Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Date: November, 2

The Church is composed of the faithful living upon the earth and those who have gone before us. The latter includes the saints in Heaven and the faithful souls being purified in Purgatory.

Just as on November 1 we honor those who are with God, on November 2 Catholics celebrate a Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Also known as All Souls’ Day, on this day we honor them for their fidelity in life, as well as pray for them since they are being purified before entering the All Holy Presence of God.

As Revelation 21:27 says of the Heavenly Jerusalem, “… nothing unclean shall enter in.” The soul of a person who dies can go to one of three places. The first is heaven, where a person who dies in a state of perfect grace and communion with God goes. The second is hell, where those who die in a state of mortal sin are naturally condemned by their choice. The intermediate option is purgatory, which is thought to be where most people, free of mortal sin, but still in a state of lesser (venial) sin, must go.

Purgatory is necessary so that souls can be cleansed and perfected before they enter into heaven. There is scriptural basis for this belief.  The primary reference is in 2 Maccabees, 12:26 and 12:32.  “Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out… Thus made atonement for the dead that they might be free from sin.”

Additional references are found in the books of Zechariah, Sirach, and the Gospel of Matthew.  Jewish tradition also reinforces this belief as well as the tradition and teaching of the Church, which has been affirmed throughout history.

Consistent with these teachings and traditions, Catholics believe that through the prayers of the faithful on Earth, the dead are cleansed of their sins so they may enter into heaven.

• “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Prayer: Most Holy Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angels and saints, I beg for an outpouring of Your Divine Mercy upon every poor sinner and every poor soul in Purgatory.

Cleanse them all, especially my family and friends who have died, and bring them into the full beauty and splendor of Your presence.

Please also pour Your mercy down upon my poor soul, and free me from every sin and every attachment I have to sin. Increase my virtue, and draw me into union with You, my God. Angels and saints of God, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.