All Souls’ Day

    All those major religions of the world which believes in “life-after death” have the tradition of commemoration  of the dead and praying  for the dead.  All Souls Day is a holy day set aside by christians for honouring the dead.  The day is primarily celebrated in the Catholic Church, but it is also celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church, but it is also celebrated and a few other Protestants Churches.  The official name of the celebration in the Roman Rite liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church is “The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed.”
    The celebration of All Souls Day in the Catholic Church in on the 2nd of November and it follows All Saints’ Day.  The Roman Catholic celebration is associated with the doctrine that the souls of the faithful who at death have nor been cleansed from the temporal punishment due to venial sins and from attachment to mortal sins can not immediately attain the beatific vision in heaven and that they may helped to do so by prayer and by sacrifice of the mass.

The History of All Souls Day
Historically, the western christian tradition identifies the general customs of praying for the dead dating  as far back as 2 Maccabees (12:42-46).  The custom of setting apart a special day for intercession for certain of the faithful on November 2nd was first established St. Odilo of Cluny at his abbey of Cluny in 998.  The celebration was soon adopted in several dioceses in France and spread throughout Western Church.  It was accepted in Rome only in the fourteenth century.  While November 2nd remained in the liturgical celebration, through the entire month of November because it is associated in the Western Catholic traditions.

Offering our Efforts on Behalf of the Holy Souls
    On all Souls’ Day, we not only remember the dead, but we apply our efforts, through prayers, almsgiving and Holy Mass, to their releases from purgatory.  There are two plenary indulgences attached to All Souls Day, one for visiting a church and another for visiting a cemetery.
    The plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery can also be obtained everyday from November 1-8, and as part of indulgence, on any day of the year.

What is Indulgence?
    “An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.  Indulgences  may be applied to the living or the dead.”  c.c.c No. 1471.
    “Since the faithful departed now being purified are also member of the same communion of saints, one way we can help them is abstain indulgences for them, so that the temporal punishments due for their sins may be remitted. ” c.c.c. No. 1479
    “Through indulgences, the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in purgatory.”  c.c.c. No. 1498

By: Fr. A. Singarayan