November: Praying for the Faithful Departed, by Jennifer Gregory Miller

By Jennifer Gregory Miller, Catholic Culture, Oct 31, 2023

Jennifer Gregory Miller is a wife, mother, homemaker, CGS catechist, and Montessori teacher. Specializing in living the liturgical year, or liturgical living, she is the primary developer of CatholicCulture.org’s liturgical year section.

November 2nd – The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day)

One of my favorite traditions during the Liturgical Year is remembering and praying for the faithful departed during November, particularly through November 1-8. While we can pray every day for those who have died, the Church gives us a special gift that can really unite us with our departed brothers and sisters and feel like we are tangibly helping them. This October 31 marks the anniversary of my father’s funeral, with in-laws also bearing the loss of other parents. And lately our news feeds are filled with the loss of many lives, due to wars, terrorism and violent acts. We can’t all go and physically help and comfort these people, but again, the Church illustrates how connected we in the Mystical Body, and we can help spiritually at all times.

A Special Time Highlighting the Communion of Saints

Beginning with Halloween, there is a kind of unofficial triduum which highlights the close connection and co-operation of the Communion of Saints. Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve features the living on earth. We are the Church Militant working towards heaven still fighting the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Solemnity of All Saints focuses on all the souls in heaven, the Church Triumphant, whether officially canonized and proclaimed as saints by the Church, or all the other souls whose names we do not know. And finally All Souls’ Day focuses on the Church Suffering; those souls who were not ready to enter heaven, so are suffering in Purgatory until they are cleansed. …

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