“Others have died and are being purified” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 954).

The holy souls in purgatory are known as the Church Suffering. On November 2^nd, we have the very special privilege of praying to intercede for their souls. It is the one day a year we can gain multiple plenary indulgences.

What is a plenary indulgence?

A plenary indulgence is the remission of all the temporal punishment due to our sins (Baltimore Catechism, pg. 206). This means our slate is wiped clean, and we will owe no debt to pay in purgatory. While on earth, we can offer suffering and do penance for purification. Once in purgatory, we are at the mercy of God to be purified and brought to Heaven.

All Souls Day:

On All Souls Day, we can earn multiple plenary indulgences for the souls in purgatory. We, the Church Militant, can send the souls of the Suffering into Heaven. To gain a plenary indulgence on All Souls Day, several conditions must be met.

1. We must receive sacramental confession.
2. We must receive holy communion.
3. We must pray for the intentions of the Pope.
4. We must pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the souls of the dead.
5. *Say the prayers for the Pope and the dead at a church or a cemetery.

The great significance of All Souls Day is the octave: the period after of eight days. Generally, we must receive the sacrament of reconciliation and holy communion once per indulgence. In the octave from November 2^nd-10^th, we can gain one plenary indulgence a day without renewing the sacramental requirements. We can also receive the sacraments within eight days before November 2^nd.

On November 2^nd, we gain two indulgences by saying one set of prayers in a church: another at a cemetery. The only caveat is that we must say the prayers at a church or a cemetery. We cannot simply say the prayers in our homes. We can continue praying in churches and cemeteries for the following eight days (until the 10^th) for more indulgences.

So, to recap: November 2^nd, two indulgences. We must receive reconciliation and holy communion within the eight day octave, before or after the 2^nd. Every day from the 2^nd to the 10^th, we can pray in churches and cemeteries for one indulgence per day.

It is a sacrifice, to be sure, to go to a physical church or cemetery every day for eight days. But when we see Heaven, we will meet the souls we released from purgatory. What greater love is there than laying down one’s life for one’s friend? What greater gift is there than seeing each other in Heaven?