The All Souls’ Day prayer is the traditional Catholic way of asking God for mercy on the souls of the faithful departed, especially on November 2, when the Church sets aside a whole day to pray for the dead. This prayer for all souls can be said for a specific loved one or for all the souls in purgatory, and it is one of the oldest and most widespread devotions in the Catholic tradition.
Related for this season: Requiem Aeternam: eternal rest prayer
What Is All Souls’ Day?
All Souls’ Day is celebrated every year on November 2 and is dedicated to praying for all the faithful departed, that is, the souls of the baptized who have died and are believed to be undergoing purification before entering the fullness of heaven. It is different from All Saints’ Day, celebrated the day before, on November 1, which honors those who are already believed to be in heaven.
The commemoration has a documented medieval origin: St. Odilo, abbot of the monastery of Cluny, in France, established in the year 998 that all the monasteries under his authority would pray for the souls of the dead on November 2, the day after the feast of All Saints. The custom spread from Cluny to the rest of the Latin Church over the following centuries and eventually became a fixed date on the universal Catholic calendar.
Why Catholics Pray for the Dead
The Catholic Church teaches that death does not break the bond of love between those who already live with God, those still on earth, and the souls being purified before they can see God face to face. This bond is called the communion of saints, and praying for the dead is one of its clearest expressions: a spiritual work of mercy in which the living help the souls who still need purification, trusting always in God’s mercy.
This devotion has roots that go back to the Old Testament. The Second Book of Maccabees (12:46), which the Catholic Church recognizes as inspired Scripture, states that “it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” On that foundation rests the long Catholic tradition of offering Masses, prayers, and other acts of intercession for the souls of the departed.
All Souls’ Day Prayer for the Faithful Departed
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant unto the souls of Your departed servants the remission of all their sins, that through our pious supplications they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
A Short Version
Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him/her. May he/she rest in peace. Amen.
When and How to Pray This All Souls’ Day Prayer
No special ritual is required to pray for the dead: it can be done at any time, aloud or in silence, alone or with family. Even so, some moments are especially fitting, such as the anniversary of a loved one’s death, a visit to the cemetery, or the lighting of a candle in someone’s memory.
The most significant date on the Catholic calendar for this all souls day prayer is November 2 itself. On that day, and throughout the month of November, it is traditional to visit graves, bring flowers, light candles, and pray the rosary for the souls in purgatory, often closing each mystery with the short “eternal rest” prayer.
Catholic tradition also holds that the greatest act of intercession that can be offered for a departed soul is the Holy Mass celebrated for that intention, something most parishes allow the faithful to request. Along with this prayer for souls day, praying the rosary and visiting the sick who are near death are also considered concrete expressions of the same work of mercy.
Many Catholic families also keep the custom of a novena: praying for a departed loved one, together with the rosary, for nine consecutive days after the death, as spiritual accompaniment for both the soul of the departed and those left mourning. The practice is often renewed on the first anniversary and, in many homes, becomes a fixed appointment every November 2.
Frequently Asked Questions About the All Souls’ Day Prayer
All Souls’ Day is observed on November 2 each year, the day after All Saints’ Day, and this prayer for the faithful departed can also be said at any other time, such as at a cemetery visit or on a death anniversary.
It means asking God that the soul of that person reach lasting peace and the eternal vision of God, free from suffering and from any further purification.
Because of belief in the communion of saints, the bond of love that death does not break, and in purgatory, a state of purification in which souls can be helped by the prayers of the living.
No. All Saints’ Day, on November 1, honors those already believed to be with God in heaven, while All Souls’ Day, on November 2, is dedicated to praying for the souls still being purified.
Yes. It can be offered for any departed person, known or unknown, Catholic or not, always trusting in God’s mercy toward every soul.
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Read more
- Day of the Dead Prayer: Text for Your Ofrenda
- Day of the Dead Altar (Ofrenda): Meaning, What to Put on It and How to Build One
You can also see all the prayers.