November 2nd is the feast of All Souls. The Book of Maccabees tells us that the dead are prayed for “because it is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins.” The idea of an annual day dedicated to praying for the dead was started in a monastery in the year 998. The practice spread throughout other religious orders and the whole Church. Today we, the Church Militant, engage in spiritual works of mercy by praying for the Church Penitent, also known as the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
CHALLENGE
Visit any cemetery today and pray for the deceased members of your family. It’s a plenary indulgence for anyone in Purgatory, and if you additionally say an Our Father and Apostles Creed and meet the usual conditions, it’s also a plenary indulgence for you.
A print copy of The Saint Challenge is a great companion for a year of challenges and a lifetime of living the faith. Buy your copy today then challenge a friend to join you!
