1-8 November: Indulgences for Praying for the Dead – HOW TO!

While one of the corporal works of mercy is to bury the dead, one of the spiritual works of mercy is the pray for the dead.

November is dedicated in a special way to this important work, the first 8 days of the month in particular.

To encourage this good work, Holy Church – being a good Mother – prompts her children by enriching these days of 1-8 November with indulgences.

Indulgences are for the remittance of temporal punishment after death in Purgatory due to sins we commit in this life and for which we have not done adequate penance.

Indulgences are not for the forgiveness of those sins.

Digression….

Sins are, in the way Christ desired, ordinarily forgiven the Sacrament of Baptism, at first, and then through the Sacrament of Penance. In certain circumstances the Sacrament of Anointing can effect forgiveness of sins. There are extraordinary moments with acts of perfect contrition can result in forgiveness. However, Christ gave us a Sacrament precisely for this matter and that is what He intends for our ordinary circumstances. He gave it to us so that we would USE IT. So…

GO TO CONFESSION!

Going to confession is also what you need to do to gain indulgences.

For the November indulgences for praying for the dead, what do you need to do? After all, this is a good “work”. You have to do something.

Here are some bullet points.

• Visit a cemetery, and
• Pray for the deceased, for the “poor” souls in Purgatory.

To receive the plenary indulgence, the usual conditions must also be met:

• Be in the state of grace and – for a plenary indulgence – free from all attachment to sin, even venial sins (which requires an act of will… more on that  HERE).
• Receive Holy Communion
• Receive Sacramental Confession (within 20 days)
• Pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff (that is, for the intentions designated by the Supreme Pontiff)

The classic intentions of the Supreme Pontiffs have traditionally been (more about this HERE):

• The Exaltation of the Church.
• The Propagation of the Faith.
• The Extirpation of Heresy.
• The Conversion of Sinners.
• The Concord between Christian Princes.
• The Further Welfare of the Christian People.