As it sometimes does, in the year 2025, The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed – otherwise known as “All Souls” falls on a Sunday. This affects the liturgical calendar in two ways: All Saints falls on a Saturday and remains a Holy Day, but not one of obligation. All Souls replaces the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time and is celebrated in its stead. 

From the earliest centuries, Christians prayed for the dead. Inscriptions in the Roman catacombs bear witness to intercessory prayers offered for the repose of departed souls. The Eucharist especially was celebrated in memory of the faithful departed. As time passed the monastic communities, particularly Benedictines, played a major role in shaping the Commemoration. Monks would set aside days to remember and pray for confreres who had died. A well-known example is Cluny Abbey in the 10th century, where Abbot Odilo established a commemoration of all the faithful departed, a practice that gradually spread throughout Europe. As the practice moved from monasteries to parishes, local churches and chapels, it developed into a universal observance, deeply tied to the life of ordinary Christian families, who saw it as a time to pray for deceased relatives and friends.

Prayer for the Dead

The Catholic Church teaches that prayers for the dead are an important aspect of the faith, rooted in the belief in the communion of saints and the hope of salvation. This practice is supported by the understanding that the dead can benefit from the prayers of the living, specifically those who are in a state of purification – that is in Purgatory.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses this topic in several paragraphs. Specifically, it notes that the faithful can assist those who have died through their prayers. This is particularly relevant for the souls in Purgatory, who are undergoing purification before entering Heaven. The Church encourages the faithful to pray for these souls, as it is believed that such prayers can aid in their purification process and hasten their entrance into eternal life. The Catechism states: “This teaching is also based on the practice of the early Church. From the beginning, the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.” (CCC 1032)

This paragraph highlights the tradition of praying for the dead, emphasizing the role of the Eucharist as a powerful form of intercession. The Church sees these prayers as an expression of love and solidarity within the communion of saints, which connects the living and the deceased in the mystical body of Christ. Additionally, the Catechism underscores the belief that the prayers of the living can be effective for the dead, reflecting the interconnectedness of the Church on earth (the Church Militant), the Church in Purgatory (the Church Suffering), and the Church in Heaven (the Church Triumphant).

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Image credit: All Souls’ Day | Jakub Schikaneder, 1888 | National Gallery Prague | PD-US