Throughout the Church-year, we celebrate memorials and feasts for the many Saints canonized by the Church. The example of their holy lives continues to inspire us that we too may attain holiness and share in the victory of the risen Christ. We venerate them and ask for their intercession that our prayers may be answered. Within the same liturgical year, one day is set aside for the commemoration of all the faithful departed and that is All Souls Day (Nov. 2). The importance of this commemoration is that it offers us the opportunity to pray for all the faithful departed. To spiritually assist all the faithful departed we are preparing for “their feast” and we are offering our annual Novena for All Souls.
Opening Prayer: “Merciful God, during this Novena of prayer, we remember those who have died. We pray for their joyful reunion with you, their loving Creator. You raised your Son from the dead that all may share in His joyful Resurrection. So, as your Son has commanded, we reach out in prayer for the benefit of all those who have gone before us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Sunday: The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary (The Resurrection of the Lord, His Ascension into Heaven, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary, and the Coronation of Mary)
Prayer for Day 1: “O God, in whom sinners find mercy and the saints find joy, we pray for those who have died this past year, that they may be delivered from the bonds of death. Admit them to the joyful company of your saints and raise them up to rejoice in your presence for ever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
