Father Bernie Healey

Following the Holy Mass for the Cardinals and Bishops who have died over the past year, Pope Leo XIV visited the tombs of his predecessors in the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. Among those buried there are Popes Pius XII, Paul VI, John Paul I, and Benedict XVI, whose tombs are among the papal burial sites surrounding St. Peter’s tomb and recall the lives and legacies of the shepherds who have guided the universal Church.

On the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), the Church remembers and prays for all those who have died, entrusting the souls of the faithful departed to the loving mercy of God. May they be purified and welcomed into the joy of eternal life. 🙏 Share the name of a loved one who has passed away, and let us remember them together in prayer. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

During the first eight days of November, the Church offers the faithful a special opportunity to obtain plenary indulgences for the souls in Purgatory. Here is how you can participate: 1. Perform one of the following indulgenced acts: • November 1–8: Devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even silently, for the deceased. • November 2 (All Souls’ Day): Visit a church or oratory and recite the Our Father and the Apostles’ Creed. 2. Fulfill the usual conditions: 🙏 Receive Sacramental Confession. 🙏 Receive Holy Communion. 🙏 Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father (an Our Father and a Hail Mary are recommended). 🙏 Have the intention of gaining the indulgence. 🙏 Be completely detached from all sin, including venial sin. A few important things to remember: • One sacramental Confession can suffice for several plenary indulgences. • Holy Communion and prayer for the Pope's intentions must be repeated for each plenary indulgence. • Confession, Communion, and prayer may be completed several days before or after the indulgenced act. However, Communion and prayer for the Pope's intentions should take place on the same day as the prescribed act. • If all the conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will be partial rather than plenary. What is a plenary indulgence? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1471), an indulgence is the remission of temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. A plenary indulgence removes all of this temporal punishment, while a partial indulgence removes part of it. Indulgences can be applied to the living or to the faithful departed. ❤️ This November, let us remember the Holy Souls in Purgatory and offer our prayers and sacrifices for them. Praying for the dead is a beautiful spiritual work of mercy. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Read more 👉 bit.ly/4zXIxMX