How do people observe All Souls Day and All Saints Day?

Answer 1

All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation in the universal Church, so the obvious way of celebrating it is to attend Mass on that day. For All Souls Day, many people turn in all the names of their family members who have died to a priest to be included in the Mass intentions for that day. There are special indulgences which can be gained on All Souls Day (or the Sunday before or after, with the consent of the Ordinary - the Bishop). Indulgences may always be gained for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, even if one has already gained a plenary indulgence for the day, you may always gain another for the Poor Souls in purgatory. Please note that the Church only has authority over the Church Militant as far as plenary indulgences are concerned, so plenary indulgences are applied to the souls in purgatory:

- contrary to what formerly obtained, all indulgences, whether partial or plenary, can now be applied to the faithful departed;

- in her great solicitude for the faithful departed Holy Mother Church has now decided to apply suffrages to them as abundantly as possible in every Sacrifice of the Mass and has accordingly abolished every particular privilege in this regard. Thus, what was formerly limited to certain Masses by reason of the altar at which they were celebrated (local privileged altar) or by reason of the priest who celebrated them (personal privileged altar), is now extended to every Mass, no matter where or by whom celebrated.

The faithful must also remember, that the departed can be assisted, not only by means of indulgences, but also by other manifold ways: prayers, penitential acts, works of charity, almsgiving, and especially by the celebration of Mass.

Visit to a Church or Oratory on All Souls Day

A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who on the day dedicated to the Commemoration of all the faithful departed piously visit a church, a public oratory or - for those entitled to use it - a semipublic oratory.

The above indulgence can be acquired either on the day designated above or, with the consent of the Ordinary, on the preceding or following Sunday of the feast of All Saints.

The above indulgence is contained in the Apostolic Constitution The Doctrine of Indulgences, Norm 15, with account being taken of proposals made to the Sacred Penitentiary in the meantime.

In visiting the church of oratory, it is required, according to Norm 16 of the same Apostolic Constitution, that "one Our Father and the Creed be recited."