O almighty, everlasting God, who hast granted us to venerate in one solemnity the merits of all thy saints; we beseech thee, that as our intercessors are multiplied, thou wouldst bestow upon us the desired abundance of thy mercy.
Collect from the Feast of All Saints
With so many to pray for us, let us not forget to pray for the dead. All this week (November 1st through 8th), "a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who ... devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the departed." (from the current Manual of Indulgences) It is also necessary to be free from attachment to any sin, receive a sacramental confession, communion, and pray for the intentions of the Pope.
The document The Gift of the Indulgence states that it is sufficient to have made a sacramental confession "within several days (about 20)" before or after doing the prescribed work. This is much more generous than the old requirement of "within the octave" and this permission is still in effect (not only for the Jubilee year).
Since the church is so generous, let us not fail to send this abundance of mercy to the aid of the poor souls in purgatory.
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