An interesting and relatively new event occurred yesterday. The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed occurred on Sunday. Commonly known as All Souls' Day, the older liturgical practice of the Church was to transfer this feast day to Monday, when November 2, fell on a Sunday, the reason for this being that the day has a penitential and sorrowful overtone, improper to Sunday.
Nevertheless, the day also has a hopeful aspect to it, which is why it may be celebrated on Sunday, in that it focuses on the second happiest souls in existence. The first are, of course, the Blessed Saints in Heaven, for they have already obtained eternal beatitude. The souls in purgatory are, however, the second happiest souls, for they are guaranteed of one day seeing God face to face. This is in contradiction to us, poor sinners, who may still forfeit our salvation through sin.
I feel we can say, though, this day makes more evident the Communion of the Saints which we have as our focus over these three days. The reason I state this is because we should be so consciously aware of how we mutually benefit each other here. We offer our prayers and supplications for the poor souls in Purgatory to bring about their purification sooner, and they in turn pray for us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
"'In full consciousness of this communion of the whole Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, the Church in its pilgrim members, from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, has honored with great respect the memory of the dead; and 'because it is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins' she offers her suffrages for them.' Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective (958)."
Praying for the departed goes back to the Old Testament. In the Second Book of Maccabees, Judas has sacrifices offered for the sins of the dead, and it refers to his action saying, "In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But . . . it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin (2 Maccabees 12:43-45)." Through Christ, this teaching was further developed, as the teaching on Purgatory was understood.
This development took place especially during the Ecumenical Councils of Florence and Trent when the doctrine was under attack (CCC 1031). Nevertheless we find it in the New Testament as well, such as, "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:15)," and in the Fathers of the Church, such as St. Gregory the Great and St. John Chysostom (CCC 1031, 1032). St. Gregory the Great said, "As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire," and, ". . . whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come." Then Chrysostom says, "Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them."
The best means we have at our disposal to pray for the dead is through the Sacrifice of the Cross, i.e. by offering Masses for the faithful departed (CCC 1032). Nevertheless, the Church, during the month of November, encourages praying for the dead in a special way, especially from yesterday and for the seven following days. In fact, the Church offers, from November 1 through November 8, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls in Purgatory, under the usual conditions (Reception of Communion and Confession within eight day of the work, prayer for the Holy Father's Intentions, and the freedom from attachment to sin), to the Faithful who visit a cemetery and say any prayers for the eternal rest of all the Faithful Departed. Through these days the blessings of the Church flow forth for the Poor Souls in Purgatory, releasing them from their purification, and thus in turn, sending forth innumerable blessings down upon us.
The Poor Souls in Purgatory are an essential part of the Communion of the Saints, and for that reason we should never forget about them, just as we should never forget about the saints in the Church Triumphant. The Liturgy constantly puts before us these two things. Throughout the year, we celebrate the various commemorations of the saints. In every Mass, within the Eucharistic Prayer, we pray both for the living and for, "our departed brothers and sisters and . . . all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life (Eucharistic Prayer III)," and we commemorate the, "elect, especially . . . the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, . . . blessed Joseph, her spouse, . . . [the] blessed Apostles and glorious Martyrs and . . . all the Saints, on whose constant intercession in your [God's] presence we rely for unfailing help (Eucharistic Prayer III)." In the Intercessions of the Liturgy of the Hours, Evening Prayer's concluding one is always for the Faithful Departed.
Even outside the Liturgy, it has been the constant practice of Christians to keep the memory of the Faithful Departed. Traditionally, the prayer after meals is followed by a prayer for the Poor Souls, i.e. "May the souls of the Faithful Departed rest in peace." The Litany of the Saints contains a concluding prayer for the Faithful Departed. The Requiem aeternam should be ever on our lips. "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen."
But the best thing we can do, after the Sacrifice of the Mass, is to pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory through our sacrifices. We are familiar with offering sacrifices for ourselves and for our brethren on this earth. Nonetheless, it is even greater to offer sacrifice for those who cannot offer it for themselves. The Poor Souls are called "poor" because they can do nothing for themselves. They can no longer merit for themselves; merit for one's soul can only be gained during this life. Thus, they are utterly helpless in relieving their own suffering. They are even more destitute than the poorest and most helpless person on this earth.
Let us then, through a tremendous act of charity, never neglect the Faithful Departed. Let us pray for our own beloved parents, grandparents, and all our ancestors. Let us pray for our families who have gone before us. Let us pray for our friends and all those who did us any good while on this earth. Let us especially, however, pray for those poor forgotten souls, who no longer have anyone to pray for them. Let us continually offer prayer and sacrifice for them.
The saints were most familiar with praying for the Faithful Departed. Indeed, there were even some who made what is called the Heroic Act of Charity, in which they sacrificed all merit for their own souls and offered it instead for the Poor Souls. How deep was their trust and their love! They knew that they would not lose their eternal reward through this, but it would instead be magnified all the more, for once those Poor Souls attain unto the Heavenly Jerusalem, they will not cease to pray for their benefactors upon earth.
May we always hold fast in faith to the Communion of the Saints. Let us help each other on our Pilgrimage to our Heavenly Homeland. Let us learn from the wisdom of the saints, and never tire of asking them to intercede for us and for the Poor Souls. And let us offer prayer and sacrifice for Faithful Departed, so that they will in turn aid us in attaining the glory of Heaven, where we will all, as the Church Triumphant, praise for all eternity the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
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