This month, the Church turns her gaze toward heaven and eternity. It is a time of joyful honour and solemn prayer.
The glory of All Saints Day meets the compassion of All Souls Day, reminding us that we are all on a journey—pilgrims bound for glory, with the communion of saints cheering us on.
November is the month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, a time to remember those who have gone before us, and to lift them in prayer and love. It is also a month to renew our own longing for heaven. The saints show us what we are called to be. The souls remind us to live well, and die in grace.
✨ Monthly Devotion: Prayer for the Holy Souls
Daily Offering for the Dead
“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, in my own home, and within my family. Amen.”
This powerful prayer, popularised by St Gertrude the Great, helps us apply Christ’s merits to those still being purified. The Holy Souls can no longer help themselves—but we can help them. And in turn, they will not forget us.
🧘♀️ Monthly Meditation: Heaven Is Real – So Live For It
Imagine the joy of heaven. Saints clothed in white. Angels rejoicing. A love that fills every longing. And in the centre—Christ, radiant, risen, reigning.
Now imagine souls on the way—held in God’s mercy, being purified in Purgatory, yearning to see His face. They rely on your prayers. Your Masses. Your sacrifices.
And finally, imagine yourself. A pilgrim. Still journeying. Still striving. You are called to sainthood. Not someday, but today.
Let this be your meditation: My life matters eternally. My choices echo beyond death. Heaven is my home—and I must live like I believe it.
📆 Key Dates in the Catholic Calendar – November 2025
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1 November (Saturday) – All Saints Day (Holy Day of Obligation)
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2 November (Sunday) – All Souls Day
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4 November (Tuesday) – St Charles Borromeo
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9 November (Sunday) – Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
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10 November (Monday) – St Leo the Great
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11 November (Tuesday) – St Martin of Tours
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17 November (Monday) – St Elizabeth of Hungary
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21 November (Friday) – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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22 November (Saturday) – St Cecilia
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24 November (Monday) – St Andrew Dũng-Lạc and companions
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30 November (Sunday) – First Sunday of Advent: A New Liturgical Year Begins
Throughout the month – Daily prayers for the dead; visits to cemeteries (with indulgences available under usual conditions)
✝️ The Scriptural Witness
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Revelation 7:9 – “A great multitude... from every nation, clothed in white, crying out, ‘Salvation belongs to our God!’”
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Wisdom 3:1 – “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God...”
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2 Maccabees 12:46 – “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead...”
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Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
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John 14:2 – “In my Father’s house there are many rooms...”
Heaven is not an abstract hope—it is the ultimate reality. And purgatory is not punishment, but God’s mercy in action, preparing souls to enter the beatific vision.
🌹 Devotion in Practice
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Attend Mass on All Saints (1 Nov) and All Souls (2 Nov)
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Pray the Rosary daily for the Holy Souls
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Offer a plenary indulgence for the dead (conditions: confession, Communion, prayers for the Pope, detachment from sin, and cemetery visit)
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Light a candle for deceased family and friends
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Keep a list of names you will pray for throughout the month
“Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.” – St John Chrysostom
🕯️ Remembering the Holy Souls
Create a Home Remembrance Table:
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Place framed photos of deceased loved ones
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Add a crucifix, a candle, and holy cards
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Pray a brief prayer each evening as a family
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Share a memory of one person each week
“The Church Suffering, the Church Militant, and the Church Triumphant are one family.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church
🔥 Saints of November Who Point to Eternity
All Saints – The great cloud of witnesses, known and unknown
St Charles Borromeo – Reformer and tireless pastor during plague
St Elizabeth of Hungary – Noblewoman who served the poor and sick
St Cecilia – Patroness of sacred music, martyred with courage
St Martin of Tours – Roman soldier turned monk and bishop
St Andrew Dũng-Lạc and companions – Martyrs of Vietnam
St Gertrude the Great – Mystical theologian devoted to the Holy Souls
✒️ A Poem for November: “Light the Way”
Beyond the veil, beyond the night,
The saints walk clothed in endless light.
Their tears are dried, their wounds are healed,
Their joy is full, their hope revealed.
And yet below, in waiting grace,
Some souls still seek the Father’s face.
We light a flame. We lift a prayer.
We send our love to meet them there.
O God of mercy, hear our cry:
Receive the souls for whom we sigh.
And make us, too, prepared to be
Among the saints who shine with Thee.
⛪ At Every Mass
“Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection...” – Eucharistic Prayer II
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the greatest prayer we can offer for the dead. Each Mass brings the souls in purgatory closer to heaven—and prepares us to meet God face to face.
When you kneel at the altar, you kneel with angels, saints, and souls. You are never alone at Mass.
🧠 The 24/7 Catholic Quiz – All Saints, All Souls, and Eternal Life
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What day is All Saints Day?
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Is it a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church?
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What feast immediately follows All Saints?
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What is purgatory?
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Who are the Church Triumphant?
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Who are the Church Suffering?
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What Old Testament book encourages prayers for the dead?
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What is a plenary indulgence?
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What is required to receive a plenary indulgence?
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Who wrote The Divine Comedy, which describes purgatory?
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What saint received visions of the Holy Souls in Purgatory?
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What prayer is commonly offered for the dead at Mass?
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What does the word “saint” mean?
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What colour vestments are worn on All Souls Day?
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Name one corporal work of mercy that honours the dead.
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What is the eternal reward of the saints called?
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Who said, “Do not be afraid to be saints”?
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What book of the Bible describes heaven as the New Jerusalem?
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What Church Council reaffirmed purgatory’s existence?
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What is one way you’ll remember the Holy Souls this November?
✅ Quiz Answers
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1 November
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Yes
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All Souls Day (2 November)
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A state of purification for souls who die in grace but need cleansing
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The saints in heaven
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The souls in purgatory
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2 Maccabees 12
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Full remission of temporal punishment for sin
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Confession, Communion, prayers for the Pope, detachment from sin
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Dante Alighieri
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St Gertrude the Great
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“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord...”
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“Holy one” or “set apart”
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Black, purple, or white (depending on local custom)
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Bury the dead
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The Beatific Vision
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Pope St John Paul II
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Revelation
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Council of Trent
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(Your answer!)
📍 Parish Invitation – Come Pray for the Holy Souls
This November, come to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in New Milton. Bring the names of your loved ones. Light a candle. Offer a Mass. Take a moment to remember, reflect, and pray.
Whether you're grieving, hoping, or simply searching—this is your home. This is your family. This is your Church.
🔗 Visit our parish website
📍 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, New Milton
✨ Coming Next Month: 1 December 2025
Advent: Watching, Waiting, Hoping
A new liturgical year begins with light in the darkness and the promise of a Saviour.
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ourladyoflourdes.co.uk
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, New Milton
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