October 26, 2026
November 1st and 2nd are days of great hope, because God’s mercy is stronger than our sins; stronger than the power of Satan and death. As a sign of that, the Church offers special graces for the Souls in Purgatory. By our simple prayers, acts of charity, and proper intentions united with the Church as the Body of Christ, we can gain a Plenary Indulgence for deceased members of our families—and it costs nothing.
A Plenary Indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins that had been already forgiven by Confession. Sin has a lasting effect on us, and can be cleansed only through penance. Hopefully, we can do these penances prior to our death; sometimes not.
That is where the Church comes in: The Church, established by Our Lord as the minister of Redemption, authoritatively dispenses and applies the treasury of grace won by Christ and his Saints. One Indulgence can be had each day from November 1st through the 8th, and each indulgence can be applied by us to one of the faithful departed per day.
All we need do is this: 1) go to Confession at least once during that week, and receive Holy Communion on the day(s) you wish the Indulgence 2) visit any cemetery or a Catholic Church 3) and pray for the deceased—one Hail Mary and one Our Father for the intention of the Pope, and recite the Apostles’ Creed.
(Taken from a parish bulletin for Sunday October 11, 2015 of the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist in Stamford.)
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