All Souls Day

St Nicholas's Cemetery, Brighton

Today is All Souls Day when we remember our dead and all the Faithful Departed. Fr Ray Blake reminded his congregation on Sunday that we have a cemetery very nearby opposite the 11th century St Nicholas Church (Anglican) as we have many dead there.

We can add to those for whom we pray for all the victims of the barbaric Iraqi massacre at Our Lady of Salvation, Baghdad. May angels lead you into Paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your coming and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem.

Réquiem ætérnam dona ei (eis) Dómine; et lux perpétua lúceat ei (eis). Requiéscat (Requiéscant) in pace. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell and from the bottomless pit; deliver them from the lion's mouth, that hell not swallow them up, that they fall not into darkness, but let the holy standard bearer Michael bring them into that holy light which You promised to Abraham and his seed.

Fr John Boyle of Caritas in Veritate has helpfully posted on the plenary indulgences attached to devout observance of All Souls and this holy time in the Church calendar.

1st - 8th Nov: Visit a cemetery

On any day of the year an indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. From 1st to 8th November the indulgence is plenary; on other days of the year it is partial.

2nd Nov, All Souls Day: Visit a church or oratory

A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who on the day dedicated to the Commemoration of all the faithful departed, piously visit a church, a public oratory or -- for those entitled to use it -- a semipublic oratory. To gain the indulgence one must one Our Father and the Creed.

This indulgence can be acquired either on All Souls Day or, with the consent of the Ordinary, on the preceding or following Sunday or the feast of All Saints. (This is the case in my native archdiocese of Southwark).