2 NOVEMBER

Today is All Souls Day.

From "The Handbook of Indulgences: Norms and Grants" (1991):

Grant #67 Visiting a Church or Oratory on All Souls Day

"A plenary indulgence which is applicable only to the souls in purgatory is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a church or an oratory on All Souls Day.

This indulgence can be obtained either on the day mentioned above or, with the consent of the ordinary, on the preceding or following Sunday or on the solemnity of All Saints.

This indulgence is already contained in the apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum doctrina, norm 15. It is included here in light of the Sacred Penitentiary's deliberations since the constitution was issued.

According to norm 16 of the apostolic constitution, this visit is to include the 'recitation of the Lord's Prayer and the Creed (Pater and Credo.)"

Grant #13 Visiting a Cemetery

"An indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the dead. This indulgence is applicable only to the souls in purgatory. This indulgence is a plenary one from November 1 through November 8 and can be gained on each one of these days. On the other days of the year this indulgence is a partial one."

Grant #18 Defunctorum officium Office for the Dead

A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly recite Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer from the Office for the Dead. [N.B. The links given are to a previous edition of the Divine Office. The current version in its approved format is not on line. Since some traditional communities pray the older version of the Office under Roman authorization, presumably the indulgences will attach to the traditional office also.]

Grant #19 De Profundis Psalm 130

A plenary indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly recite Psalm 130 [129 in the Septuagint numbering], the De Profundis (Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.).


There is a nicely done collection of private prayers for the souls in Purgatory here.