The Franciscan November Tradition: Thirty Days of Prayer for the Faithful Departed

*"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them."*

November holds a sacred place in the liturgical calendar of the Church. From the solemnity of All Saints on November 1st to the commemoration of All Souls on November 2nd, the entire month becomes a time when the Church Militant on earth unites with fervent charity to aid the Church Suffering in Purgatory.

The doctrine of Purgatory reminds us that while many souls depart this life in God's grace and friendship, they still require purification before entering the glory of Heaven. As the Catechism teaches, "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).

A Beautiful Franciscan Custom

Among the many pious practices dedicated to the holy souls, the Franciscan tradition of November Masses holds a special place. Our Franciscan priests, in their devotion to the faithful departed, offer 30 consecutive Holy Masses throughout the entire month of November for all souls whose names have been entrusted to their prayers. Although not all, some Franciscan religious orders observe this beautiful tradition.

This tradition is marked by profound reverence: envelopes containing the names of the departed are placed near the altar where they remain throughout the month. At the conclusion of each Holy Mass, the priest prays specifically for the repose of these souls and blesses the envelopes with holy water, entrusting them once more to God's infinite mercy.

How This Tradition Differs

Our apostolate offers two distinct ways to have Holy Masses offered for the faithful departed:

Individual Private Requiem Masses: Our standard service provides one private Requiem Mass in the traditional Latin form (or English, if requested) for one soul. This is a dedicated Holy Sacrifice of the Requiem Mass offered specifically and exclusively for that individual soul (or for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory collectively).

The November Franciscan Tradition: Throughout the month of November, souls whose names are submitted for this intention will be remembered in 30 public Holy Masses offered by the Franciscan priests that we work with. Up to ten names may be included per envelope, and each envelope is treated as one intention with the standard stipend.

The Forgotten Souls

One of the most moving aspects of devotion to the holy souls is remembering those who have been forgotten—those whose names are weathered on old gravestones, whose families have passed away, or who have no one left on earth to pray for them. The Church has always encouraged the faithful to adopt these forgotten souls in prayer.

Perhaps you have walked through an old cemetery and felt moved by a particular grave. Perhaps there are souls from your family line whose names you barely know. Perhaps God has placed on your heart a desire to help souls who may be experiencing their final purification with no earthly advocate. The November tradition provides a beautiful opportunity to embrace these souls in prayer.

A Work of Mercy

To pray for the dead is one of the spiritual works of mercy. It is an act of profound charity that reaches beyond the veil of death to assist our brothers and sisters who can no longer help themselves. As St. John Chrysostom beautifully expressed: "Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them."

How to Participate

If you wish to participate in this Franciscan November tradition, you may submit your request through our website at RequiemMass.net. Select the Requiem Mass option, simply note the names of up to ten souls in your request, select English, and submit with the recommended stipend of $19 per envelope. Your intention will join others in 30 days of Holy Mass and daily prayers for the repose of these souls.

The distinction is important: Our standard Requiem Mass option provides one private and traditional Requiem Mass (Latin or English) for one soul (or for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory collectively), whereas the November tradition includes daily public Novus Ordo Holy Masses in English for all names listed throughout the month of November. The latter will no longer be available as an option in December.

Those who prefer to have a dedicated private Requiem Mass in Latin (or English) for an individual soul may continue to request this through our standard service. Other options include Triduum, Septenary, and Gregorian Masses, or a Votive Mass for a special intention.

United in Prayer

As we enter this holy month, let us remember that our prayers for the dead are never in vain. The holy souls in Purgatory are members of the Mystical Body of Christ, and the treasury of grace won by Our Lord's Passion flows to them through our prayers, sacrifices, and especially through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

May this November be a time of great charity toward our suffering brothers and sisters. May the holy souls we assist from Purgatory become our powerful intercessors in Heaven. And may we, through our devotion to them, grow in that charity which "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.

For more information or to submit names for the November tradition, please visit RequiemMass.net/Services or contact us directly. to inquire at info@requiemmass.net.