The Commemoration of All The Faithful Departed (All Souls) - Year C - Why We Pray For All Souls & “Hold On”

This weekend, the Church pauses Ordinary Time to celebrate a moment filled with faith, compassion, and hope: the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, commonly known as All Souls’ Day. Each year, on November 2, Catholics around the world gather in prayer for those who have died—our loved ones, friends, and all who have gone before us in faith.

This day reminds us of a beautiful truth at the heart of our Catholic faith: death does not end love, nor does it sever our communion with those who have passed from this life. From the earliest centuries of Christianity, believers have prayed for the dead, confident that our prayers and the offering of the Mass can help those who are still being prepared to enter the fullness of God’s presence.

All Souls’ Day invites us to reflect on God’s mercy and His deep desire for our complete holiness. The Church teaches that when a person dies in God’s grace and friendship but is not yet fully purified, they undergo a final cleansing before entering Heaven. This is what we call Purgatory—a process, not a place, of loving purification. Far from being a punishment, Purgatory is an expression of God’s tender mercy. It is the final stage of His sanctifying work, where every trace of sin and selfishness is removed so that the soul may stand before God in perfect love.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes this mystery with great clarity: “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified… undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” (CCC 1030). God’s justice and mercy are never in conflict—they meet perfectly in this act of divine love. In Purgatory, the soul encounters God’s healing fire, a love so intense that it burns away all that is not holy.

Some people may find the thought of Purgatory unsettling, but it is, in fact, one of the most consoling doctrines of our faith. It reveals a God who refuses to abandon us halfway to Heaven—a God who loves us too much to let us remain anything less than perfectly united to Him. This final purification is a mercy that prepares the soul for eternal joy, freeing it from every last attachment that prevents full communion with divine love.

All Souls’ Day, therefore, is not a day of sadness, but of hope and gratitude. It reminds us that our prayers truly matter. By offering Masses, prayers, and acts of charity for the faithful departed, we participate in God’s work of mercy, helping our loved ones on their journey to the vision of God. At the same time, this day gently invites us to begin our own purification here and now—to let God’s grace work in our hearts while we still have time, so that our lives may be increasingly marked by love, humility, and trust. In remembering the dead, we are reminded of our destiny as well: we are all called to holiness, to become saints. Whether that purification happens in this life or the next, God’s desire is the same—to make us fully alive in His love.

As we remember the faithful departed this week, let us pray with confidence and hope. May the Lord, who is rich in mercy, look kindly upon all who have died in His friendship. May He purify their souls and welcome them into the light of His presence. And may He also continue to purify our hearts, so that one day we, too, may rejoice with them and with all the saints in the glory of Heaven.

In honor of All Souls Day, we would like to share our latest video, “Hold On”, a heartfelt Christian hymn by Adam Tice and Sally Ann Morris. This song was created to offer comfort and strength in times of pain, sorrow, and challenge, encouraging believers to hold on to hope and faith when life is difficult.

Video can be watched by clicking here or by clicking on the thumbnail below.