November – The Month Dedicated to the Holy Souls
The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The Church commemorates all her faithful children who have departed from this life, but have not yet attained the joys of heaven. St. Paul warns us that we must not be ignorant concerning the dead, nor sorrowful, "even as others who have no hope ... For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven ... and the dead who are in Christ shall rise.
The Church has always taught us to pray for those who have gone into eternity. Even in the Old Testament prayers and alms were offered for the souls of the dead by those who thought "well and religiously concerning the resurrection." It was believed that "they who had fallen asleep with godliness had great grace laid up for them" and that "it is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." We know that a defiled soul cannot enter into heaven.
Excerpted from Liturgical Meditations, The Sisters of St. Dominic
If you wish your loved ones who have gone before us to be remembered at masses for the Holy Souls then please make a list of their names and place your list in the Holy Souls envelopes at the back of the church. It is customary that an offering is made and this too can be placed in the same envelope. These envelopes are collected and placed on the altar during the month of November. Should the number of masses exceed the available days of November masses these will be celebrated throughout the following year.
