November – A Month to Remember and Pray for the Departed
Traditionally, the Church dedicates the month of November to praying for the departed members of our community. During this month, as we approach the end of the liturgical year, the Gospel readings focus on the final teachings of Christ, which remind us of our mortality and call us to prepare for immortality — eternal life in God. These passages are often referred to as the “end-time” parables.
We begin the month by commemorating All Saints, our brothers and sisters who have gone before us and now share in the joyful and glorious presence of God. Yet, our human experience tells us that most of us may not be perfectly pure to enter immediately into the beatific vision of God, nor so sinful as to be condemned eternally. As the Book of Revelation says, “Nothing unclean will enter [heaven]” (Revelation 21:27).
Based on Scripture and early Christian tradition, the Church firmly believes that there is a state of purification for those who die in God’s grace but still need cleansing before entering His glory. The Church invites us, especially during this month, to pray for these souls — particularly for those who have no one to pray for them.
From the earliest centuries, Christians visited the tombs of the deceased, especially the martyrs, to offer prayers and seek their intercession. It also became common in monasteries to celebrate Masses for the departed. In AD 1048, Abbot Odilo of Cluny established November 2nd as a day of prayer for all the faithful departed within his monasteries. By the 13th century, this practice was adopted by the universal Church as All Souls’ Day.
All religions share the belief that there is life beyond the grave. The Hebrews believed that after death, all would go to the place of the dead to await the final judgment, when God would raise the righteous to eternal glory. For us Christians, Christ is our hope of new life.
On the Cross, Jesus surrendered Himself completely to the Father, saying, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). His perfect obedience and total surrender opened the gates of heaven for all humanity. Through His obedient death, Jesus made forgiveness of sins possible, and through His resurrection, He made eternal life accessible to all.
–Fr. Ranjan D’Sa O.C.D.