Today is All Souls’ Day, when the whole Church prays for the dead who are not yet in Heaven. Purple is back for one day. The one thing to do: tonight, write down the names of the people your family has lost, light a candle, and teach the kids the “Eternal rest” prayer. If you can get to a cemetery this week, the Church attaches a plenary indulgence for the souls in Purgatory to that visit.
On this page
John 6:37–40
37 All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out. 38 Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me. 39 Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day. 40 And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son and believeth in him may have life everlasting. And I will raise him up in the last day.
Jesus says He will not lose anyone the Father gives Him. What does He promise to do for them on the last day?
Members receive questions with optional answers and a little help for parents.
Today’s saint
Today is the one day a year the whole Church stops to pray for everyone who died and is not in Heaven yet, and a monk in France started it a thousand years ago.
In 998 the abbot of a great monastery in France, St. Odilo of Cluny, told his monks to set aside the day after All Saints to pray for the dead. The custom spread, and within a few centuries the whole Church kept November 2 as All Souls’ Day. Since 1915 priests may say three Masses today, so many are the dead who need prayer.
The saint’s story to read aloud, with questions for the family.
Souls in Purgatory reaching up toward an angel and toward Heaven, with flames around them. Color the flames orange and red, the angel’s robe white with gold, and leave the light at the top of the picture uncolored so it looks brightest.
Every day’s calendar art becomes a printable coloring page for the family table.
Our Lord asked, “Do you believe this?” It’s important that you believe that you have an immortal soul that never dies and that you must care for it, because your body begins to wear down like a car: your hair gets grayer, you get more wrinkles, you can’t hear right, this happens, that happens, your feet begin to hurt where they never hurt before. But your soul is alive and vibrant — and never, never, never, never, never dies. “ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Martha said, ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world’ ” (v. 27). What kind of answer is that? The correct answer, because only God, only the Son of God, could tell you that you have an immortal soul that will never die and that it shall rise again!
Members receive an original excerpt from a Sophia Institute Press title, with the book close at hand.
Light a candle at dinner, name one family member who has died, and say “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them” together.
A hands-on activity with materials and steps, and a shorter version for a hectic day.
Catholics make a confession and receive the sacrament of Penance to ask forgiveness for sins. They might also seek indulgences.
Members receive an original excerpt from a Sophia Institute Press title, with the book close at hand.
The place where people who died loving God get cleaned up before they go into Heaven. Everyone there is already saved; they are just not finished yet, and our prayers help them.
A word from the day, explained for children and used in a sentence.
Blessed are the clean of heart: they shall see God.
A verse to learn together, with a tip for remembering it.
Nothing required. Many families keep the old custom of a plain, quiet supper; in Mexico, pan de muerto, a sweet bread, is baked for these days, and some American parishes now share it. Any leftover soul cakes from yesterday belong on the table tonight.
Something to cook or share at the table to mark the day.
Members receive an original excerpt from a Sophia Institute Press title, with the book close at hand.
Is Grandpa in Heaven or in Purgatory?
A question children often ask about the day, with an answer for the parent.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Jesus, remember the people we love who have died, and the ones nobody remembers. Bring them home to you. Amen.
A short prayer for the whole family, written for the day.
The cemetery visit for the plenary indulgence can be any day through Sunday, November 8: pick the day now, and plan Confession and Communion within about a week of it (Saturday Confession works). Tomorrow, November 3, is St. Martin de Porres: have a broom ready and think of a hidden chore each child could do. Wednesday, November 4, is St. Charles Borromeo: dig out the family catechism, or a Baltimore Catechism or YouCat, and a notecard to write a thank you to your parish priest.
Members can look ahead to the coming feasts, recipes, and traditions before the day arrives.