Below is a link to an informative website,
Eternally Catholic, which outlines the guidelines for obtaining indulgences for the poor souls in Purgatory during the month of November.
Excerpts are below, but I recommend reading the whole article.
F.R.
November & the Holy Souls in Purgatory:
A Guide to Catholic Teaching & Practice
The Catholic Church dedicates November to the faithful departed in Purgatory, offering extraordinary spiritual opportunities for the living to aid those still undergoing final purification. During the first eight days of November, Catholics can gain a plenary indulgence daily — potentially removing all temporal punishment for a soul and hastening their entry into Heaven.
This practice rests on the ancient doctrine of the Communion of Saints, where the Church Militant (faithful on earth), Church Suffering (souls in Purgatory), and Church Triumphant (Saints in Heaven) remain spiritually united through Christ’s Mystical Body.
The Church does not teach that souls are automatically released during November, but rather that this month provides exceptional means through indulgences, prayers, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to accelerate their purification and entry into eternal glory.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church definitively teaches that “all who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” (CCC 1030; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994). This doctrine, formally defined at the Councils of Florence and Trent, represents a dogma of Catholic Faith — not optional belief but binding teaching for all Catholics.
The Council of Trent declared in 1563 that “there is a Purgatory and that the souls detained there are helped by the acts of intercession of the faithful, and especially by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar” (Council of Trent, 1563/1978). This came as the Church’s definitive response to Protestant reformers who had rejected the doctrine entirely. Purgatory is entirely different from Hell — those in Purgatory are saved and certain of reaching Heaven, while those in Hell have definitively rejected God. Purgatory is remedial and temporary; Hell is punitive and eternal.
Rigorous Conditions for Plenary Indulgences
To gain a plenary indulgence, four conditions must be completely fulfilled. If any condition is imperfectly met, the indulgence automatically becomes partial rather than plenary (EWTN, n.d.). The stakes are high because a plenary indulgence can potentially release a soul entirely from Purgatory.
The first condition requires sacramental Confession. The faithful must receive the Sacrament of Penance approximately 20 days before or after performing the indulgenced work. This 20-day window was clarified by the Apostolic Penitentiary in 2005 and applies perpetually. Importantly, one confession suffices for gaining multiple plenary indulgences during that period, enabling those who confess regularly to potentially gain a plenary indulgence daily.
The second condition mandates Eucharistic Communion. Unlike Confession, a separate Communion is required for each plenary indulgence sought (EWTN, n.d.). It is preferable to receive Communion while participating in Holy Mass, but only the reception of Communion itself is strictly required for the indulgence. The timing remains flexible within the same 20-day window before or after the indulgenced work.
The third condition involves prayer for the Pope’s intentions. A separate prayer must be offered for each plenary indulgence (EWTN, n.d.). The Church suggests one Our Father and one Hail Mary as the minimum, but the faithful may choose any prayers according to personal devotion. These prayers should be offered within approximately 20 days before or after the indulgenced work.
The fourth and most challenging condition requires complete detachment from all sin, even venial sin (EWTN, n.d.). This does not mean the person must be sinless or never sin again — such perfection is impossible in this life. Rather, it means the person must be unwilling to remain attached to any sin whatsoever. There can be no sin — even the smallest venial transgression — that the person refuses to renounce. This interior disposition represents genuine conversion of heart. One can struggle with habitual sins yet still possess this detachment if truly willing to give them up.
If this disposition is incomplete in any way, the indulgence becomes partial instead of plenary.
Additionally, the faithful must be in a state of grace — free from unconfessed mortal sin — at least by the time the indulgenced work is completed. Only one plenary indulgence can normally be gained per day, though an exception exists for the plenary indulgence at the point of death, which can be gained even if another was already obtained that day.
November’s Indulgence Opportunities for the Holy Souls
The Catholic Church provides two distinct plenary indulgences specifically for the Holy Souls during early November, both applicable only to souls in Purgatory and not to the living.
The cemetery visit indulgence spans November 1-8, allowing the faithful to gain one plenary indulgence each day during this octave. The requirements involve devoutly visiting a cemetery, praying for the departed even if only mentally, and fulfilling the four standard conditions.
Outside this November 1-8 window, cemetery visits gain only a partial indulgence.
The church visit indulgence occurs on November 2 (or on a Sunday before or after at the Bishop’s discretion, or on November 1). The faithful must devoutly visit a church or oratory and recite one Our Father and the Creed, plus fulfill the standard four conditions.
Throughout November, additional partial indulgences remain available for devoutly reciting Lauds or Vespers from the Office of the Dead and for the traditional Eternal Rest prayer: “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.”
See complete article Eternally Catholic article for more information: EternallyCatholic.com/november-and-the-holy-souls-in-purgatory-a-comprehensive-guide-to-catholic-teaching-and-practice
May many souls be released from Purgatory by your efforts and prayers!
Posted November 6, 2025
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Below is a link to an informative website, Eternally Catholic, which outlines the guidelines for obtaining indulgences for the poor souls in Purgatory during the month of November.
Excerpts are below, but I recommend reading the whole article.
F.R.
A Guide to Catholic Teaching & Practice
The Catholic Church dedicates November to the faithful departed in Purgatory, offering extraordinary spiritual opportunities for the living to aid those still undergoing final purification. During the first eight days of November, Catholics can gain a plenary indulgence daily — potentially removing all temporal punishment for a soul and hastening their entry into Heaven.
This practice rests on the ancient doctrine of the Communion of Saints, where the Church Militant (faithful on earth), Church Suffering (souls in Purgatory), and Church Triumphant (Saints in Heaven) remain spiritually united through Christ’s Mystical Body.
The Church does not teach that souls are automatically released during November, but rather that this month provides exceptional means through indulgences, prayers, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to accelerate their purification and entry into eternal glory.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church definitively teaches that “all who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” (CCC 1030; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994). This doctrine, formally defined at the Councils of Florence and Trent, represents a dogma of Catholic Faith — not optional belief but binding teaching for all Catholics.
The Council of Trent declared in 1563 that “there is a Purgatory and that the souls detained there are helped by the acts of intercession of the faithful, and especially by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar” (Council of Trent, 1563/1978). This came as the Church’s definitive response to Protestant reformers who had rejected the doctrine entirely. Purgatory is entirely different from Hell — those in Purgatory are saved and certain of reaching Heaven, while those in Hell have definitively rejected God. Purgatory is remedial and temporary; Hell is punitive and eternal.
Rigorous Conditions for Plenary Indulgences
To gain a plenary indulgence, four conditions must be completely fulfilled. If any condition is imperfectly met, the indulgence automatically becomes partial rather than plenary (EWTN, n.d.). The stakes are high because a plenary indulgence can potentially release a soul entirely from Purgatory.
The first condition requires sacramental Confession. The faithful must receive the Sacrament of Penance approximately 20 days before or after performing the indulgenced work. This 20-day window was clarified by the Apostolic Penitentiary in 2005 and applies perpetually. Importantly, one confession suffices for gaining multiple plenary indulgences during that period, enabling those who confess regularly to potentially gain a plenary indulgence daily.
The second condition mandates Eucharistic Communion. Unlike Confession, a separate Communion is required for each plenary indulgence sought (EWTN, n.d.). It is preferable to receive Communion while participating in Holy Mass, but only the reception of Communion itself is strictly required for the indulgence. The timing remains flexible within the same 20-day window before or after the indulgenced work.
The third condition involves prayer for the Pope’s intentions. A separate prayer must be offered for each plenary indulgence (EWTN, n.d.). The Church suggests one Our Father and one Hail Mary as the minimum, but the faithful may choose any prayers according to personal devotion. These prayers should be offered within approximately 20 days before or after the indulgenced work.
The fourth and most challenging condition requires complete detachment from all sin, even venial sin (EWTN, n.d.). This does not mean the person must be sinless or never sin again — such perfection is impossible in this life. Rather, it means the person must be unwilling to remain attached to any sin whatsoever. There can be no sin — even the smallest venial transgression — that the person refuses to renounce. This interior disposition represents genuine conversion of heart. One can struggle with habitual sins yet still possess this detachment if truly willing to give them up.
If this disposition is incomplete in any way, the indulgence becomes partial instead of plenary.
Additionally, the faithful must be in a state of grace — free from unconfessed mortal sin — at least by the time the indulgenced work is completed. Only one plenary indulgence can normally be gained per day, though an exception exists for the plenary indulgence at the point of death, which can be gained even if another was already obtained that day.
November’s Indulgence Opportunities for the Holy Souls
The Catholic Church provides two distinct plenary indulgences specifically for the Holy Souls during early November, both applicable only to souls in Purgatory and not to the living.
The cemetery visit indulgence spans November 1-8, allowing the faithful to gain one plenary indulgence each day during this octave. The requirements involve devoutly visiting a cemetery, praying for the departed even if only mentally, and fulfilling the four standard conditions.
Outside this November 1-8 window, cemetery visits gain only a partial indulgence.
The church visit indulgence occurs on November 2 (or on a Sunday before or after at the Bishop’s discretion, or on November 1). The faithful must devoutly visit a church or oratory and recite one Our Father and the Creed, plus fulfill the standard four conditions.
Throughout November, additional partial indulgences remain available for devoutly reciting Lauds or Vespers from the Office of the Dead and for the traditional Eternal Rest prayer: “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.”
See complete article Eternally Catholic article for more information: EternallyCatholic.com/november-and-the-holy-souls-in-purgatory-a-comprehensive-guide-to-catholic-teaching-and-practice
May many souls be released from Purgatory by your efforts and prayers!
______________________
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