Faustina, 1226”: Today, bring to me the souls who are detained in purgatory and immerse them in the abyss of my mercy. Let the torrents of my blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by me. They are making retribution to my justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of my church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to my justice.”

The prayer of St. Gertrude is also known to intercede for them: “Eternal Father, I offer you 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, for those in my own home and in my family. Amen.”

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.