Visiting Cemetery On "All Souls Day" Question?

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I plan on visiting the cemetery to light candles/pray tomorrow for All Souls day. However, I was just reading on the net that the only way it will count as a plenary indulgence is if I also receive communion? I do plan on going to church on the 3rd (that is the day our church is celebrating) but not tomorrow. Is there any other things I can do for the poor souls this week that will benefit them? (besides the St. Gertrude prayer, I already pray that everyday). Thanks…
 
dailey said:
I plan on visiting the cemetery to light candles/pray tomorrow for All Souls day. However, I was just reading on the net that the only way it will count as a plenary indulgence is if I also receive communion? I do plan on going to church on the 3rd (that is the day our church is celebrating) but not tomorrow. Is there any other things I can do for the poor souls this week that will benefit them? (besides the St. Gertrude prayer, I already pray that everyday). Thanks…
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You could say the prayers for the dead, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy or a Rosary. All Souls Day took on a particularly poignant meaning for me some 16 years ago when my beloved mother died in 1994. While I was very attached to my maternal grandfather (who preceded her by nine years), it was not until my mother died that the day took on a deeper meaning. If you are able to, you might want to catch a noon-day Mass at a parish near your workplace. I am going to do so.

All Souls Day reminds us that we are a Church of community. We are the Church Militant here on Earth because we are still waging the fight. The saints in heaven, whom we honor today, constitute the Church Triumphant. Tomorrow, we remember and pray for the Church Suffering. A priest friend of mine at my old parish in the Texas Hill Country used to say that at Mass, the entire Church comes together: the Church Militant, the Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering. It has given me a lot of comfort since that cold day back in January 1994. I hope you can find comfort in this, too.
 
I’m planning on visiting the old family cemetery and the Catholic cemetery where my wife and I will be buried. The latter was established in about 1838. There will be a Mass celebrated (OF) that evening. So our All Souls Day will be fully celebrated. First time in many years.
 
There’s indulgence for visiting the cemetery? Filipinos by tradition camp out at the graves of their deceased loved ones during this time of the year, aside from going to church.
 
Hi dailey .

Good news - You can gain that indulgence more than once between Nov. 1 through Nov. 8 .👍

The Handbook of Indulgences is available a few places online. I’m going to post it from my hard cover version - THE HANDBOOK OF INDULGENCES, Norms and Grants; Cathoic Book Publishing Company © 1991, # 13 ( pg 47) [and I’ll give several links at the end of the post you can verify with]

**Coemeterii Visitatio

Visiting a cemetery**

An indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the dead. This indulgence is applicable only to the souls in Purgatory. This indulgence is a plenary one from November 1 through November 8 and can be gained each one of these days. On other days of the year this indulgence is a partial one.

[franciscan-sfo.org/fe/68Enchir.htm#Visit to a Cemetery (Coemeterii visitatio)](BlackJack to a Cemetery (Coemeterii visitatio)) … # 13

holyjoe.org/indulgences/grants.htm … # 13

You might like this thread too if you didn’t already know about it .
 
Thanks for the replies! 🙂
NeedImprovement said:
Hi dailey .

Good news - You can gain that indulgence more than once between Nov. 1 through Nov. 8 .👍

The Handbook of Indulgences is available a few places online. I’m going to post it from my hard cover version - THE HANDBOOK OF INDULGENCES, Norms and Grants; Cathoic Book Publishing Company © 1991, # 13 ( pg 47) [and I’ll give several links at the end of the post you can verify with]

**Coemeterii Visitatio

Visiting a cemetery**

An indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the dead. This indulgence is applicable only to the souls in Purgatory. This indulgence is a plenary one from November 1 through November 8 and can be gained each one of these days. On other days of the year this indulgence is a partial one.

[franciscan-sfo.org/fe/68Enchir.htm#Visit to a Cemetery (Coemeterii visitatio)](BlackJack to a Cemetery (Coemeterii visitatio)) … # 13

holyjoe.org/indulgences/grants.htm … # 13

You might like this thread too if you didn’t already know about it .
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See, this is where I got confused.:confused: Do I also have to receive communion on these days that I visit the cemetery to gain the indulgences for the poor souls?
 
Bring holy water to sprinkle as well, if you can. I remember reading St Theresa of Avila was praying for the poor souls on All Souls Day once and a demon came and sat on her prayer book so she couldn’t finish the prayer. She got up and threw holy water there and she saw an abundance of souls released from Purgatory.
 
dailey said:
Thanks for the replies! 🙂

See, this is where I got confused.:confused: Do I also have to receive communion on these days that I visit the cemetery to gain the indulgences for the poor souls?
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Page 22 of the same hardcover book, in the section **Norms For Indulgences **:

23.​

  1. Besides the exclusion from all attachment to sin, even venial sin, the requirements for gaining a plenary indulgence are the performance of the indulgenced work and fulfillment of three conditions : sacramental confession, eucharistic communion, and prayer for the pope’s intentions.
  2. Several plenary indulgences may be gained on the basis of a single sacramental confession; only one may be gained, however, on the basis of a single eucharistic communion and prayer for the pope’s intentions .
  3. The three conditions may be carried out preceding or following performance of the prescribed work. but it is more fitting that the communion and prayer for the pope’s intentions take place on the day that the work is performed.
  4. If a person is not fully disposed or if the prescribed work and the three mentioned conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will only be partial ; …
That “freedom from attachment to all sin” in # 1 is explained nicely by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University. The following excerpt of his explanation is taken from here :

" Having the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin. This is the most difficult condition as even attachment to venial sin precludes the possibility of obtaining the indulgence. However, note that the condition is not freedom from all venial sin, but from attachment to sin; that is, that there is no sin which the soul is unwilling to renounce."
Be confident, Jesus loves to grant our requests for the holy souls with great joy . When we desire to gain indulgences for them and present our suffrages to Jesus on their behalf, it is because Jesus has given us a share of His own love for them.

👍
 
To get a plenary indulgence:
  1. Confession within the octave (eight days of the indulgenced act) plus
  2. Communion on the day, plus
  3. Prayer for the Pope’s intentions, plus
  4. Free from sin and attachment to sin, plus,
  5. Doing the indulgenced act.
I think that’s it.
 
All Souls is a beautifully sombre day. Memories of the last one will stay with me for a long time.
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                              I didn't have alot of time but during the afternoon, on the spur of the moment, I went to the closest cemetery and visited the graves of some childhood acquaintences who died young and tragically. Read the prayers for the dead in Latin and sprinkled their graves with Holy Water. That evening I went to Latin Mass at St John Cantius, which I'm happy to report, was packed to the rafters, went to confession, heard a fantastic rendition of Mozart's Requiem, then before going home, walked in the rectory garden where numerous candles were burning.

                             DON'T FORGET TO VISIT CEMETARIES
 
I prayed the Rosary in two of our local cemeteries on All Soul’s Day. I obtained great peace afterwards. It was a beautiful day in which it felt wonderful to be out walking and praying for my deceased friends and relatives and all the others, too. I kept being struck by the thought that so very many people did not even know that it was in fact All Soul’s Day or what that means.
 
Lovely stories…thanks for sharing!

@HCC…thanks for the suggestion to bring holy water. 🙂 I visited the grave of a friend, buried the green scapular for him, prayed, lit candles and walked around sprinkling holy water on all the graves I passed. Didn’t realize till after about 10 minutes that people were staring at me…:o LOL!
 
… Just giving this thread a bump up to the top again to serve as another reminder to us of that time of year (beginning today through to Nov 8th, inclusive) which can bring great riches from the treasury of the Church to the holy souls in Purgatory with a little effort on our behalf :

**Coemeterii Visitatio

Visiting a cemetery**

An indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the dead. This indulgence is applicable only to the souls in Purgatory. This indulgence is a plenary one from November 1 through November 8 and can be gained each one of these days. On other days of the year this indulgence is a partial one

May the Divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed, through your mercy O God, rest in peace.

Amen .
 
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