01 November 2008

The Feast of All Saints

(I Class)
We can pay no greater honor to the Saints than by offering up to God in their name the Blood of Jesus. The efficacy of their past merits and present prayers is greatly increased when offered to God in close association with the merits and prayers of our Lord. Therefore the Church commemorates on this day all the Saints in heaven without exception, and thus honors also those who are unknown and who have no public recognition in the Liturgy.

Don't forget that a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the poor souls in purgatory, is available each day from November 1st to 8th inclusive. To gain these indulgences for the holy souls, the usual three conditions apply:

1. Sacramental confession within a week or so of performing the indulgenced work (one confession suffices for the obtaining of many indulgences).

2. The reception of Holy Communion, preferably on the same day as the prescribed work (one Communion is necessary for each indulgence).

3. Prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (suggested: Pater Noster, Ave Maria, Gloria Patri), must be done each time on the day the indulgence is sought.

The prescribed work in this case is to visit a cemetery and to pray there for the holy souls in purgatory. My suggestion: Psalm 129 De profundis, and the prayer:

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Requiescant in pace.
Amen.

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