From the desk of the Tar Heel disciple:
October 31, 2025
Evidence from inscriptions found in the ancient Roman catacombs assures us that the earliest Christian community prayed for the deceased members of the Church. Other inscriptions indicate that that earliest community of believers also appealed to those who had died for Christ in heroic acts of martyrdom for their prayerful intercession. The martyrs were recognized as saints whose souls were enjoying heavenly glory with the resurrected Christ. A feast day to celebrate their victory was usually held on the anniversary of their death, recognized as their “birthday” into heaven. (Feast days were also often observed for the martyred saints commemorating the translation of their relics from one location to another, such as from a tomb to a shrine, if such had happened.) Over the course of centuries, men and women who lived holy lives, but were not martyred, also came to be recognized as saints, and feast days in their honor or kept by local communities. Eventually, a common feast of all the saints was established as a feast day for the universal church, on November 1st. On that day, we celebrate their victory and ask for their prayerful intercession, especially that we might one day join them in enjoying the beatific vision.
But not everyone dies a martyr's death, nor does everyone live their baptismal commitment with complete integrity. For those who die united to Christ, yet with unforgiven venial sin or with the weight of the just punishment due to sins that have been forgiven, the Church prays that they be cleansed and purified so they might enter heaven as soon as possible. Christians should do this in their daily prayer and the church prays for such at every Mass. It is our ancient belief that our prayers and sacrifices can assist those who are in this state of purification, that is “in purgatory.” Over the course of centuries particular days have been set aside in different places to commemorate all the faithful departed. The Roman Catholic Church now commemorates and prays for all souls (not yet in heaven) with special fervor on November 2nd. In the current liturgical calendar, this commemoration even supersedes the Sunday cycle of “Ordinary Time,” with its readings and prayers. With this, the Church shows her members how important it is to pray for all the faithful departed.
In the same spirit, the Church encourages visits to cemeteries on this annual memorial day and throughout the month of November. A plenary indulgence applicable only to the faithful departed is offered to those who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead between November 1 and 8 (under the usual conditions). Families might well utilize these feasts and the following days to teach their children about the saints, who pray for us, and about the souls in purgatory, for whom we ought to pray.
Books on the lives of the saints and other materials are available at:
https://inhisname.com/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=all+saints
Books related to the souls in purgatory and prayer for the dead care available at:
https://inhisname.com/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=all+souls
