Luminous
A Catholic Woman and Her Thoughts on Life, the Universe, and Everything
Friday, October 30, 2009
All Souls Day
Concerning All Souls Day (November 2nd)
 
On All Souls Day we remember the souls of the faithful departed who are suffering in Purgatory and pray for them. We can pray for them any day, of course, but there are special indulgences attached to this special feast of the Church to encourage prayer at this time.
 
All Souls Regulations
 
An indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. The indulgence is plenary each day from the first to the eighth of November; on other days of the year it is partial.
 
A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who on the day dedicated to the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed [November 2 {as well as on the Sunday preceding or following, and on All Saints' Day}] piously visit a church.
 
In visiting the church it is required that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.
 
To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary also to fulfill the following three conditions: sacramental Confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father.
 
The three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the visit; it is, however, fitting that communion be received and the prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be said on the same day as the visit.
 
The condition of praying for the intention of the Holy Father is fully satisfied by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary.
 
A plenary indulgence can be acquired only once in the course of the day. 
 
As Catholics we have the right, on the occasion of our death, to the Mass of Christian Burial, as well as to burial in a Catholic cemetery or mausoleum. The rites of Christian burial combine proper reverence for the body of the dead with a faith-filled hope in the resurrection of the body.
 
(Incidently there are any number of ways to earn plenary indulgences.  When one goes to daily Mass, is within an octave (8 days before or after) confession, prays for the intentions of the Holy Father, and does an indulgenced act - then one can merit such an indulgence daily. Praying the rosary at the Blessed Sacrament or making the Stations of the Cross--just to name two- merit the indulgence that can be applicable to the souls in Purgatory)
 
 
Conditions for both indulgences:
 
1. Only one plenary indulgence can be granted per day.
 
2. It is necessary to be in the state of grace, at least by completion of the work.
 
3. Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary; otherwise the indulgence is only partial. (By this is meant attachment to a particular sin, not sin in general.)
 
4. Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought.
 
5. Prayers must he recited for the intentions of the Holy Father on each day the indulgence is sought. (No particular prayers are prescribed. One Our Father and one Hail Mary suffice, or other suitable prayers.
 
6. A sacramental concession must he made within a week of completion of the prescribed work. (One confession made during the week, made with the intention of gaining all the indulgences, suffices.)
 
 
Written at 10:47 PM by Luminaria2112.
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