All Souls’ Day is November 2nd but you can pray the All Souls’ Day Novena for any reason that you want, so go ahead and start praying! According to Catholic teaching, there are three states of the Church: the Church Militant, the Church Penitent, and the Church Triumphant. We are the Church Militant because we are still living our earthly life and are active in spiritual warfare on Earth. The Church Penitent are those who are in Purgatory, who are being purified so as to be fit for entering Heaven. The Church Triumphant are those who are already in Heaven.
During All Souls’ Day, which is celebrated on November 2nd, we pray for the Church Penitent, for those in Purgatory who are being purified, to lighten the burden of their purification and hasten their journey to Heaven. While the Church has not formally stated that souls in Purgatory are aware of us and can hear our petitions, it is traditionally thought that they are able to pray for us, but not for themselves. Therefore, we will still ask for their intercession in this novena, trusting that even if the souls in Purgatory are unable to hear our petitions, God will hear and answer us.
About All Souls’ Day
The Bible states that, “nothing impure can enter Heaven” (Rev. 21:27). Because of our sinful nature, purification must take place at some point before we can enter Heaven. The Church teaches us that this purification happens either on Earth or in Purgatory. The practice of praying for the dead as they go through this time of purification is a practice that goes back centuries. There is an example of it in 2 Maccabees: “Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin” (2 Macc. 12:46). This novena is based on the second part of Dante’s Divine Comedy, Purgatorio. In Dante’s Purgatorio, the souls in Purgatory must climb up a mountain to reach Paradiso (Heaven). In Purgatory, they confront all their sins and are purified of them, starting at the bottom with the root of all sin, pride, and continuing up through the rest of the seven deadly sins. There are also souls who, because they delayed in starting their spiritual journey on Earth, are delayed in starting their journey up Mount Purgatory, so these who are delayed in starting their climb in Dante’s representation will make up the first two days of prayer of this novena.
The Novena Prayers
All Souls’ Day Novena – Day 1
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Merciful Father, we ask that You have pity on those who are being purified in Purgatory, especially those who stubbornly resisted Your love and turned from You in especially grave ways, but repented and turned to You before the end of their lives. Ease their suffering and hasten their purification that they may soon join You and all the saints for eternity in Heaven.
Amen
All Souls’ Day Novena – Day 2
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Merciful Father, we ask that You have pity on those who are being purified in Purgatory, especially those who repented of their sins only very late in life. Ease their suffering and hasten their purification that they may soon join You and all the saints for eternity in Heaven.
Amen
All Souls’ Day Novena – Day 3
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Merciful Father, we ask that You have pity on those who are being purified in Purgatory, especially those who were weighed down in life by the deadly sin of pride. Ease their suffering and hasten their purification that they may soon join You and all the saints for eternity in Heaven.
Amen
All Souls’ Day Novena – Day 4
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Merciful Father, we ask that You have pity on those who are being purified in Purgatory, especially those who were unable to take joy in gifts given to others because of the deadly sin of envy. Ease their suffering and hasten their purification that they may soon join You and all the saints for eternity in Heaven.
Amen
All Souls’ Day Novena – Day 5
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Merciful Father, we ask that You have pity on those who are being purified in Purgatory, especially those who had a vengeful heart because of the deadly sin of wrath. Ease their suffering and hasten their purification that they may soon join You and all the saints for eternity in Heaven.
Amen
All Souls’ Day Novena – Day 6
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Merciful Father, we ask that You have pity on those who are being purified in Purgatory, especially those who were slow to fulfill Your will for them because of the deadly sin of sloth. Ease their suffering and hasten their purification that they may soon join You and all the saints for eternity in Heaven.
Amen
All Souls’ Day Novena – Day 7
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Merciful Father, we ask that You have pity on those who are being purified in Purgatory, especially those who were discontent in life because of the deadly sin of greed. Ease their suffering and hasten their purification that they may soon join You and all the saints for eternity in Heaven.
Amen
All Souls’ Day Novena – Day 8
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Merciful Father, we ask that You have pity on those who are being purified in Purgatory, especially those who were unsatisfied in life because of the deadly sin of gluttony. Ease their suffering and hasten their purification that they may soon join You and all the saints for eternity in Heaven.
Amen
All Souls’ Day Novena – Day 9
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Merciful Father, we ask that You have pity on those who are being purified in Purgatory, especially those who did not look upon their neighbor with dignity and love because of the deadly sin of lust. Ease their suffering and hasten their purification that they may soon join You and all the saints for eternity in Heaven. Amen.
