Oblate News

Prayers for November

Send in the names of those you would like us to pray for during this month

Prayers for November:

In November we remember – the month where we remember and pray for our dearly departed family, friends, and neighbours, is quickly approaching. We invite you to send in the names of those you would like us to remember in our prayers throughout the month. Please email your petitions to communications@oblates.ie or fill out the form below.

In each of our Oblate parishes there will be masses and services to remember and pray for all our departed family and friends. 

Please see the events section of our website for more. 

Send your petitions in via the form: 

Prayers for November:

November: why do we pray for our departed loved ones? 

It is during November that our church considers what is called the “Communion of Saints” – the union of all the Christian faithful, both living and dead, many of whom are already recognised as saints in the official capacity of the church. It includes us too, as pilgrims on this earth. Each member is part of the mystical body, with Christ as its head in which each member contributes to the good of all and shares in the welfare of all.

“In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1475).

On November 1st the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day of obligation, honouring all those faithful in heaven. Throughout November, the Church also remembers our faithful departed. The need and duty of prayer for the departed souls has been acknowledged by the Church at all times. It is recommended in the Scriptures of the Old Testament: “It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins” (2 Macc 12: 46). 

Throughout November the Church prays for all who are in purgatory, waiting for the day when they will join the company of the saints in heaven. The celebration of Mass is the highest means the Church can provide for charity for the dead, but we can also relieve their sufferings through our prayers, sufferings and penances. We can also help the souls in purgatory by doing acts and prayers that have indulgences attached to them.