All Souls Indulgence (Praying for the Dead) Novena

[irishcolleen45]

For the last couple of years, my family and I pray at a cemetery Nov 1-8 to gain a plenary indulence (under the usual requirements) each day for a soul in purgatory.

My questions are, can I apply the indulgence to a different soul each day? Since none of my relatives are in the cemetery in which we pray (it’s Protestant), can I apply the indulgence to my relative and not the people who are buried there?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s always been my understanding that when saying a prayer that carries an indulgence, you can say the prayer for Person A but ask Our Lord to apply the indulgence to Person B.

This is most commonly done when Person A is still living and is not yourself, since you can only get an indulgence for either your own self or for a deceased person, and cannot give it to another living person. However, I see no reason why it can’t also be done for two different deceased people the same way. Just tell God you are praying for deceased people in cemetery A but would like the plenary indulgence to please go to your deceased relative B, realizing of course that God may choose to grant His grace and mercy however He likes.

And since you can get one plenary per day during the first week of November, you can ask God to give it to a different soul in Purgatory each day.

Hope this helps. God bless you and your family for praying for the dead.

 

[irishcolleen45]

Thank you for your reply.

It’s my understanding that you cannot apply the indulgence to a living person and this time, Nov 1-8 is the only time an indulgence can be applied to a soul in purgatory.

Perhaps someone else can clarify this.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

We can earn indulgences for the dead all year round.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s my understanding that you cannot apply the indulgence to a living person and this time, Nov 1-8 is the only time an indulgence can be applied to a soul in purgatory.

You’re correct that you cannot apply any indulgence to another living person other than yourself, ever.

You can normally apply indulgences you get either to yourself or to deceased souls in Purgatory, as stated in Canon Law code 994 here

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P3I.HTM

And the current Norms on Indulgences in the full book PDF here

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.basilica.ca/documents/2016/10/Sacred%20Apostolic%20Penitentiary-The%20Enchiridion%20of%20Indulgences.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwip64zTqpnXAhWI2YMKHUGAAjAQFggoMAE&usg=AOvVaw0GJAXOx_KHVZNDVL13Mwmr

And discussed at item 7 in this EWTN article

www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/indulgences_conditions.htm

Roseeurekacross is right, you can get indulgences for the dead all year round. I try to get them almost daily.

However, the Nov 1-8 practice is special in that the plenary you get can ONLY be applied to the dead souls in purgatory. Meaning that you cannot apply it to yourself. Please see the entry for this indulgence in the Enchridion of Indulgences I linked above as the PDF won’t let me link the exact page. It is in the Enchridion as No. 13, Visit to a Cemetery, on page 23. As its entry states, you can also pray in a cemetery any other day of the year and get a partial (not plenary) indulgence for the dead souls.