November is the month the Church sets aside to remember the faithful departed. It opens with two great days: All Saints’ Day on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and All Souls’ Day on Monday, November 2, 2026. Together they remind us that the Church is one family, in heaven, in purgatory and here on earth.
They also offer one of the most beautiful acts of charity a Catholic can do: gaining plenary indulgences on behalf of the souls in purgatory.
What is an indulgence?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that “an indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven” (CCC 1471). An indulgence is plenary if it removes all of that temporal punishment, and partial if it removes part of it.
Indulgences don’t forgive sins. That happens through the Sacrament of Confession. Instead, they draw on the treasury of merits of Christ and the saints to help heal the effects of sin that remain. And indulgences can be offered for the dead, which is exactly what the Church invites us to do in early November.
All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
All Saints’ Day honors every saint in heaven, known and unknown. It’s normally a Holy Day of Obligation, and in 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so Catholics attend Sunday Mass as usual.
It’s a wonderful day to talk with your children about the saints, read about your patron saint, and ask the saints to pray for your family and for your loved ones who have died.
All Souls’ Day: Monday, November 2
On All Souls’ Day, the Church prays for all the faithful departed who are being purified in purgatory. Many parishes offer special Masses, and families often bring names of loved ones to be remembered.
Two plenary indulgences for the holy souls
The Church’s Enchiridion of Indulgences (Handbook of Indulgences) includes two plenary indulgences in early November that apply only to the souls in purgatory:
- Visiting a cemetery, November 1–8. The faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed can gain a plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory each day from November 1 through November 8.
- Visiting a church or oratory on All Souls’ Day. On November 2, the faithful who devoutly visit a church or oratory and pray the Our Father and the Creed can gain a plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory.
The usual conditions
To gain a plenary indulgence, the Church asks for the usual conditions:
- Sacramental Confession
- Holy Communion
- Prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father (an Our Father and a Hail Mary is the common practice, though other prayers may be offered)
- Complete detachment from all sin, even venial sin
Confession and Communion can be made within a period of days before or after the indulgenced act, and one good confession can cover several plenary indulgences. Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions are required for each plenary indulgence. Generally only one plenary indulgence can be gained per day. If the full conditions aren’t met, the indulgence is partial.
Simple ways to honor the faithful departed this November
- Plan a cemetery visit with your family during November 1–8 and pray for your relatives and for souls who have no one to pray for them.
- Have a Mass offered for a loved one who has died.
- Pray the Eternal Rest prayer: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.”
- Start a Book of the Dead at home or bring names to your parish.
- Pray the Rosary for the holy souls.
- Listen and learn. Weekday programs on Walsingham Radio, like The Patrick Madrid Show and Catholic Answers Live, regularly answer listeners’ questions about purgatory, indulgences and praying for the dead. See our Shows page for the schedule.
FAQ
Can I gain a plenary indulgence for myself on All Souls’ Day?
The All Souls’ Day and November 1–8 cemetery indulgences are applicable only to the souls in purgatory.
Do I have to go to Confession on the same day?
No. Confession can be made within a period of days before or after the indulgenced act. Ask your parish priest if you’re unsure about timing.
Is All Saints’ Day a Holy Day of Obligation in 2026?
It falls on Sunday, November 1, 2026, so the Sunday obligation to attend Mass applies.
Can I pray for someone who wasn’t Catholic?
Yes. We can pray and offer indulgences for all the faithful departed, entrusting them to God’s mercy.
What if I can’t get to a cemetery?
Talk to your priest. The Church sometimes makes special provisions for the sick and homebound, and partial indulgences are always available through prayer for the dead.
Keep growing in the Faith
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Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
