November is upon us. It gives us the opportunity to increase our prayers for the poor souls. A friend of mine just introduced to be a Carmelite tradition, and one that was taken up by Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (a Roman Saint, of whom I’ve written before). This tradition is the Rosary of the Poor Souls, or the Devotion of the 100 Requiems. Blessed Anna Maria was very devoted to the Poor Souls in Purgatory, and she offered many suffrages to ease their pain and quicken their ascent to Heaven. The Blessed testified to the many favors received from the poor souls for various needs and in different circumstances.

I encourage you to take up this devotion, especially for November, but even beyond. It’s been said that sometimes we should even turn in charity to the Poor Souls, to offer prayers for them, before going to the Saints, because these Poor Souls, upon their entrance into Heaven, will quickly respond in kind in all of our needs, our sorrows, our struggles.

I speak especially for those moments which are most difficult for us, most importantly for the spiritually difficult moments. At times, it can be difficult to “get out of ourselves,” to go and to serve our neighbor in charity (a common practice when things get tough and when we need to “force” ourselves in charity towards others—which, of course, usually sorts out our self-referential, or even self-centered, problems). And, I mean difficult in the sense that sometimes it just isn’t easy to face so many various circumstances, and people. Instead, we have a sure act of charity that we can take up, and that is charity for the poor souls, especially for those who have most need of prayers.

You can find the prayers here: Rosary for the Poor Souls

AND for information on Indulgences for the Poor Souls for the Commemoration of the Souls of the Faithful Departed and the days following: go HERE.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.